Thinking of starting a business?

  • Published
  • By Col. Cassie Barlow
  • 48th Mission Support Group commander
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  For a military spouse, the best business may be one that moves with you.

Many military spouses choose to start their own home business because of the ease of
moving it from one assignment to the next.

If you're a military family housing resident, and conduct a business out of your home, there are a few things you need to know.

In order to conduct your business legally, here are a few guidelines from AFI 32-6001,
Chapter 2.

The first step in starting a business is getting approval from the base.

The member must submit a written request to conduct a commercial activity in assigned family housing to the housing flight chief. Then the housing flight chief forwards the request to the mission support group commander for approval.

Local government licensing requirements, agreements, host nation business practices and advertising practices are taken into account as each request is considered. It's the member's responsibility to obtain these licenses.

Your business may involve direct sales of products, minor repair services on small items, incidental services, tutoring and limited manufacturing of items. Once approved, you will not be allowed to:

1. Solicit door-to-door, on-duty personnel, mass audiences on base or in dormitories.
2. Distribute literature (i.e., fliers) on base.
3. Engage in unfair or deceptive practices.
4. Compete with the base exchange or commissary.
5. Imply Air Force sponsorship or sanction of the activity.
6. Procure or supply unit personnel rosters or any other personnel information.

Another important thing to remember is you cannot buy and resell merchandise which is shipped duty-free through your Army and Air Force post office address, but you may receive the merchandise through a British mailing address.

Lastly, as a business owner, you should consider obtaining personal liability insurance, which would apply to legal actions brought by customers as well as covering any potential damages to government property resulting from your business.