by Dennis Zink

Attention: Our 20 million veterans represent 9 percent of the total U.S. population. There are 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. that contribute $195 billion in annual payroll and account for $1.1 trillion in annual receipts.

According to the study that produced those statistics, veterans have launched businesses at higher rates than non-veterans for many decades. Just 10 years ago, few programs for veterans taught entrepreneurship or provided tools to help them create sustainable businesses.