LaunchVets
All discount categories

Discount category

State Entity Formation

State filing fee waivers and franchise tax exemptions for veteran-owned entities.

11 verified discounts in this category.

Tax ExemptionTexas onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Veteran-Owned Business Franchise Tax Exemption

Franchise tax exemption for first 5 years
Who's eligible

New Texas businesses that are 100% owned by one or more honorably discharged veterans. Must be formed in Texas. Applies to LLCs, corporations, and partnerships. HB 2358 (2022) restored and expanded th...

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Any veteran planning to form a business in Texas. Even sole-owner LLCs. Free money if you qualify.

Not worth it if: You are not forming in Texas, or you have a non-veteran co-founder with any equity. 100% veteran ownership is required.

Fee WaiverLouisiana onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

Louisiana Secretary of State

Veteran-Owned Business Filing Fee Waiver

State filing fees waived on initial entity formation
Who's eligible

Louisiana businesses owned by veterans or their surviving spouses. Must file the Veteran-Initiated Business affidavit with the Secretary of State at formation.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Any Louisiana veteran forming their first entity. Small dollar amount but zero downside to filing.

Not worth it if: You are not forming in Louisiana. Filing outside of Louisiana does not apply.

Fee DiscountFlorida onlyVerified: Verified August 2026 (partial — reduction for licensing, not entity formation)

Florida Department of State

Veteran-Owned Business Filing Discount

Reduced state filing and license fees for qualifying veteran-owned businesses
Who's eligible

Florida businesses with 51% or greater veteran ownership. Includes surviving spouses. Requires Veterans Florida certification or equivalent proof.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Florida veterans forming a new entity.

Not worth it if: You are not forming in Florida.

Fee WaiverAlaska onlyVerified: Verified August 2026
Business license fees waived for qualifying veteran-owned businesses
Who's eligible

Alaska residents who are honorably discharged veterans. Confirm eligibility via Alaska statute AS 43.70.075.

Verification

Direct with vendor

Editor's take

Best for: Alaska veterans starting a business.

Not worth it if: You are not based in Alaska.

Fee WaiverOhio onlyVerified: Pending independent verification (call Ohio SOS to confirm current program)

Ohio Secretary of State

Ohio Veteran-Owned Small Business Fee Waiver

Certain initial LLC/corporation filing fees waived for qualifying veteran-owned businesses
Who's eligible

Ohio businesses 51%+ owned by honorably discharged veterans. Verify current program with SOS.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Ohio veterans forming their first entity.

Not worth it if: You are not forming in Ohio.

Fee ReductionNew York onlyVerified: Pending independent verification (SDVOB is real; formation fee reduction varies)

New York Department of State

NY Veteran-Owned Business Filing Fee Reduction

Reduced filing fees for NY veteran-owned businesses (varies by entity type)
Who's eligible

NY businesses with veteran-owned certification. Requires NY Division of Veterans' Services SDVOB certification for state contracting benefits.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: NY veterans planning state contracting work (6% NY SDVOB set-aside goal).

Not worth it if: You are not doing state contracting and are not forming in NY.

State Certification + ContractingIllinois onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

Illinois Department of Central Management Services

Illinois Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Program

Access to Illinois state contract set-asides (3% veteran goal)
Who's eligible

Illinois-based businesses 51%+ owned by veterans. Requires state VOSB certification through IL CMS.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Illinois veterans pursuing state contracting work.

Not worth it if: You are not doing IL state contracting.

State Certification + ContractingCalifornia onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

California Department of General Services

California DVBE Certification (Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise)

Free certification (24-month term) + up to 5% bid incentive on state contracts + access to 3% DVBE state contracting goal
Who's eligible

At least 51% owned and operated by one or more disabled veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher. IMPORTANT: LLCs must be WHOLLY owned (100%) by disabled veterans, not j...

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: California-based disabled veterans (10%+ rating) doing or planning state contracting work. The 5% bid incentive is real and can win contracts.

Not worth it if: You have no VA disability rating (DVBE requires 10%+). Or you are not pursuing California state contracts.

State Certification + ContractingMassachusetts onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office

Massachusetts VBE/SDVOBE Certification (via NaVOBA)

State certification enabling access to Massachusetts state contract set-asides for veteran-owned businesses
Who's eligible

Massachusetts businesses 51%+ owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans. Massachusetts partners with NaVOBA (National Veteran Owned Business Association) for third-party certification.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Massachusetts veterans pursuing state contracting. MA is one of 14 states with veteran business set-aside programs.

Not worth it if: You are not doing Massachusetts state contracting.

State Certification + ContractingPennsylvania onlyVerified: Verified August 2026

Pennsylvania Department of General Services

Pennsylvania Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) Verification

State verification enabling access to PA exclusive reserved bidding programs and subcontracting goals
Who's eligible

Pennsylvania businesses owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans. PA does NOT certify directly; it VERIFIES a third-party certification. You must obtain certification from a DGS-recognized third...

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Pennsylvania veterans pursuing state contracting. If you already have SBA VetCert (federal SDVOSB/VOSB), the PA step is straightforward.

Not worth it if: You have no third-party certification yet and are not doing PA state work. Get SBA VetCert first for federal value, then add PA.

State Certification + DirectoryGeorgia onlyVerified: Pending independent verification of current fee waiver scope (contact GDVS)

Georgia SBA / Georgia Department of Veterans Service

Georgia Veteran-Owned Business Certification

Verification of veteran ownership + signed certification letter + national directory cross-listing
Who's eligible

Georgia businesses owned by veterans. Verification of ownership required.

Verification

Business Address / State Filing

Editor's take

Best for: Georgia veterans wanting the marketing credibility of state-recognized veteran-owned status plus directory visibility.

Not worth it if: You need federal set-aside eligibility. This does not substitute for SBA VetCert.

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