ColumbiaTribune:

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that there are nearly 5.5 million military veteran entrepreneurs in the country. Although the number varies slightly each year, on average 22 percent of veterans either purchase or start a business annually. Experts tell us many return from active duty with a newfound confidence in themselves and their ideas. They have endured adversity, and they feel equipped to take on the challenge and the risk involved in becoming self-employed. What’s even better is that more than 72 percent of those entrepreneurs expect to hire at least one employee in their company.

Because of their familiarity with and affinity for processes and systems such as those learned in the military, many veterans are very comfortable with franchise opportunities, many of which rely heavily on structured systems for managing the business.

Other SBA findings include the fact that more than one-third of veteran business owners used skills they learned in the military in starting their own enterprise. And in addition to technical skills, veterans who served longer terms often have had training in a variety of other useful areas, such as time management, supervision, budgeting, supply chain and employee relations.