Beyond the Ribbons: Why (and How) to Support Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses

By: Jay Wilson Disabled Veteran and Owner of Omen Engineering "Decorative Trailer Hitch Covers" (www.omen-engineering.com)

Every time you swipe your card or click "Add to Cart," you’re voting. You’re voting for the kind of world you want to live in, the types of products you want to see, and the entrepreneurs you want to succeed.

If you want your dollars to carry real, transformative weight, there’s an incredible sector of the economy worth your attention: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).

When a service member returns home with a service-connected disability, their mission doesn't end—it evolves. Millions of veterans channel their leadership, grit, and unique perspective into starting their own enterprises. Supporting them isn’t just an act of gratitude; it’s an investment in top-tier craftsmanship, relentless work ethic, and community resilience.

Why Support Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses?

It’s easy to think of veteran support solely in terms of holidays like Veterans Day or Memorial Day. But entrepreneurship is a 365-day-a-year endeavor. Here is why SDVOSBs deserve a permanent spot in your shopping habits:

• Unmatched Resilience and Ingenuity: Military training instills an intense capacity to adapt, problem-solve, and pivot under pressure. When you combine that foundation with the lived experience of navigating a disability, you get entrepreneurs who are incredibly innovative and simply refuse to quit.

• A Multiplier Effect for the Community: Veteran business owners are statistically much more likely to hire other veterans, military spouses, and individuals from underrepresented groups. Your purchase doesn't just support one business; it helps build a stable economic ecosystem for the entire military-affiliated community.

• Quality Born from Discipline: High standards aren't optional in the military; they're standard operating procedure. That focus on accountability translates directly into the products and services these businesses provide—whether it’s premium coffee, tech consulting, construction, or artisanal goods.

  

The Big Picture: There are over 1.7 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S., employing over 3 million people and generating hundreds of billions in revenue. A vital segment of these are run by individuals who sacrificed their health in the line of duty and are now building something entirely their own.

The Hidden Financial Gap: The "Wounded Veteran Tax"

You might assume that when a service member is medically retired due to combat injuries, the government completely backs them financially. Unfortunately, an outdated bureaucratic policy often leaves these veterans shortchanged, making their success as civilian entrepreneurs a matter of true financial survival.

Under current federal law, veterans who are forced into medical retirement before hitting the 20-year mark due to combat-related injuries face an unfair penalty known as the military retirement pay offset—or what the veteran community rightly calls the "wounded veteran tax."  

Why It’s Not "Double Dipping"

Opponents of changing this policy often throw around the term "double dipping," but that fundamentally mischaracterizes how these benefits are earned. These are two completely distinct forms of compensation that serve entirely different purposes:

• Military Retirement Pay is for Time Served: This is deferred compensation. It is a benefit rightfully earned through years of honorable, dedicated service in uniform.

• VA Disability Benefits are for Injuries Endured: This is indemnity compensation. It is paid explicitly to mitigate the lifelong physical, mental, and functional toll of injuries sustained while serving the country.

Forcing an offset between these two benefits implies that a veteran should have to trade away their retirement security to pay for their combat injuries. Because these programs recognize entirely separate sacrifices—one for time served, and one for health lost—they should never cancel each other out.  

The Penalty in Practice

Currently, for every dollar one of these combat-injured veterans receives in VA disability compensation, the government deducts a dollar from their Department of Defense retirement pay. In thousands of cases, a veteran's earned retirement check is wiped out entirely. They are essentially forced to fund their own disability compensation out of their own retirement bucket.  

To correct this injustice, veterans' advocates have been fighting fiercely for the passage of the Major Richard Star Act. Named after an Army Reserve Major who died from combat burn pit-related cancer, this bipartisan legislation would eliminate the offset. It ensures that medically retired, combat-injured veterans concurrently receive both their full retirement pay and their VA disability compensation—no penalties, no offsets.  

Because thousands of disabled veteran entrepreneurs are currently navigating this financial gap, building a business isn't just a passion project; it’s a vital path to self-reliance. When you choose to buy from them, you are directly helping bridge a systemic gap that federal law has yet to fix.

How to Actively Support SDVOSBs

Supporting these businesses goes far beyond a single transaction. Here are both financial and non-financial ways to make a lasting impact.

1. Shift Your Everyday Spending

You don't need to overspend to make a difference—just redirect what you’re already buying. Before you hire a contractor, buy corporate gifts, or restock your pantry, check if a disabled veteran-owned business offers what you need.

2. Put Your Social Capital to Work

If your budget is tight, your voice is free. Use your social media platforms to amplify your favorite veteran-led brands:

• Share their story: People buy from people. If a business owner shares their journey or their military-to-civilian transition, hit share.

• Tag them in community groups: When someone asks for recommendations on local Facebook pages or neighborhood apps, drop a link to an SDVOSB.

3. Leave Hyper-Specific Reviews

Word of mouth is the lifeblood of small businesses. When you have a great experience, leave a review on Google, Yelp, or social media. Don't just say, "Great job." Be specific: "The attention to detail was incredible, the team was professional, and they finished ahead of schedule." This builds massive credibility for businesses competing against corporate giants.

4. Push for Corporate and Government Diversity

If you work in corporate procurement, project management, or B2B sales, advocate for supplier diversity. The federal government mandates that a portion of its contracting budget go specifically to SDVOSBs, and many major corporations have similar goals. Check if your company is actively inviting these firms to bid on projects.

Where to Find Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses

Ready to shop but don’t know where to look? Finding these businesses is easier than ever thanks to dedicated digital directories:

Directory Name	What You'll Find
SBA Vet Cert Database	The official U.S. Small Business Administration database verifying legitimate veteran and service-disabled veteran businesses.
Veteran Owned Business (VOB)	A massive, comprehensive directory of thousands of businesses owned by veterans, active-duty military, and spouses.
Buy Veteran / NVBDC	Platforms connected to the National Veteran Business Development Council that highlight certified veteran enterprises.

Keep an eye out for official badges on company websites, like the SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) or VOSB certification seals. These tell you the business has been rigorously vetted, ensuring your money goes exactly where you intend it to.

Honor with Action

Saying "thank you for your service" is a kind gesture. But backing those words up with economic support is a game-changer. By intentionally seeking out and supporting disabled veteran-owned businesses, you help empower heroes to build successful, fulfilling civilian lives on their own terms.

The next time you're about to make a purchase, take an extra five minutes to look for a veteran-owned alternative. Your wallet has power—use it to build up the people who stood up for you.