A variety of face-to-face, as well as online trainings and events are hosted by the SoCal VBOC throughout the year. Workshops covering business start-up and pre-planning, and government contracting take place monthly. Specialty events such as “Meet the Buyers” and the California Procurement Event are offered throughout the year.
Business Start-up & Preplanning
Boots to Business
Designed for service members and military spouses at military installations on the road to entrepreneurship.Outline
• Identify business opportunities• Draft a business plan
• Connect with local small business resources
• Launch your small business
• Learn marketing basics
Boots to Business Reboot
Designed for transitioning service members, Guard, Reserve, Veterans of all eras and military-connected family members.Outline
• Identify business opportunities
• Draft a business plan
• Connect with local small business resources
• Launch your small business
• Learn marketing basics
ECOMMERCE
How to Sell Your Product or Service Online
Learn the basics for selling your product or service online. This workshop will introduce you to Shopify and Amazon, basics of website development, additional resources for launching and much more!
You will have the opportunity to ask questions about your own product or service. We do not get into drop shipping products that are not your own brand. Not in business yet? Bring your ideas to the workshop and see if selling online is for you.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2026
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT
Veteran Business Development: Start It
Simply shows why you would choose an LLC, Sole Prop, S-Corp, or C-Corp—and how to form each one legally, step-by-step, Barney style. Period.
What each structure is (in plain English)
Why you’d pick one over the others
The exact steps to form it legally (what to file, where, and in what order)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PT
Veteran Business Development: Fund It
A deep-dive, point-by-point breakdown of the pros and cons of all real-world funding options available to veteran entrepreneurs.
What each option is best used for (and what it’s bad for)
The real tradeoffs: speed, cost, risk, restrictions, and readiness level
How to choose the right funding path for your stage and goal
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PT
Veteran Business Development: Loan, Grant and Contract Ready
By-the-numbers, step-by-step direction on what you need to become loan ready. This session breaks down exactly what banks look for and how to present a business that is truly ready for funding.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PT
VETREPRENEUR FRANCHISE COACHING INFORMATION SESSION
Curious about becoming a franchise owner? This 1-hour virtual session is designed for veterans and military spouses ready to explore business ownership through franchising. Learn how our proven process helps you find the right franchise and confidently navigate the path to ownership.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 OR 30 2026
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM PT
Veteran Business Development: Retirement Accounts
You built the business. But is the business helping build your future too?
The Veteran Business Retirement Accounts workshop is designed to help veteran entrepreneurs better understand:
Retirement accounts for business owners
Tax and compensation considerations
Common mistakes to avoid
Long-term planning strategy
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM PT
STRONG BUSINESS, STRONG OWNER
A Networking Event Veteran Entrepreneurs
Join fellow veterans business owners and aspiring veteran entrepreneurs for an event designed to fuel your business growth and wellbeing.
Build Your Business. Strengthen Your Community. Invest in Your Well-Being.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMER 12, 2026
4:00 PM to 7:30 PM PT
LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
MARKETING ESSENTIALS: ADVANCED TRAINING
for Veteran Owned Businesses
Have you attended the Marketing Fundamentals: Basic Training class and are still wondering how to best market your Veteran Owned Business?
Marketing Essentials builds on the concepts presented in the Marketing Fundamentals workshop to dive deeper into the some of the most effective marketing opportunities available to small business owners including branding, customer relationship management, advertising, digital marketing, search engine marketing, and content marketing.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT
GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATIONS
Presented by the San Diego, Orange, Imperial APEX Accelerator and the SoCal Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
You will learn about Federal, State and Local Certifications:
- The Vets First Verification Program
- Requirements, qualifications, and application steps for the 8(a) Business Development Program
- Woman-Owned Small Business certification
- HUBZone certification for businesses located in geographic areas with above-average unemployment and below-average annual income
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification
- Small Business certification, a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certification and a new Small Business (for the purpose of Public Works) certification
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT
BUSINESS PLANS IN ACTION
Whether you are launching, expanding or pivoting your business, this deep dive will take you through the process of how to complete each step in the business plan outline.
Topics include creating an executive summary, industry and market analysis, marketing strategy, operations and organizational design, implementation, financial strategy, financial management, record keeping, cash management, forecasting, personnel and exit strategy.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 2026
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT