Each Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s a solemn and sacred day, not for celebration but for reflection. Yet, in remembering the fallen, we also honor the living — those who continue to carry forward the spirit of service in new ways.
Among them are veteran entrepreneurs—men and women who traded uniforms for business plans and now build communities, create jobs, and fuel innovation across the country.
The Service Mindset Doesn’t Retire
What makes veterans such impactful business owners isn’t just their leadership experience or work ethic. It’s the mindset of mission — the ability to operate under pressure, lead with clarity, and stay focused on a purpose bigger than oneself.
Veterans are trained to make decisions with limited resources and high stakes — skills that directly relate to business ownership realities. But even more importantly, many bring with them a deep desire to continue serving — this time through economic impact, mentorship, and community building.
The Economic Impact of Veteran-Owned Businesses
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the United States. These companies:
- Employ more than 5 million people
- Generate over $1 trillion in annual revenue
- Represent every industry, from tech startups to construction, logistics, agriculture, and beyond
But these numbers tell only part of the story. Many veteran-owned businesses go out of their way to hire fellow veterans, support military families, and reinvest in local communities. Their companies often become a new kind of mission — rooted in rebuilding lives, not just balance sheets.
What Can We Do This Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is not about sales or slogans. It’s a time to reflect and act with intention.
Here are a few ways we can meaningfully support the legacy of service this week:
- Support veteran-owned businesses by making a purchase, sharing their work online, or leaving a positive review.
- Donate to or volunteer with organizations that empower veteran entrepreneurs (e.g., Bunker Labs, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, StreetShares Foundation).
- If you’re a business owner or leader, consider highlighting veterans on your team or creating partnerships that open doors for veteran founders.
Legacy Beyond the Battlefield
As we honor those who gave all, let’s also recognize those who continue to give — not through military service but through the quiet, determined work of building something new.
Veteran entrepreneurs carry forward the same values they served with: courage, duty, and commitment. This Memorial Day, we can honor those values by seeing their next mission — as builders, leaders, and citizens — for what it truly is: another form of service.
David Weaver is the Founder of Franchise Your Freedom and a senior consultant with FranChoice, the premier national network of franchise consultants. David helps people all over the country find the right franchise fit by sharing his personal experience and philosophy on how to select the right brand. He shares proven strategies and over a decade of experience growing franchise companies for himself with those that are doing it for the first time.
