Let’s Get Your Business Started

Military members transitioning out of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and wanting to start their own business can receive assistance from The Prince’s, Operation Entrepreneur. The program is offered through Prince’s Charities Canada, the official Canadian charitable office for His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

There are three components of The Prince’s, Operation Entrepreneur including one-day workshops, seven-day boot camps, and access to mentoring and/or business financing for former CAF members.

“From the support of our donors including The True Patriot Love Foundation and the Government of Canada, we are proud to be able to provide all our program components completely free. Applications for our 2015 boot camps will open in February 2015,” said Astrid-Maria Ciarallo, associate, Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur, Prince’s Charities Canada (PCC).

Be Your Own Boss one-day workshops are designed to help transitioning personnel and their partners learn more about starting their own business. Open to any personnel thinking of transitioning from the military, their families, and recent veterans the workshops takes place throughout the year in various locations across Canada.

In one day attendees learn how their military skills can be transferred to successful business ownership, how to write a viable business plan, how to access no-cost business resources, and gain a more in-depth knowledge of key topics like marketing, market research, social media and accounting.

“CAF personnel are resilient, great team players, incredibly dedicated and can problem solve under some of the most immense pressure imaginable. These traits also happen to be the key traits of a successful entrepreneur,” explained Ciarallo.

At Based In Business, a seven-day bootcamp, future business owners attend a series of lectures and workshops with university professors on business topics including marketing, social media, finance, ethics and human resources.

“In almost three years we have seen 72 businesses started from the program. And, have heard many powerful success stories that range from overcoming medical releases to becoming successful entrepreneurs in various types of businesses,” said Ciarallo.

Finally, according to Ciarallo if candidates have confirmed their eligibility and have a viable business idea or draft plan, they may apply for financing through their partner, Futurpreneur Canada. Candidates who receive financing will be matched with a mentor for two years.

For individuals or businesses that do not require or qualify for financing, PCC and Futurpreneur Canada created a special six-month Military Mentoring Program. Mentors can provide business advice, useful advice on negotiation, people management, conflict resolution and work-life balance.

Guided by The Prince’s lifetime of charitable work in Canada, the United Kingdom and around the world, PCC supports and develops initiatives focused on The Prince of Wales’s own core interests. These include responsible business, the built environment, global sustainability and education and young people. The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur is a made-in-Canada program that combines two of His Royal Highness The Prince of Whale’s lifelong interests of encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting the Canadian Armed Forces.

Canadian Military Family Magazine | Ottawa, Ontario