We built this list so you do not have to go find it yourself.
Maintained by the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance, an Idaho nonprofit. Most programs are run by other organizations. We list them because they work, and we will help you figure out which ones fit.
Idaho first
Local programs come first.
Free first
No-cost options listed on top.
Cost noted
Fees called out where they exist.
A VEA program
Idaho nonprofit built for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Free strategy sessions, education, events, and direct referrals into every resource on this page.
Offered by the University of Idaho College of Law
Free legal services for Idaho entrepreneurs. Entity formation, contracts, trademarks, leases, and nonprofit formation.
Offered by the University of Idaho College of Law
Places qualified Idaho inventors with volunteer patent attorneys licensed before the USPTO.
Offered by the Idaho State Bar
Idaho State Bar program providing legal help to low-income Idahoans. A fallback if you cannot get a seat at the law clinic.
Offered by the Idaho Small Business Development Center
No-cost one-on-one business consulting statewide, plus free and low-cost workshops. Six regional centers.
Offered by the Idaho APEX Accelerator, hosted at Boise State University
No-cost help selling to federal, state, and local government. SAM.gov registration, certification guidance, bid matching, and solicitation responses.
Offered by Mission43. Entrepreneurship programming delivered with VEA
Free programs for Idaho's military-connected community. Formal VEA partner. Entrepreneur Course, Boise Entrepreneur Week Military Track, PMP certification.
Related links
Offered by Trailhead
Boise startup incubator. Idaho Startup Lab, Boise Pitch Night, Tree City Trailblazers, and Boise Entrepreneur Week.
Offered by SCORE, an SBA resource partner
Free confidential mentoring in person, by email, or by video. Free templates, tools, and workshops.
Offered by the Idaho Women's Business Center
Free one-on-one advising plus live and on-demand classes. Structured programs for early-stage and established owners.
Offered by TechHelp Idaho
Free and subsidized help for Idaho manufacturers, food processors, and entrepreneurs.
Offered by Boise State University
Entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and the Venture College Grant Program.
Offered by the Idaho Division of Veterans Services
Free claims filing, emergency financial assistance, property tax reduction, and the military retirement income deduction.
Offered by the University of Idaho College of Law
Free help resolving IRS disputes for low-income taxpayers and people with limited English proficiency.
Offered by the IRS and the Idaho State Tax Commission
Volunteer tax preparation sites across Idaho for seniors and low-to-moderate income filers.
Offered by the State of Idaho
The state's central portal for starting and operating a business in Idaho.
Idaho does not run state-level veteran-owned business set-asides, and there is no state veteran business certification. The state points veteran-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned firms toward federal programs because there is no state credential to point to.
What this means in practice: to sell to the State of Idaho, you register as a supplier and compete on price and capability, not on certification. Idaho does apply a reciprocal preference under Idaho Code 67-2349, which penalizes out-of-state bidders from states that grant their own in-state preferences. Idaho-domiciled businesses are not penalized, which is the closest thing to an advantage the state offers.
The one exception is the Idaho Transportation Department, which certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises through Idaho's Unified Certification Program.
The veteran contracting advantage lives at the federal level. That is where VetCert, set-asides, and sole-source awards actually apply.
Program details, deadlines, and eligibility are set by each organization and change without notice. Confirm directly with the program before applying. Listing here is not an endorsement or a guarantee of eligibility.