Stop starting from scratch. Acquire a profitable business with full support.
Veteran Business Acquisition:
Buy an Existing Business with Proven ETA Training
501(c)(3) Nonprofit | 100+ Veterans Supported
How Veterans Are Buying — and Leading —
Established Businesses
The military gave you leadership skills most executives spend careers trying to develop.
Owners In Honor™ gives you the framework to put them to work.
Through Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), veteran business acquisition means stepping directly into an operating company — one with existing revenue, an established customer base, and a team already in place. No startup risk. No year one losses. Just a proven business and a veteran leader ready to take the helm.
Our program combines structured ETA education, one-on-one coaching, capital access, and a community of fellow veterans who’ve already made the leap. From your first search call to your closing day — and every operational challenge after — Owners In Honor™ is in your corner.
Why Buy Instead of Start?
Most veteran entrepreneurs are handed the same advice: “Start a business.” But no one talks about the odds. Traditional startups carry enormous risk, require years of runway before profitability, and fail the majority of the time. Veteran business acquisition through ETA is a fundamentally different approach — and a smarter one.
80% of startups fail within the first five years. Existing businesses have proven revenue, validated customers, and established operations — giving veteran buyers a measurable head start.
Starting from Scratch
Identify, evaluate, and purchase a profitable small business using SBA financing, seller financing, or a combination of both.
- Day 1 Revenue = $0.00
- No Customer Base
- Unproven Proof of Concept
- 80% Failure Rate in 5 Years
- 2-4 Years Until Profitable
- Limited & High-Risk Financing Options
- No Established Team
- Uncertain Scalability
Buying an Existing Business
Step into leadership with the backing of a veteran community, experienced advisors, and ongoing operational resources.
- Established Cash Flow
- Existing Customer Base
- Market Validated Proof of Concept
- Significantly Lower Failure Rate
- Immediate Profitability
- SBA 7(a) & Seller Financing Options
- Existing Team In Place
- Proven Scalability & Operations
Buyer Basecamp:
The Owners In Honor™ Buyer Program
Buyer Basecamp is the Owners In Honor™ Phase I program — the foundational preparation stage where veteran buyers build financial readiness, define their acquisition strategy, and position themselves to enter the market with discipline and credibility.
Our buyer program is built around the realities of veteran business acquisition — not a generic entrepreneurship course. Every phase is designed to move you forward with clarity, accountability, and the right people in your corner.
Phase 0: Pre-Climb Checks
(4–8 weeks)
Before entering the acquisition market, we check everything. Personal readiness, financial positioning, family alignment, and a clearly defined Buy Box — the acquisition criteria that guides your entire search. This phase ensures you enter the market with intention, not just ambition. Your Buy Box is the set of criteria that defines your ideal acquisition target — industry, geography, business size, revenue range, and operator fit.
Phase 1: Education & Training
(3–6 months)
Build the foundation. Learn the mechanics of ETA from the ground up — how to evaluate deals, read financials, structure offers, and navigate due diligence. Our curriculum is informed by leading acquisition frameworks and adapted for the veteran mindset. You’ll finish this phase knowing exactly what to look for — and what to walk away from. Delivered in partnership with SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs).
Phase 2: Search & Acquisition
(6–12 months)
Hit the field with confidence. With your training complete, you’ll begin actively sourcing and evaluating acquisition targets. Owners In Honor™ provides access to vetted deal flow, introduces you to financing partners (including SBA lenders), and pairs you with advisors who’ve done this before. We stay in the search with you until you find the right business.
Phase 3: Transition & Onboarding
(3–6 months)
Close and command. Once you’ve signed a purchase agreement, we guide you through the operational handoff — from seller transition planning to employee communication to the first 90 days of leadership. This phase is where training meets reality, and we make sure you’re not navigating it alone.
Phase 4: Ongoing Support
(Lifetime)
Ownership doesn’t end at close. As an Owners In Honor™ Fellow, you have lifetime access to our operator community, advisory network, and continuing education resources. Whether you’re scaling, troubleshooting, or preparing your own exit — your community is still there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is the process of searching for, purchasing, and operating an existing, profitable small business rather than starting one from scratch. It's a well-established path in the business world — and one that's uniquely well-suited to veterans, who bring the leadership, discipline, and operational mindset that acquired businesses need.
The program moves through four phases: Education & Training (3–6 months), Search & Acquisition (6–12 months), Transition & Onboarding (3–6 months), and Lifetime Ongoing Support. Each phase has defined milestones, dedicated support resources, and access to advisors with direct ETA experience.
Yes. Owners In Honor™ is a veteran-focused nonprofit. Our programs, community, and resources are built specifically for U.S. military veterans and are designed to honor and leverage the skills developed during service.
No prior business ownership experience is required. What matters most is the leadership foundation, mission discipline, and coachability you developed in service. We provide the business education — you provide the drive.
We work across a wide range of small-to-medium business categories, including service businesses, home services, healthcare support, manufacturing, logistics, and more. We help you identify industries that match your background, financial profile, and long-term goals.
Franchising requires you to buy into a brand's system and pay ongoing royalties. ETA involves acquiring an independently owned, existing business — giving you full operational control, equity ownership, and the ability to build and exit on your own terms. There are no franchise fees, no royalty agreements, and no brand restrictions.
The most common financing tools in veteran business acquisition include SBA 7(a) loans, seller financing (where the seller carries a portion of the purchase price), search fund equity, and combinations of the above. Owners In Honor™ connects buyers with SBA-approved lenders and financing advisors who specialize in small business acquisitions.
From program entry to business ownership, the typical timeline is 12–24 months. This varies based on search duration, deal complexity, financing structure, and individual pace. We work with you every step of the way, however long it takes to find and close the right deal.
Owners In Honor™ is a nonprofit. Our mission is to make veteran business acquisition accessible — not to profit from it. Please contact us directly to discuss program enrollment and any associated costs or funding assistance available.
You don't graduate — you level up. As an Owners In Honor™ Fellow, you retain lifetime access to our operator network, peer advisory groups, and ongoing educational resources. We remain your support structure through growth, challenges, and your eventual exit.
Comprehensive Support
Throughout Your Journey
Veteran business acquisition is not a solo mission. Owners In Honor™ builds a full support structure around every buyer — from first search to final close and beyond.
Industry-Leading ETA Curriculum
Our curriculum covers the full acquisition lifecycle: financial statement analysis, business valuation, deal structuring, due diligence, LOI drafting, and operator transition planning. Built for veterans. Taught by practitioners.
1-on-1 Expert Guidance
Every fellow is paired with an experienced advisor who has direct ETA or business acquisition experience. Your coach helps you stay accountable, think through decisions, and avoid costly mistakes at every phase.
SBA Loan Assistance & Financing Partners
We connect you with SBA-approved lenders and financing advisors who specialize in veteran small business acquisition. We help you understand your options, build your financial profile, and approach lenders with confidence.
Access to Vetted Opportunities
Through our broker relationships, seller network, and proprietary sourcing channels, we give buyers access to off-market and pre-screened acquisition opportunities aligned with their search criteria.
M&A, Legal & Financial Experts
Our advisor network includes M&A attorneys, CPAs, business brokers, and financial consultants with deep ETA experience. You don’t have to find the right team — we’ve already built one for you.
Network of Fellow Veteran Entrepreneurs
There is no substitute for peers who’ve done what you’re attempting. Our fellow community connects you with veterans at every stage of the acquisition journey — from first-time searchers to multi-unit operators — for mentorship, accountability, and shared learning.
"I came in knowing nothing about how to buy a business. I left with a signed deal, a great SBA loan, and a community I'll have for life."
Is This Program
Right for You?
Owners In Honor™ is not a general business education program. It’s built for a specific kind of person — and if this describes you, you’re exactly who we’re looking for.
Ideal Candidates
- U.S. military veteran (any branch, any era)
- Motivated by ownership, not just employment
- Willing to invest 12–24 months in a structured search process
- Coachable and open to feedback
- Looking for a business with existing cash flow, not a startup
- Ready to lead a team from Day 1
- Committed to building something that outlasts you
What We Look For
Financial Readiness:
Most acquisition financing requires some level of personal investment or liquidity. We'll help you understand exactly where you stand and how to prepare — but some financial foundation is expected.
Leadership Discipline:
We look for veterans who treat ownership as a mission — with the same accountability, standards, and follow-through they brought to service.
Growth Mindset:
ETA is a process. The best buyers are ones who stay coachable, stay patient, and stay focused — even when the search feels long. We're looking for resilience, not perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buyer Basecamp is the Owners In Honor™ Phase I program — the foundational preparation stage where veteran buyers develop financial readiness, define their acquisition strategy, build lender relationships, and position themselves to enter the market with credibility. It is the structured starting point for every fellow before they begin actively searching for a business to acquire.
A Buy Box is the set of defined criteria that guides a buyer's acquisition search — including target industry, geography, business size, revenue range, EBITDA floor, and operator fit. Rather than evaluating every opportunity that crosses their path, buyers with a clearly defined Buy Box can move faster, filter more efficiently, and make better decisions. Owners In Honor™ helps every fellow build their Buy Box before they ever speak to a broker.
Yes — and many veterans do. Your leadership skills transfer across industries. We help you identify businesses that align with your management strengths, not just your technical background. Many of the best acquisitions happen when veterans step into industries they didn't previously work in.
In most acquisition deals, the seller agrees to a transition period — typically 3 to 12 months — where they train the new owner, introduce them to key customers and vendors, and provide operational continuity. We help you negotiate a transition agreement that protects your investment.
This depends on your status and timeline. We encourage active duty members approaching separation to begin the education phase early. Reserve and Guard members should discuss timing and commitment level with an advisor to determine the right entry point.
Business valuation is a core part of our ETA training curriculum. You'll learn how to analyze financial statements, calculate EBITDA multiples, and evaluate deal terms before you ever make an offer. Your advisor and our affiliated M&A professionals will also review any deal you're considering.
Deals fall through — it's a normal part of the process. When it happens, we regroup, debrief, and keep searching. Our advisors help you understand why a deal didn't work and how to apply those lessons to the next opportunity. The search doesn't end until you close on the right business.
Attend an Event to Learn More
The best way to understand what Owners In Honor™ does is to be in the room with us. Our events are built for veterans at every stage — whether you’ve never heard of ETA or you’re actively searching for your first acquisition target.
Your Next Mission Starts Here
Complete your buyer inquiry below and an Owners In Honor™ advisor will be in touch within 48 hours.
Your information is private and will only be used to match you with the right program resources. We do not sell or share your data.
Acquire with discipline. Grow with intention. Exit with honor.