Veterans aren’t just transitioning from military service—they’re launching powerhouse businesses. With 1.6 million veteran-owned small businesses generating $922 billion in revenue (5.3% of all U.S. employer business revenue) and employing 3.3 million workers, veterans outperform non-veterans in entrepreneurship. Studies show veteran-owned startups have higher success rates, often out-earning peers due to battle-tested skills that seamlessly translate to the boardroom.
At Leader’s Edge Consulting, we’ve seen firsthand how these skills fuel MASTER Growth Strategies success. Here are the top skills that make veterans unbeatable entrepreneurs:
1. Unwavering Leadership
Military vets lead under fire—literally. This translates to inspiring teams, making tough decisions, and fostering loyalty. Leadership is key to business success, with empowered teams 3.9x more likely to thrive. As military leader’s we spend our time teaching, mentoring, and grooming the next generation of leaders. This skill is severely lacking in many businesses, and it is why working for a veteran business owner is a great opportunity.
2. Discipline and Resilience
From boot camp routines to mission endurance, veterans excel at consistency and bouncing back. Discipline drives execution, helping owners stick to goals amid setbacks—crucial for the 78% of solo businesses under $50K revenue. Being a small business owner requires a lot of resilience to adapt to issues as they arise. A disciplined approach to your process also helps mitigate those issues and strengthens your business model.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration
Vets know no mission succeeds alone. This builds high-performing teams, boosting profitability by 21% in empowered cultures. Working together, communicating, and coordinating logistics is a huge part of business success. We do these things in the military repeatedly and it helps business owners as they plan each phase of business growth.
4. Risk Management and Problem-Solving
Assessing threats and improvising solutions is second nature. Veterans manage business risks like market shifts, with higher survival rates than non-vets. This is a very difficult thing for people who have never been in the military but to vetereans it is almost second nature. Veterans know how to weigh options and make decisions quickly and decisively which saves time and keeps the organization moving forward. This can also prove to be a key differentiator between a company and their competition.
5. Adaptability
Pivoting in dynamic environments? Vets thrive. 88% of executives expect more change in 2025—perfect for agile entrepreneurs. As will all military planning, the plan never survives first contact with the enemy. The same holds true with customers. Learning how to pivot to support customer demand and process changes is critical to keep a business successful. Just look at technology and the deman that creates to innovate and adapt to the world around us.
Real-World Proof
Veteran franchises employ 815,000 Americans, proving these skills scale. From multimillion-dollar ventures to resilient startups, vets lead the charge. From my experience, Veterans have all the skills that are required to build some of the most successful businesses. Our goal is to come along side and help veteran business owners navigate the waters successfully. That’s why we teach the MASTER Growth Strategies to our clients and help them implement the changes to guarantee their success.
