Military Spouse Entrepreneurs 

National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (2022)

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Summary 

The 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs provides detailed insights into the experiences and challenges of military spouse entrepreneurs. This term encompasses spouses and partners of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members, as well as veterans and retirees. Based on data from 243 current business owners who self-identify as military spouses, 80% of whom are female, the findings reveal robust entrepreneurial activity alongside critical support needs to ensure their success in the business landscape.

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Key Insights

The data shows significant challenges in the traditional job market, driving many military spouses toward entrepreneurship as a flexible and accommodating career path.

Positive Role of Entrepreneurship

Many military spouses find entrepreneurship a rewarding alternative, contributing positively to their professional lives.

36% agree that entrepreneurship has positively contributed to their professional life.

Career Impact

The data shows significant challenges in the traditional job market, driving many military spouses toward entrepreneurship as a flexible and accommodating career path.

46%

feel that being a military spouse had a negative effect on their ability to pursue a career.

46%

feel that being a military spouse had a negative effect on their ability to pursue a career.

47%

feel they were treated differently or did not get a job because they are a military spouse.

Starting the Business

A significant number of military spouse entrepreneurs are first-time business owners, often entering the field out of necessity rather than opportunity.

67%

reported that this business is their first business.

49%

spend more than 35 hours per week on the business.

29%

entered entrepreneurship more out of necessity than opportunity.

Financial Needs

Financial constraints are a significant hurdle, with many military spouse entrepreneurs needing modest amounts of capital and facing high-interest debt.

28%

of military spouse entrepreneurs can fully support themselves or their families through their businesses.

50%

needed $25k or less to grow their business in 2021.

36%

of these businesses carry debt, with 40% paying interest rates higher than 10%.

17%

were turned down for credit or were not given as much as they applied for.

High Entrepreneurial Spirit

Military spouse business owners exhibit a strong entrepreneurial drive, with many seeking to create positive social impact through their ventures.

74%

consider themselves entrepreneurs.

48%

view themselves as social entrepreneurs focused on solving social, cultural, or environmental issues.

Veteran working on his computer to run his business.

National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (NSMAE)

What's really standing between military-affiliated entrepreneurs and success? NSMAE is on a mission to find out with a multi-year study that seeks to better understand military-affiliated entrepreneurs. 

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