Entrepreneurship is growing in popularity among members of the military spouse community.

For many spouses, entrepreneurship offers the autonomy and flexibility they need to reach their career goals while their spouse is in the service. Creating a job that can accommodate the unique military lifestyle can be a godsend for the modern military spouse.

Additionally, recent surveys indicating today’s military spouse’s increased educational level, coupled with discouraging employment statistics, encourage entrepreneurship as a promising professional option for military spouses in a variety of industries.

But with increasing popularity comes unfounded myths.

Here are three lies military spouses believe about entrepreneurship:

Lie #1: I can’t start a business while my spouse is in the service.

Starting a business while your spouse is on active duty is totally doable. Thanks to technological advances and the increasing prevalence of virtual-based companies, today’s entrepreneur can thrive with a location-independent business. Additionally, utilizing online oriented business resources, such as virtual assistants, many entrepreneurs can customize their business operations to accommodate unique lifestyle challenges (deployments, anyone?).

Lie #2: Successfully running a business is a solo venture.

Launching a successful business doesn’t have to be a one man (or woman) show. Just as it “takes a village to raise a child,” it often requires a community to start a business. Every entrepreneur, regardless of whether they are in the dreaming stage or facing year 10 of operations, needs a group of supporters to assist them through the many stages of business development. Colleagues, customers, employees, and mentors are just a few of the must-have team members for today’s entrepreneur.

Lie #3: I’ll have to shut down my business every time we move.

Establishing a virtual, location-independent business (aka: no brick and mortar) is an essential component of maintaining a cost-effective transitory operation you can pack up and move with you wherever your family is stationed next. For service-based businesses, like consulting or writing, entrepreneurs should consider prioritizing digital promotions and tech-based operations. For a product-based business, like an ecommerce or Etsy store, entrepreneurs should explore drop-ship options and automated customer service programs.

Conclusion:

If you’re a military spouse interested in spreading your entrepreneurial wings, check out MOAA’s Resources for Military Community Entrepreneurs for military community specific resources available to help you start and grow your business.

As many military spouses have found, entrepreneurship may be the perfect solution for your current career challenge. You can start a business while your spouse is on active duty, you don’t have to do it all alone, and you can move your business to your next duty station.

The freedom and opportunity entrepreneurship provides today’s military spouse serves as a viable professional pursuit for spouses in all stages of career development.