Written by: Abby Keeler, BS and Kayla Reed-Fitzke, PhD, LMFT
Did you know nearly 9 out of 10 military spouses see themselves as entrepreneurs? It’s true—according to the 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs, a whopping 89% of military spouses identify as entrepreneurs (Institute for Veterans and Military Families, 2024). It’s a powerful reminder that when traditional employment doesn’t fit, many military spouses are out there building businesses, creating their own paths, and redefining what a career looks like. Specific barriers and obstacles to employment are often the focus in the fight to reduce the unemployment rate among military spouses – but what can be overlooked is this: when given the right support, military spouses show up as highly educated, incredibly resilient, and undeniably entrepreneurial. We must hold space for both – recognition of the hurdles military spouses face AND the resources military spouses bring to the table. We need to understand the challenges military spouses face, so we as providers can then learn how to best support them.
Common challenges faced among military spouse entrepreneurs* highlighted in the survey brief were:
- Discrimination in job opportunities due to military spouse status
- Frequent relocations and permanent change of station (PCS) moves
- Credentialing and licensing issues across state lines
- Gaps in employment history
- Limited childcare opportunities
*Note: Veteran and retiree spouses were also included.
Because of these unique challenges, many military spouses are turning to entrepreneurship. Below is a visual that shows top motivations and reasonings for starting a business (Institute for Veterans and Military Families, 2024). To clarify, “Primary” refers to those who consider being a military spouse their main military connection, while “Secondary” applies to those for whom it’s a secondary affiliation.
If military spouses are starting businesses, what kind of businesses are they starting? Good question! The top types of businesses started are online (e-commerce), brick & mortar, and a blend of the two. Of course, starting a business is often just the first hurdle to leap over. After military spouses start their businesses, they may face financial, marketing and sales, regulation, business climate, and policy barriers. Despite navigating such challenges, in terms of financial performance, 54% of military spouse-owned businesses were profitable in 2021 (Institute for Veterans and Military Families, 2024). Providers who work in support of military spouses can help that percentage go up. You are uniquely situated to help military spouse entrepreneurs in their aim to develop a portable, empowering career path that ultimately travels with them.
How Can I Help?
- Connect military spouses to small business grants and resources
- Partnering with military installations to host entrepreneur or job-readiness workshops
- Supporting spouses through education and certification navigation
- Fostering community-building and networking among military spouse entrepreneurs
Ultimately, it is our job to provide systemic and community-based support. We must treat military spouses as a high-talent, under-leveraged workforce. Many helpful resources exist that you might not know about, all aimed at helping you help them, so why not start now to support such an incredible community?
If you are interested in learning more, register for our upcoming webinar Securing Capital and Mentorship as a Military Spouse Entrepreneur scheduled for May 29th, at 11:00 EST. Attendees will gain knowledge about military-specific funding sources, strategies to ensure business continuity during relocations, and how to tap into supportive mentorship communities tailored to military spouse entrepreneurs.
References:
Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. (2024). 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs: Military spouse entrepreneurs. Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University. https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent
Photo Credit: adrian_ilie825 | Adobe Stock 193697550
