economy
Inside the unique challenges of military spouse entrepreneurs: 'Not everybody is going to understand this life'
Military spouses turn to entrepreneurship amid high rates of unemployment. They face high barriers to success, but a growing coalition is pushing for more help.
TL;DR
- Military spouses face a 20% unemployment rate, leading many to entrepreneurship.
- Frequent military family relocations (every 2.5 years on average) pose significant challenges for business continuity and growth.
- Entrepreneurs like Cece Meadows (Prados Beauty) and Karen Hetz (Kids' Cake Boxes) share experiences of seeking funding and navigating logistical hurdles.
- Legislation is being proposed to direct the Small Business Administration to create specific training programs for military spouse entrepreneurs and to increase federal funding.
- Advocacy groups like the Association for Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE) and the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce (MSCC) are working to remove obstacles and support these entrepreneurs.
- The Department of Defense offers some support through programs like SpouseWorks, but federal assistance levels are debated.
- Military spouse entrepreneurs often rely on a strong internal community for support and initial customers.
- Emotional stress from military life, including deployments and conflicts, can further impact their businesses.