Written by: Lizann Lightfoot
Military spouse entrepreneurs often have great business ideas but limited financial knowledge. As their service provider, you can make a huge difference by having the right resources ready to share.
Why Military Spouses Need Different Resources
Military families move every 2-3 years on average, according to the Department of Defense (Office of People Analytics, 2025). This means military spouse entrepreneurs face challenges that civilian business owners never think about. They need businesses that work no matter where they live, and they need financial plans that account for frequent relocations.
When you’re helping military spouse entrepreneurs, remember they can’t rely on the same local networks and stable markets that other business owners take for granted. Their success depends on building truly portable businesses from day one.
Simple Budget Planning That Works
Many military spouses feel overwhelmed by business budgeting, but you can help them start simply. The most important thing is tracking income and expenses consistently for cash flow and tax purposes.
Cash flow can be unpredictable for startup businesses, especially for military spouses who may lose clients during moves. Having clear visibility into money coming in and going out helps them make better decisions.
A basic spreadsheet works for many beginners. Encourage your clients to number all their invoices and track when they get paid. This simple system becomes important when they need to follow up on late payments months later – something that happens more often than you’d think with small businesses.
Business Plan Resources for Military Life
When pointing military spouse entrepreneurs toward business planning resources, focus on tools that address military life realities. The Small Business Administration offers free business plan templates and startup cost calculators. These tools are straightforward and don’t require accounting expertise to use.
The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University provides a digital library of business planning resources specifically designed for military families. Their Bunker Lab Programs help entrepreneurs think through maintaining client relationships across state lines and planning for business continuity during moves.
SCORE’s Veteran and Military Spouse Program offers Boots to Business classes on military installations. This two-day introductory course shares resources and steps to launch a business, including the development of a business plan.
Creating a Resource Toolkit
Military spouse entrepreneurs succeed when you have resources readily available that address their unique situation. Consider putting together a simple resource guide for the military spouse entrepreneurs you work with. Include a checklist of budget items they might not think about, such as:
- Professional licenses that might not transfer
- Business registration fees for multiple states
- Technology tools for managing clients remotely
- Emergency funds for business disruptions related to moves
- Marketing costs for building a new local presence
Also, create a simple decision tree to help them evaluate if their business idea is truly portable. Key questions: Can this business operate entirely online? Will different state regulations affect operations? How will they maintain client relationships during or after moves?
Be a Resource Hub Connecting Military Spouses to Expert Help
While you can provide valuable guidance and support, complex financial planning often needs specialized help. Consider your services as a resource hub, pointing military spouses to expert, tailored advice. Consider developing connections with the following organizations:
- Local Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): offer free business consulting and often have counselors trained in military spouse business challenges.
- Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP): connects military spouses with business planning resources and employers who understand military life.
- American Corporate Partners (ACP): pairs military spouses with corporate professionals for year-long mentoring relationships that include business planning help.
Help your clients understand that successful military spouse businesses require planning for portability from the very beginning. This shift in thinking to building a business that works anywhere could be the difference between entrepreneurial success and failure.
By keeping these resources handy and understanding what makes military spouse entrepreneurship different, you become the bridge between their business dreams and practical success. Thanks for supporting the Milspouse community!
For more details on funding sources and mentorship programs for military spouse entrepreneurs, please watch the webinar “Securing Capital and Mentorship as a Military Spouse Entrepreneur.”
References:
Office of People Analytics. (2025). 2024 Active Duty Spouse Survey. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/survey-findings/spouse-survey/
Photo Credit: Andrey Popov | Adobe Stock 100777578
