Why Hire a Veteran-Owned Business? An Honest Answer From One

I run a veteran-owned business, so you should read this knowing I'm not neutral. I'll try to be straight about it anyway. "Veteran-owned" is not a guarantee of anything. It doesn't make a vendor better at their trade, and plenty of non-veteran businesses are excellent.

The short answer: include one in your search if veteran participation matters to your purchase or you want to spend with purpose, verify the claim, and then judge the vendor on the work like any other.

So the honest question isn't "should I hire a veteran-owned business instead of everyone else?" It's "is it a good reason to include one in my search, and what should I check once I do?" That one has a real answer.

What "Veteran-Owned" Actually Means

The phrase gets used loosely, and three different things hide inside it:

• Veteran-owned (self-described). The owner served. Anyone can say this, and it isn't verified.
• Certified by the SBA (VOSB or SDVOSB). The federal certification, run through the SBA's VetCert program. It requires that veterans own and control at least 51% of the business, and for the service-disabled category, that the owner has a VA service-disability rating. See the SBA's veteran contracting programs page.
• Certified California DVBE. The state's Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certification, issued by the Department of General Services. It requires the business to be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10% and live in California. The details are in the DGS DVBE requirements.

For a buyer, a certification is worth more than a claim, because someone checked it and you can look it up.

For transparency: Alectronic Solutions holds the California DVBE and Small Business (Micro) certifications, and I'm a U.S. Army veteran. I don't hold SBA VetCert certification today. Everything I hold is listed on the government page.

Reasons to Include One in Your Search

You get a smaller business with a person you can reach. That's true of most small businesses, veteran-owned or not. When the owner does the work, you know who is accountable.

Some buyers have a practical reason. If you're a public agency or a prime contractor, veteran participation can matter to your paperwork:

• California sets a statewide 3% DVBE participation goal for state contracting, and many solicitations carry a DVBE incentive.
• State agencies can use the SB/DVBE Option for certain purchases between $5,000 and $250,000 with two certified quotes. I explain it in the Cal eProcure guide.
• Federally, the SBA just raised its FY2027 agency goal for veteran-owned small businesses to 10%. A goal isn't a guarantee, but it gives agencies and primes a reason to look.

You may simply want to spend locally and with purpose. That's a fine reason by itself. You don't have to justify it with a spreadsheet.

What It Doesn't Tell You

A veteran-owned label says nothing about:

• whether the vendor does the kind of work you need
• whether their prices are fair
• whether they'll still answer the phone in six months
• whether their work is good

Judge a veteran-owned vendor by the same standards as anyone else. For web work, the questions I'd ask any provider are in how to choose a web design company and who owns your website. A good vendor will answer them plainly, and so should I.

How to Check a Claim

If a business says it's veteran-owned and that matters to your purchase:

1. Ask which kind. Self-described, SBA-certified, or California DVBE?
2. Ask for the certification ID or UEI and look it up. How to find and verify veteran-owned businesses walks through where.
3. Check the expiration date. It should extend past your contract term.

That takes a few minutes and protects you from relying on a label that doesn't hold up.

Common Questions

Is a veteran-owned business better than another business? Not automatically. Ownership doesn't predict quality, so compare scope, price, and references as you would with anyone.

What is the difference between veteran-owned and a DVBE? Veteran-owned is a general description. A California DVBE is certified by the Department of General Services and requires disabled veteran ownership and control.

Can I rely on a "veteran-owned" badge on a website? Treat it as a claim. Ask for a UEI or certification ID and look it up.

A Fair Way to Decide

Put a veteran-owned business on your list of quotes. Compare the scope, the price, and the people. If a veteran-owned vendor is the best fit, you have an easy decision. If it isn't, hire the one that is. That's the arrangement I'd want from a buyer, too.

If you want a quote from me, send the scope. I'll reply within one business day with a quote or an honest "this isn't a fit."