Is it allowed to start a business on post while being active duty?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:46:25 -0400

I’m a medic stationed at fort irwin California. Being a medic i am fortunate enough to have a decent amount of downtime.

With this down time I’m wanting to start a glass glazing window replacement business on post and contract with the private housing authority to replace the windows in their homes. My father was a Glass glazier and taught me the trade for 10 years.

My question is if this is something that is allowable to do on post while being active duty? And if so who should i Go through to begin the process. This business would be a strictly weekend venture and when i have my downtime after work.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:05 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:05:14 -0400

Have you received permission from Ft. Irwin Housing office and DPW?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:16:22 -0400

You can have a business, as long as it doesn’t take away from your duties and isn’t a distraction. Due to your rank I would clear it alsonwith your Chain of Command so they know what’s going on and are tracking g your entrepreneurial exploits. As far as working in post, you have to be a contracted person with DOW, licensed and bonded and they rarely hire Soldiers doing side work. Sorry to say, you may be driving the desert roads of Cali to gin up some work Brother.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 18 at 2018 7:47 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 19:47:33 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member to operate a business on post, you need to go and get permission from the Garrison. Usually this is the MWR Business office and post housing. They are just trying to ensure you are not competing and if there is minimal impact on housing for utilities, environmental, legal etc. The GC will sign a memo authorizing the business if he is ok with what you are doing. Check their website

Your chain of command needs to authorize your moonlighting in writing. Forget which regulation it is in, likely AR600-20.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 19 at 2018 10:58 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:58:02 -0400

I know nothing about how the Military handles this and I will state that up front but as a former business owner / operator, your crazy to try and initiate something like this. As others have said, business being managed by an Active Duty person makes it high risk to anyone that contracts with you because you are highly transient and can legally disappear at any time via a Deployment or PCS. Likewise, as a business person your going to need to sign legal contracts that are in contravention of your military service which I think JAG would have heartburn over. Say for example people selling you supplies are going to want you to sign an agreement that they can persue you for debt regardless of all but Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing (very common now). The Army is going to wet it's pants if you ever file Chapter 7 as it is very draconian and very negatively impact your credit rating (Security Clearence?)..........on just this issue your probably going to need some kind of alternate arrangement or setup to shield you from Army impacts if something goes wrong.

Not trying to discourage you, in my day there were Soldiers that marketed silk screened T-Shirts to the PX or would sell them in stands on the sidewalk.......but that is far less capital intensive and not as critical as home window glazing. So type of business might cause folks heartburn here as well unless your operation is very small and does not require a lot of money to keep going.

Response by COL Marco Marin made Sep 3 at 2019 12:11 PM

COL Marco Marin — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 12:11:05 -0400

I have known many active duty folks with a sideline. Inform your chain of command. Should not be an issue as long as it does not interfere with official duties.