Boots to Business

Boots to Business (B2B) is a free entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program. B2B provides participants with an overview of business ownership and is open to transitioning service members and their spouses.

The curriculum provides assistance to those interested in exploring business ownership or other self-employment opportunities by leading them through the key steps for evaluating business concepts and providing foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan. In addition, participants are introduced to SBA resources available to access start-up capital, technical assistance and contracting opportunities.

A two-day "Introduction to Entrepreneurship" course is offered for those interested in learning more about the opportunities and challenges of business ownership. Subject matter experts and practitioners from the SBA and its network of partners teach the course at over 180 military installations worldwide. Participants learn business fundamentals and techniques for evaluating the feasibility of their business concepts.

After completing the Introduction to Entrepreneurship class, service members and their spouses can elect to further their study through an instructor guided high-touch eight-week online course taught by professors from a consortium of accredited universities led by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. By dedicating a minimum of ten hours per week to connected and independent study, participants work through the fundamentals of developing an actionable business plan.

After completing Boots to Business, participants will have the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, and launch their enterprise.