San Antonio is home to more than 160,000 veterans - and a growing number of them aren't just entering the workforce after service.

Veteran-owned businesses make up nearly 7% to 8% of all employer firms in the San Antonio metro area, according to data compiled by the San Antonio Business Journal from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Business Survey - almost double the national average of 4. 65%.

Texas is home to roughly 213,000 veteran-owned businesses, and San Antonio consistently ranks as a top-20 U.S. city for veteran entrepreneurs.