Frequently asked questions

It is a free directory of Idaho businesses owned by veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members. It is a program of the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance (VEA), an Idaho 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

No. Searching the directory and contacting businesses is free. You don't need an account.

Every business is owned by a VEA member who is a veteran, military spouse, or transitioning service member. Each listing shows a badge for its ownership type: Veteran-Owned, Military Spouse-Owned, or Transitioning Service Member-Owned.

Go to the directory and type a business name, service, or keyword into the search box. You can narrow results with these filters:

• Category and subcategory
• Region and county
• Ownership type
• Service area
• Branch of service
• Certification, such as VOSB or SDVOSB

Filters only show options that have at least one business listed, so you never land on an empty page.

Yes. Use the Service area filter. Businesses mark themselves as Local, Statewide, Nationwide, or Online. Every business is based in Idaho, but many serve customers well beyond their home county.

Open the business's page. Tap the phone number to call, tap the email button to send a message, or use the website and social media links. You deal with the business directly. VEA is not part of the sale and does not take a fee.

Tap Save contact on the business's page. Your phone downloads a contact card with the business name, owner or contact name, phone, email, and website filled in.

• iPhone: tap the contact card when it opens, then tap Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact.
• Android: open the downloaded file from the notification or your Downloads folder, then choose your Contacts app and save.

It opens that business's page in the directory. Point your phone's camera at the code and tap the link that appears. No app is needed. From their page you can call, email, visit their website, or tap Save contact.

Yes. Tap Share on the business's page to post it to Facebook, LinkedIn, or X, copy the link, or use your phone's share menu to send it by text or email.

The VEA team reviews every new listing and confirms the owner is a VEA member before it goes live. Changes to a business's name or ownership type get another review. VEA does not inspect or guarantee anyone's work, so check licenses, insurance, and references the way you would with any business.

Use the Report an issue with this listing link at the bottom of any business page. It goes straight to the directory team. You can also email admin@vealliance.org.

VEA members who are veterans, military spouses, or transitioning service members and own a business based in Idaho. Your business can serve customers anywhere, but it must be based in Idaho.

Nothing. Listings are free for VEA members. There are no paid levels or upgrades.

Join free at vealliance.org/joinvea. You can start your listing before your membership is confirmed. The VEA team checks membership during review.

1. 1Go to Member login and choose Create account. Enter your full name, email, and password.
2. 2Open the confirmation email and tap the button. You can't sign in until your email is confirmed.
3. 3Sign in and tap Add your business.
4. 4Work through the steps: Basics, Ownership, Location, Contact, Photos, and Review. Your progress saves as you go.
5. 5Tap Submit for review on the Review step.

We email you when your listing is approved or if we need changes.

Create an account at Member login using the same email address that was on your old listing. After you confirm your email and sign in, your listing is linked to your account automatically. Review it and make sure everything is current.

If you no longer use that email, email admin@vealliance.org and we'll help. Once you're signed in, you can change your sign-in email yourself under Account settings.

Check your spam or junk folder for a message from IdahoVetBiz.com. If it isn't there, go to Member login, enter your email and password, and tap Send the confirmation email again.

• Business name and a category
• Your ownership type and, if you like, your branch of service
• The Idaho county and city where you're based
• A description of at least 50 characters
• At least one way to reach you: website, phone, or public email

You can also add a short description, keywords, social media links, certifications, and photos.

No. Leave Show my street address publicly turned off and customers only see your city and county. This is a good choice for home-based businesses.

A logo, a cover photo, and up to 8 gallery photos. Use JPG, PNG, or WEBP files up to 5 MB each. Large photos are resized for you. You can drag gallery photos into any order and add a short description to each one.

Yes. Pick any that apply: VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), WOSB, EDWOSB, or DBE. They show on your listing, and customers can filter the directory by certification.

Your listing goes to the VEA team for review. We email you when it's approved and live. If something needs fixing, we email you the reason, and your My listing page shows what to change. Make the changes and resubmit.

Yes. Sign in, go to My listing, make your changes, and tap Save changes. They appear on your public listing right away.

Changing your business name or ownership type sends your listing for a quick review. It stays live in the meantime.

Each member has one listing. If you own more than one business, email admin@vealliance.org.

Sign in, go to My listing, and tap Share your listing. You can post to Facebook, LinkedIn, or X, or copy your direct link. Your listing has its own branded preview image, so posts look clean.

Email admin@vealliance.org and we'll take care of it.

It's a full-screen page with your business name and a QR code. Show it when you meet people. They scan it with their phone camera and land on your directory listing, where they can call you, email you, visit your website, or save your contact info in one tap.

It's free, needs no app, and only appears once your listing is live.

1. 1Sign in at Member login.
2. 2Go to My listing.
3. 3Tap Digital card and QR code.

For one-tap access, add it to your home screen using the steps below.

1. 1Open your card in Safari: sign in, go to My listing, and tap Digital card and QR code.
2. 2Tap the Share button, the square with an arrow pointing up. On newer iPhones, tap the three dots at the bottom right first, then tap Share.
3. 3Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. If you don't see it, tap View More.
4. 4If you see Open as Web App, leave it turned on. Tap Add.
5. 5A My Card icon appears on your home screen. Tap it to open your card full screen.

Using Chrome on your iPhone? Tap the Share button in the address bar, then Add to Home Screen.

1. 1Open your card in Chrome: sign in, go to My listing, and tap Digital card and QR code.
2. 2Tap the three dots at the top right.
3. 3Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
4. 4Tap Install or Add. If your phone asks, drag the icon where you want it or tap Add automatically.
5. 5A My Card icon appears on your home screen. Tap it to open your card full screen.

Using Samsung Internet? Tap the menu (three lines) at the bottom, tap Add page to, then Home screen.

Yes. Your card page has an Add to home screen button. Tap it to see the steps for your type of phone. The button disappears once you open the card from your home screen icon.

No. The home screen icon opens your card right away, even if you're signed out. Anyone with the link can see it, but it only shows information that is already on your public listing.

No. Your QR code points to your listing page, so any update you save shows up right away. Your home screen icon and any QR codes you've printed keep working.

Yes. Open your card and tap Download QR image. You get a branded image with your QR code and business name to use on flyers, table signs, vendor booths, invoices, or paper business cards.

• Turn your screen brightness up.
• Hold your phone steady, about 6 to 12 inches from their camera.
• Ask them to open their regular camera app, not a social media camera.
• Still stuck? Use Share your listing on My listing to text them your link instead.

Press and hold the My Card icon, then tap Remove App (iPhone) or Remove or Uninstall (Android). Your listing and card are not affected, and you can add the icon again anytime.

Go to Member login, enter your email, and tap Forgot password. We'll email you a link to set a new one.

Sign in, go to My listing, open Account settings, and use Change sign-in email. We send a confirmation link to the new address. Some changes also ask you to confirm from your old address. Your listing stays connected to your account.

This doesn't change the contact email shown on your listing. Update that in the Contact step of your listing.

Sign in, go to My listing, and open Account settings. These details are for your account only. The phone number customers see is set in the Contact step of your listing.

Email the directory team at admin@vealliance.org.