In an earlier blog, I was excited to hear about the SBA’s new Patriot Loan program to help service members start a business. My husband owns a gun store (www.fbmginc.com) and will be in business two years end of this year. Excited when he also heard about this program he spoke with several banks about expanding his business. The SBA has told him he needs to talk with a local bank. He has spoken with numerous banks and they all tell him he needs an incredible amount of money to guarantee it, along with tons of red tape. Also he has to be in business two years. That doesn’t help a start up now does it. DUH He’s a new business owner. Other than our house, what more can we guarantee and we’ve been profitable over the last 18 months doesn’t that count for something.
I think it is sad the SBA’s materials makes it sound like getting help from them is SO easy. They make is sound like a service member can come home from war and they’ll help them open a business. They are completely misleading service members and their families. I really makes me sad to find out companies TOUT they are helping military families, when really they are not. But boy does is make good PR for them.
I am committed to help military families cut through the clutter on programs and services available to them! We’ll here is one that doesn’t work!
Posted by Meg 
