Veteran-Owned Firms

About 14 percent of small employer businesses in the Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) were at least partially veteran-owned, with 9 percent being majority-owned by a veteran. Veteran-owned businesses are more likely to be men-owned and to have owners over 45 years old. Despite having similar credit risk to their counterparts, firms with majority veteran ownership are less likely to receive all the financing that they apply for.

Along with the owner’s veteran status, the SBCS collects other demographic characteristics of businesses’ owners, such as their age. Analyzing owner demographics in conjunction with firm demographics like industry provides a richer understanding of small business conditions.