The Power of The Veteran Owned Business & Military Community
OUR POWER IN NUMBERS: The Veteran Owned Business & Military Community combined are without a doubt the most respected, politically influential and powerful consumer groups in America, a fact that is clearly made evident by size, revenue generated, consumer spending, popularity and support from a grateful nation. The veteran Owned Business Community Partnership Business Network is the largest and most powerful of its kind, whose members and supporters are derived from the various categories below
/ Give First - To Those Who Gave The Most
Support Our Nations Veterans
Buy Veteran - Do Business Veteran - Hire Veteran
Vet's First is a Community Business Partnership Enterprise founded by the United States Veterans Inc, Chamber of Commerce in partnership with various governmental agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations and veteran service organization throughout America, to provide the nations veteran owned business community, who business owners have suffered a disadvantage as a direct result of their heroic military service, with reciprocal, preferential business and contracting opportunities
The Veteran Owned Business Community
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Total Sale Receipts: 2.8 Trillion
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VOB Internet Traffic: 23 Million Monthly
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Number of Hits: 19 Million
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Social Media: 1.8 Million
ARMY - NAVY - AIR FORCE - MARINES - COAST GUARD
More than 3.7 million veteran-owned businesses—from sole proprietors to major corporations—generate an estimated $2.8 trillion in revenue, employ 8.2 million people, and produce $280 billion in annual payroll. When combined with the 167 million Americans connected to the military community—service members, veterans, families, and supporters—this represents one of the most influential economic and consumer forces in the United States.
This isn’t just a market segment—it’s a national economic engine.
Strategic Recommendations
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Prioritize partnerships within the veteran business ecosystem.
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Position your brand to serve military-connected consumers.
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Leverage veteran networks for referrals, contracts, and market access.
Because when you align with those who served, you align with trust, loyalty, and buying power—three forces that drive sustainable economic growth.
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VOB Community Population: 3.7 Million
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National Coverage: 52 States
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Number Employees: 8.2 Million
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Annual Payroll: $280 Billion
America's Military Community
America's Military Community
Army - Air Force - Navy - Marines - Coast Guard
Approximately 167.5 million Americans are connected to the military community, with the average dual-income military family earning about $107,000 annually. Across the United States, military-connected professionals hold influential roles in government, industry, and civic leadership—shaping decisions, markets, and public policy at every level.
This is more than a demographic—it’s a national influence network.
A network rooted in experience, discipline, trust, and loyalty—and one that consistently supports Veteran-Owned Businesses first.
Strategic Recommendations
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Align your brand with military values: integrity, service, and reliability.
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Build relationships within military and veteran leadership circles.
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Position your business where influence and trust already exist.
Because when you earn the confidence of the military community, you don’t just gain customers—you gain advocates.
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Average Family Income: $107.000.00
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M C Number of Hits: 42 Million
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Social Media: 18 Million
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Consumer Spending 2012: 3 Trillion
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Military Community Population: 167 Million
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National Coverage: 52 States
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Email Marketing DB: 65 Million
$3.7 Trillion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Across the United States, there are 87,504 governmental units, including 39,044 general-purpose local governments—3,043 counties and 36,001 sub-county jurisdictions—along with 13,726 school districts and 34,683 special districts.
For Veteran-Owned Businesses and Strategic Alliance Business Partners, this represents immeasurable entrepreneurial and contracting opportunities—both locally and nationally.
Every municipality, county, school district, and special district manages budgets and procurement pipelines requiring construction, technology, professional services, logistics, consulting, maintenance, and infrastructure support.
Key Benefits:
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Direct access to stable public-sector contracts
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Local contracting entry points that scale regionally and nationally
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Long-term government vendor relationships
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Increased revenue diversification and credibility
Where government operates, opportunity exists.
Veteran-Owned Businesses and Strategic Alliance Partners positioned inside this ecosystem don’t just compete—they gain sustainable access to one of the largest procurement markets in America.
The Department of Defense and U.S. military branches rely on a vast network of private-sector partners to accomplish their mission. In FY2020 alone, they employed approximately 766,000 service contractors supporting operations, logistics, technology, and infrastructure worldwide. By FY2022, defense contracting reached an extraordinary $760 billion in total awards.
This isn’t just spending—it’s opportunity.
An opportunity for capable businesses to step into one of the largest, most consistent procurement ecosystems in every community across the United States.
Where others see statistics, leaders see access. Where others see complexity, prepared businesses see contracts.
$360 Billion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
The United States Armed Forces—comprising the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard—represents one of the most powerful and sophisticated institutions in the world. With approximately 2.27 million Americans serving and annual funding exceeding $554 billion, plus $88.5 billion dedicated to overseas operations, this force is not only a pillar of national defense but a massive driver of innovation, employment, and economic activity.
This is more than military strength—it’s national infrastructure.
Strategic Recommendations
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Position your business to serve defense-sector needs.
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Build partnerships aligned with military standards of performance.
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Pursue contracting pathways tied to defense and support services.
Because where mission, scale, and investment meet—opportunity follows.
$552.4 Billion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Scale of Defense Contracting
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From 2020–2024, U.S. military contractors received approximately $2.4 trillion in Pentagon contracts — more than half of the Department of Defense’s discretionary budget over that period.
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In FY2023, the Department of Defense obligated about $445 billion in contracts — more than all other federal agencies combined.
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Defense contractors accounted for around 47 % of total U.S. military spending in 2023, with roughly $431 billion going to private-sector firms for products and services.
Contractor Workforce
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According to recent government reporting, the Department of Defense contracted about 400,000 prime and subprime contractor full-time equivalent labor positions in FY2024 — with the Army, Navy, and Air Force being the largest components.
Industry Structure
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There are over 41,000 defense contractors in the United States supplying products and services to federal and state governments.
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The defense contracting sector (including federal and state) generates approximately $1.1 trillion in annual revenue, making it one of the largest industrial markets in the country.
Major Players
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The largest defense contractors — such as Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics — receive a significant share of DoD obligations.
$554.2 Billion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Across America’s 938 metropolitan and micropolitan regions, there are 16,818 multinational enterprises—each employing 2,500+ professionals and collectively generating more than $2.5 trillion in revenue.
This isn’t just big business. This is concentrated economic power.
These corporations drive supply chains, control procurement channels, and influence markets at regional, national, and global levels.
Strategic Insight:
Businesses that position themselves to partner with even a fraction of these organizations gain access to scalable contracts, long-term revenue streams, and credibility that accelerates growth.
Recommendation:
Focus on relationship-driven market entry—build alliances, demonstrate capacity, and align your value proposition with corporate procurement priorities.
Because in today’s economy, access isn’t accidental—it’s strategic.
$2.5 Trillion !
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Across the nation’s 938 metropolitan and micropolitan markets, there are approximately 144,055 national corporations—each classified as large enterprises with 500+ employees and collectively generating more than $1.3 trillion in revenue.
This is where economic influence lives.
These companies control purchasing pipelines, vendor selection, and long-term contracts that shape entire industries.
Strategic Recommendations
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Position your business as a solution provider, not just a vendor.
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Align your capabilities with corporate procurement needs.
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Build relationships inside decision-making networks.
Because growth doesn’t come from chasing opportunities—
it comes from placing your business where opportunity already exists.
$1.3 Trillion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
America’s 23 million small businesses form the backbone of the U.S. economy—producing 54% of all sales, employing 55% of the workforce, and generating 66% of net new jobs since the 1970s. Among them, more than 600,000 franchised businesses alone drive 40% of retail sales and provide jobs to roughly 8 million Americans. Collectively, small businesses occupy an estimated 20–34 billion square feet of commercial space nationwide.
This isn’t a sector—it’s an economic powerhouse.
Strategic Recommendations
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Partner with small businesses to scale reach quickly and cost-effectively.
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Leverage franchise networks for rapid market penetration.
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Prioritize B2B alliances within local markets where purchasing decisions are made fastest.
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Because when small business grows, markets move—and those positioned alongside them grow faster.
$2.3 Trillion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
More than 2.3 million nonprofit organizations operate across the United States, forming a powerful economic force that contributed $804 billion to GDP—about 5.5% of the entire U.S. economy. In a single reporting period, the sector generated $1.51 trillion in revenue, managed $2.71 trillion in assets, and attracted nearly $300 billion in private charitable contributions.
This is not just philanthropy—this is economic infrastructure.
Strategic Recommendations
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Build partnerships with nonprofits to expand credibility, reach, and community trust.
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Align products or services with mission-driven initiatives to unlock grant and funding pathways.
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Position your organization as a value partner, not just a vendor.
Because the organizations shaping communities are also shaping markets—and those who collaborate with them gain both impact and influence.
$1.45 Trillion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Across the United States, there are more than 35,000 veterans’ posts and war-veteran organizations, representing roughly 2% of all nonprofit institutions nationwide and generating over $1.2 billion in annual revenue.
This is more than a network—it’s a nationwide force of trust, leadership, and influence.
These organizations sit at the center of communities, decision-making circles, and local economies, making them powerful partners for outreach, contracting, and collaboration.
Strategic Recommendations
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Build authentic partnerships with veteran organizations to establish credibility and trust.
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Support their missions through sponsorships or joint initiatives to strengthen visibility.
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Engage locally—because influence within veteran networks often scales nationally.
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Those who align with those who served don’t just grow their reach—they multiply their impact.
$586.00 Billion!
Potential Contracting Opportunities
Across the United States, there are over 30,000 incorporated towns and cities. According to the National League of Cities, 19,429 municipal governments actively operate nationwide—supported by 100,000+ political appointees serving constituents at every level of public leadership.
This isn’t just government structure—it’s a nationwide decision-making network.
Each municipality represents contracts, partnerships, procurement channels, and policy influence that shape local economies.
Strategic Recommendations
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Engage municipalities directly to access local contracting pipelines.
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Build relationships with city decision-makers and administrative leaders.
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Position your organization as a solution provider for community needs.
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Because those who understand how local government works don’t chase opportunity—
They meet it at the source.
An Invaluable Resource
Advocating For Veterans in Businessn Busi
Who do you know that isn’t connected—directly or personally—to someone who serves or has served in the military? In reality, most people across the United States are personally connected to a service member or veteran through family, friendship, work, or community ties. That means the military community’s influence extends far beyond those in uniform—it reaches into nearly every household, workplace, and marketplace in the nation.
Recent research shows that 88% of Americans say they prefer to do business with veteran-connected companies when given the choice.
This isn’t just goodwill—it’s market behavior.
Strategic Recommendations
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Highlight veteran affiliation prominently in branding and marketing.
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Build partnerships within military and veteran networks.
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Tell your service story—because trust converts to transactions.
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When your mission includes service, your brand earns something money can’t buy: respect. And respect drives business.