By Lookout Staff

November 25, 2013 -- Military veterans hoping to start a business or own a franchise can get basic training at a free bootcamp hosted by Santa Monica College.

In five sessions, “Vetrepreneur Bootcamp: Forces to Franchises” guides military veterans through the process of starting a business – from applying for an SBA loan to opening a franchise.

The program – offered by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SMC – “capitalizes on the intersection of veterans’ leadership skills and the structure of the franchise business,” college officials said.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which helps to fund the program, veterans are 45 percent more likely to become entrepreneurs than their civilian counterparts.

More than 151,000 veterans and military spouses have entered the franchising world since 2011, and more than 5,000 of them bought franchises, according to Entrepreneur magazine.

“For franchises, the drive to recruit veterans goes beyond wishing to honor their service,” the magazine wrote in an article that ran on Veterans Day this month. “Franchisors note that veterans have leadership experience and intense work ethic following their time in the military.

“For many veterans,” the article added, “franchising feels like a natural match. The structure and systems based organizational structure is familiar to veterans, and allow for a sense of community and camaraderie.”

Forces to Franchises presents a series of workshops that helps participants complete a business plan that can be included in a loan application package.

“Ultimately, the program seeks to increase the number of qualified veterans' loan applicants in the business community,” college officials wrote.

Forces to Franchises will run February 7 to April 4, 2014. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2013. The program is limited to 30 participants, so early sign-up is strongly encouraged, college officials said.

To obtain more information and apply for the program, visit smcsbdc.org/vetrepreneur-bootcamp.

Forces to Franchises is sponsored by Wilshire State Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, East West Bank, ed2go, Commonwealth Business Bank, Chase Bank, Business Finance Capital, and Boston Private Bank & Trust Company.

For more information about the SMC SBDC and its program visit smcsbdc.org or call (310) 434-3566.