Ask the Vetrepreneur: How to get your business off the ground

Q: I have a great business idea and a business plan. What do I do next?
A: Don’t quit your day job just yet. Continue working on your business idea on the side, like at night and on the weekend. Your business plan is a great starting point, but it will start changing on Day 1. It’s OK to deviate from your plan and tinker a bit to see what works and what doesn’t. If you get some traction and can’t keep up with demand, it may be time to consider making your new venture your full-time priority.
If you’re transitioning out of the military and are eager to start your own business, I recommend checking out VetToCEO. It offers a seven-week program called Entrepreneurship for Transitioning Warriors that teaches veterans how to take the skills learned in combat and apply them directly to business.
Q: I’ve started my own business, but I have no idea where to find mentors or resources.
A: There are many wonderful programs, incubators and resources available for veteran entrepreneurs; you should never feel you have to go through the process of starting a business alone.
For veteran business owners in the Washington, D.C., area wanting to break into government contracting, Eastern Foundry is a veteran-owned co-working space and accelerator for startups and small businesses. They provide mentors, professional service providers and business-development support teams that offer structured and personalized coaching for the businesses housed in their shared space.
The Bunker is another great program built by veteran entrepreneurs for veteran entrepreneurs. It targets existing veteran-owned tech startups and aspiring entrepreneurs to “come, create and conquer” the business world. They have several locations around the United States.
For more veteran resources, I recommend checking out Vets in Tech (ViT), Vet-Tech and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.

Mark Rockefeller is an entrepreneur, attorney and veteran. He is the co-founder and CEO of StreetShares, an online marketplace where investors compete to provide shares 
of commercial loans to small businesses.
Follow Rockefeller on Twitter @markrockefeller or StreetShares @StreetShares
Have a question? Send it to him at questions@streetshares.com.