You’ve been released from the military. You are making that leap from military to civilian life, and now wonder, what next? You may have always had a desire to start your own business. As a vet, you have skills, talent, and experience. You have acquired teamwork and leadership knowledge. You have the drive to make a business successful. Never run a business before? No problem! Below are guides on who to contact to get things started and a list of Canadian Veteran companies to look at to light the fires of inspiration for the next chapter of your journey in the military.
The first stop should be boot camp! Yes, that’s right, I said boot camp. The Veteran Business Boot Camp is a 6-week practical, interactive online program designed to develop your skills and the strategies needed to succeed with your business. The Canadian Legacy Project covers the program’s costs. Upon graduation, you will receive a certificate of achievement and have access to the network of other Canadian graduates. The goal is to aid in your success with your business, connect you to other Veteran-run enterprises, and encourage you to hire Vets when you can.
Here are a few examples of these Veteran Run companies to check out!
Corporal4Life Apparel: Corporal4Life is a Veteran-owned apparel company that began as a way for serving and former serving CAF members to show their pride in service and their country. It grew into a Canadian brand for Canadians of all backgrounds. Corporal4Life donates 10% of its profits to charitable Veteran organizations.
Arrowhead Coffee Company Ltd: Arrowhead feels that coffee is the drink that brings people together. Their goal was to create a supportive community to help Veterans and First Responders thrive. They give back to organizations with common beliefs: Team Rubicon Canada, Walk for the Wounded, V42 Foundation, and Warriors Adventures Canada.
Doghouse Brewing Company is a father-son veteran-owned and operated brewery. Brewing beer is their passion. Each brew name has a story behind it, whether it relates to a Regiment, a soldier, or a popular gathering spot in CFB Petawawa, ON.
Army to Artist: Mary Felder, a retired CAF member, is now an artist specializing in depicting Canadian Forces military iconography. She works with the client to customize, tailor, illustrate, and immortalize their service career. She creates medals, trade badges, awards, decorations, and personalized dog tags.
Bush Wookie: Bush Wookie is a spin on words we like to call people who love the outdoors. Much like Chris Ward, who embraced the outdoors, his artwork is also inspired by his 19 years of service in the Canadian Military. He created his company one image at a time. Artwork, images, logos, and apparel have all been hand-crafted and digitally formatted by David.
Blackbird Industries: Blackbird Industries was founded by a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot who wanted better quality gear available from kit shops. It is a one-stop shop for military, police, and fire units. Blackbird began with two small products in 2017 and grew exclusively by word of mouth through the Canadian Forces. Shirts, hats, stickers, patches, and flags are just a few of the items in their arsenal.
Arrowhead Coffee: A Canadian veteran-owned and operated coffee roaster inspired while deployed with the Canadian Armed Forces. The company was started to help the military and first responder community. This is done by supporting the greater Sheepdog community, including veterans, law enforcement, and emergency services. They support Team Rubicon Canada, Walk for the Wounded, Warrior Adventures Canada, and the V42 Foundation. They aim to create a supportive community to help veterans and first responders thrive.
Joint Force Tactical: With a combined 80 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and Professional Law Enforcement Agencies, the team at Joint Force Tactical provides law enforcement, military, and first responders with clothing and gear. They choose field-tested equipment and apparel that has been proven both domestically and on international operations. The Joint Force Tactical team constantly pursues the latest equipment designed to make you faster, safer, and more agile.
Six One Charlie: Call sign Six One Charlie is an elite reconnaissance unit within the military. To be a recon soldier means to be a skilled and highly trained military member responsible for getting information about enemy forces and providing intelligence to their unit. They take as much pride in their high-quality clothing brand as in serving our country overseas.
Taking that next step from your military career to civilian life can be stressful, overwhelming, and terrifying. It can leave you feeling alone and adrift with no purpose or safety net. There are resources out there that can help, and if starting a business is one of them, I hope you found the resources here helpful and insightful. To view more Veteran companies, or want to register your own new business, or even mentor a Veteran who wants to leap business owner, please check out BuyAchetonsveterans.ca.