Veterans in business

Johnnie Janes considers himself a normal business owner, and in certain ways he is. He pays his taxes, he works long hours.

But Janes is unusual in one way: He's a veteran of the U.S. military.

A recent study from the U.S. Census Bureau shows veterans made up nearly 15 percent of business owners in 2002, the most recent data it has. Census statistics show about 3 million business owners who responded to a survey were veterans.

"That pretty closely correlates with the population of veterans," said Michael Bergman, spokesman for the Census Bureau. "This is the first time we've gone into depth on the veterans."

The report also showed nearly 7 percent of the veteran business owners were disabled from injuries suffered during their military service.

The Utah Division of Veterans' Affairs helps veterans learn about business and gives them opportunities to start their own. The division works with the U.S. Small Business Administration and sponsors workshops for veterans about owning a business.

"We think that's worthwhile, because we have found that many veterans that have difficulty with employment choose to go into business for themselves," said Terry Schow, director of the Utah division.

Institutions like Salt Lake Community College offer business programs for interested veterans, Schow said.

He said the military teaches structure and discipline, which are good things for people wanting to go into business.

Census statistics show characteristics — such as the type of customer and number of hours worked — of veteran business owners are virtually the same as those for nonveteran business owners, Bergman said.

The census did find two differences. Veteran business owners tend to be older when they start a business and have more education, especially postgraduate degrees. They are also more likely to have graduated from high school.

"The older you get the more education you tend to acquire," Bergman said.

Janes, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, fits in those categories. He received a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Utah and started his own architectural business 10 years ago. However, he doesn't see himself as a veteran business owner, rather a veteran and a business owner.

"I just started (my business) as being me," he said.

Although Janes didn't use it, the government gives assistance for veterans who start a business. Both the state and federal governments have veteran preference programs to help veterans find jobs, Schow said.

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E-mail: csmith@desnews.com