From PCS to CEO: Why Military Spouses Are Turning to Entrepreneurship.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2024 Military Spouses Fact Sheet,

“More than one-third (35.1%) of active-duty service families have children. Due to deployments, geographical separations, or unpredictable work schedules, military spouses regularly assume the role of primary caregivers, which may limit their employment opportunities.”

This underscores just one of the many challenges military spouses face while trying to maintain stable careers.

Now, return-to-office policies are gaining traction, making traditional employment even harder to sustain. Frequent relocations, unpredictable schedules, and family responsibilities have always posed challenges—but today’s shifting workplace expectations add another layer of difficulty.

In response, military spouses are doing more than just adapting—they’re innovating. Entrepreneurship is becoming a powerful, empowering career path. Here’s why—and how you can too.

1. Portability is Power

Military spouses relocate every 2–3 years on average. Entrepreneurship offers a career path that moves with you.

Whether you run an online service, manage an e-commerce business, or offer specialized consulting, owning a business means you take your career wherever the military sends you.

Even when stationed overseas, you can maintain and grow your business from nearly anywhere. It’s a career that quite literally travels with you.

2. You’re Already Built for This

Military spouses possess key traits successful entrepreneurs need: resilience, resourcefulness, and the ability to plan in chaos.

From navigating deployments to managing solo parenting, you already know how to handle pressure and pivot quickly when things aren’t working. Entrepreneurship allows you to use those skills in a new way.

Whether it’s juggling multiple tasks, staying calm under pressure, or turning challenges into opportunities, the military lifestyle has already equipped you with the mindset needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.

You’ve been doing it all along—you just get to do it on your own terms.

3. Work that Works for Military Life

We all know the struggles of military life—unpredictable schedules, constant relocations, and the challenge of finding childcare or flexible work options when stationed in remote areas.

These barriers often make it hard to hold down a traditional job while supporting your family. But with entrepreneurship, you’re in control. You decide how, when, and where you work—whether you’re PCSing, juggling family commitments, or managing a hectic schedule.

Building a business allows you to create a career that works with your lifestyle, not against it.

4. Community Support is Growing

As a military spouse, you’re already deeply involved in your community, supporting your spouse, volunteering, and building new relationships at each new duty station.

That sense of connection and support is incredibly valuable when starting a business. In recent years, resources for military spouse entrepreneurs have expanded significantly.

Organizations like Hire Heroes USA, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Bunker Labs, Dog Tag Inc., and The Rosie Network offer free programs, mentorship, and funding opportunities to help you succeed.

You’re not alone on this journey—and you don’t need to build it from scratch. The same community spirit that helps you thrive in military life is here to support that entrepreneurial spirit.

5. Fulfillment Is Part of the Mission Too

Entrepreneurship isn’t just a way to earn an income, it’s a chance to build something that reflects your passions, values, and goals. It’s an opportunity to leave a lasting impact and create something uniquely yours.

This sense of ownership can be particularly fulfilling in a lifestyle where so much is shaped by external factors. It gives you control over your career and the chance to build something that not only supports your family financially but also fulfills you personally—giving you the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. 

Military life asks a lot—but the hardest parts shape us into adaptable, mission-driven leaders.

If you’ve ever felt like your career is on pause or out of your control, entrepreneurship might be the key to taking it back. You don’t need a perfect plan to begin—just the willingness to try, learn, and grow. Build something that moves with you, empowers you, and reflects you.

We’re cheering you on every step of the way.

By Janine Spurrier

Janine is a Transition Specialist with the Serving Spouses Team at Hire Heroes USA. She has been a military spouse for over 10 years and understands the challenges of job searching and the barriers that come with each PCS.

She has most recently taken a few years off to live overseas, travel, and raise her family while creating a dynamic home environment for their two boys.

Janine’s background as a recruiter and HR assistant helps her guide clients through networking and standing out to potential employers. She has a passion for learning and serving others and truly values an organization that empowers the military community.

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