Military & Veteran Business Resources

Fayetteville has several business programs built specifically for the military community. The right starting point depends on whether you are planning a business, transitioning from service, operating from housing on Fort Bragg, or pursuing government contracts.

Last verified

Program details and links were checked against official sources in August 2026. Contact the program before visiting or relying on a class date.

Choose the Right Starting Point

Your goal	Start here
Test an idea, write a business plan, or prepare for financing	FSU Veterans Business Outreach Center
Prepare for entrepreneurship while leaving military service	Fort Bragg TAP and Boots to Business
Start a business from government housing on Fort Bragg	Fort Bragg Home-Based Business Program
Improve or expand an existing business	SBTDC at Fayetteville State University
Sell to Fort Bragg, DoD, or another federal agency	NCMBC and federal contracting
Pursue veteran-owned federal set-asides	SBA VetCert
Sell to Fayetteville, Cumberland County, or North Carolina	Local and state vendor registration
Meet other veteran and military-spouse business owners	NC VetBiz

Planning, Counseling & Training

Veterans Business Outreach Center at FSU

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Fayetteville State University serves all of North Carolina. It works with transitioning and active-duty service members, veterans of any era, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses.¹

VBOC can help with:

• Business-plan development and concept assessment
• Budgeting, financial projections, and preparation to approach lenders
• Access-to-capital guidance
• Confidential counseling and mentoring
• Training, networking, market research, and resource referrals
• Preparation for federal contracting certification

Contact	Details
Address	Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur & Business HUB, 1073 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Phone	(910) 672-2683
Website	fsuvboc.com
Counseling request	Request VBOC counseling

Fort Bragg TAP and Boots to Business

Boots to Business is the SBA entrepreneurship course offered through the military Transition Assistance Program. It is free at participating installations for service members and military spouses. Boots to Business Reboot offers similar training away from an installation for veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses.²

Fort Bragg’s Transition Assistance Program includes an optional two-day entrepreneurship track. Separating service members should begin TAP well before separation and ask TAP or the FSU VBOC for the next entrepreneurship course date.³

Contact	Details
Fort Bragg TAP	(910) 432-4725
Email	usarmy.bragg.usag.mbx.dhr-tap@army.mil
Program page	Fort Bragg Transition Assistance Program
SBA overview	Boots to Business

SBTDC at Fayetteville State University

The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is not military-exclusive, but it is a useful next step for an existing small or midsize company. The Fayetteville office provides counseling on financing, financial performance, growth, new markets, leadership, and government contracting. It serves Cumberland and seven surrounding counties.⁴

Contact	Details
Address	1073 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Phone	(910) 672-1727
Email	fsu@sbtdc.org
Appointments	Request counseling

Starting or Operating a Business on Fort Bragg

Operating a Home-Based Business on Fort Bragg

A business operated from government housing on Fort Bragg needs installation approval. The Fort Bragg Home-Based Business Program is for military spouses and service members who want to operate an approved business from their on-post home.⁵

The installation’s process begins with the official application. Depending on the business, the owner may also need state or local registration, insurance, health and safety approval, or Family Child Care certification. Approval to live or enter Fort Bragg is not approval to conduct business there.

Contact	Details
Office	ACS Employment Readiness Program, Soldier Support Center, 3rd Floor, Building 4-2843, Normandy Drive
Phone	(910) 396-2390 or (910) 396-1425
Application and guidance	Fort Bragg Home-Based Business Program

Active-duty and federal ethics rules

Active-duty members and some federal employees may need approval before outside employment or business activity. The work cannot conflict with official duties, use government time or property, misuse rank or position, or rely on nonpublic information. Ask your commander and an ethics counselor before beginning activity that could overlap with your military or federal duties.⁶

Fort Bragg’s Administrative and Civil Law office implements the installation’s DoD ethics program. View the Fort Bragg office page.

Government Contracting

Selling to Fort Bragg and the Federal Government

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a statewide program headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Its purpose is to help North Carolina businesses compete for military and other federal opportunities.⁷

NCMBC can help a business understand the federal market, identify opportunities, prepare to compete, and connect with buyers and prime contractors. Its free MatchForce system matches registered North Carolina companies with contract opportunities.

Contact	Details
Fayetteville office	Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28302
Regional manager	Trent Ensley
Phone	(910) 678-0192
Email	trent@ncmbc.us
Website	ncmbc.us
Opportunity matching	MatchForce

Use NCMBC before paying a consultant

Federal registration and SBA certification applications are free. Start with NCMBC or VBOC counseling before paying a company to register the business, find solicitations, or prepare a certification application.

Being admitted to Fort Bragg as a visitor or vendor is separate from winning or performing a contract. Sponsored commercial vendors and contractors must follow the installation’s current access process.⁸

Veteran-Owned Business Certification (VetCert)

The SBA’s VetCert program certifies veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) for eligible federal contracting opportunities. The application is free.⁹

At a minimum, applicants must:

• Qualify as a small business under the applicable SBA size standard
• Be registered in SAM.gov
• Be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans
• Meet the additional service-disabled ownership requirement when applying as an SDVOSB

Use MySBA Certifications to apply. VBOC and NCMBC can help an owner decide whether certification fits the company’s market and prepare for the process.

Selling to Local and State Government

Veteran ownership does not automatically register a company with any buying agency. Each government has its own vendor system.

City of Fayetteville

The City encourages small and local businesses to participate in purchasing, construction, and professional-service opportunities. Complete the City’s vendor registration and ask Purchasing whether the business qualifies for the current small-business program.¹⁰

• City Purchasing and vendor information
• Purchasing: (910) 433-1329
• DTA guide to City and County RFPs

Cumberland County

Register through Cumberland County’s Vendor Self Service resources, then monitor the County’s bids and notices. Registration with the City does not register a business with the County.¹¹

• Cumberland County Vendor Resources
• Procurement: (910) 678-7753
• DTA guide to City and County RFPs

State of North Carolina

The NC electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) is the registration and solicitation system for state agencies, universities, community colleges, and participating local governments. A vendor can also apply for the current North Carolina Small Business Enterprise certification through eVP.¹²

• Register in NC eVP
• Official vendor training

Do not rely on old HUB instructions

North Carolina changed its state small-business administration in 2026. Use the current eVP and NC eProcurement pages above instead of an older guide that directs applicants to the former HUB office.

Networking & Peer Support

North Carolina Veterans Business Association

The North Carolina Veterans Business Association, also called NC VetBiz, is a statewide nonprofit network for veteran and military-spouse professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners. It offers connections, education, events, advocacy, and business visibility, including a Fayetteville regional presence.¹³

Website: ncvetbiz.org

This is a networking and membership organization, not a government certification agency. SBA VetCert is the relevant federal veteran-owned certification.

A Practical Order of Operations

1. Meet with VBOC to test the idea, clarify the customer, and build a plan.
2. If transitioning, enroll through Fort Bragg TAP and ask for Boots to Business.
3. If operating from on-post housing, obtain HBB approval before advertising or serving customers there.
4. Complete ordinary business formation and permits using the Starting a Business guide.
5. Choose a market: commercial customers, City/County/State purchasing, or federal/DoD contracting.
6. For federal work, meet with NCMBC before completing registrations or certifications.
7. Register only in the portals your customers actually use and keep every profile current.
8. Build relationships through NC VetBiz and local business groups while continuing one-on-one counseling through VBOC or SBTDC.

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Footnotes

1. Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University, official website and North Carolina DMVA VBOC program guide. ↩

2. U.S. Small Business Administration, Boots to Business. ↩

3. Fort Bragg, Transition Assistance Program. ↩

4. North Carolina SBTDC, Fayetteville office. ↩

5. Fort Bragg Army Community Service, Home-Based Business Program. ↩

6. U.S. Army Office of General Counsel, Military Member Guide to the Standards of Conduct (2026). ↩

7. North Carolina Military Business Center, About NCMBC and Fayetteville regional contact. ↩

8. Fort Bragg, Access Control. ↩

9. U.S. Small Business Administration, Veteran Small Business Certification. ↩

10. City of Fayetteville, Purchasing. ↩

11. Cumberland County, Vendor Resources. ↩

12. State of North Carolina, electronic Vendor Portal and NC eProcurement Vendor Training. ↩

13. North Carolina Veterans Business Association, About NC VetBiz. ↩