Category Archives: Veterans Franchise News

Veterans Day 2020

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Our commitment to serving those who’ve served for us, today and every day

Each year on Veterans Day, we thank our veterans for their sacrifice, bravery, and the example they set for us all. We are reminded of their service and bravery each day as we enjoy all of the rights and privileges that our military veterans fought for us to have. Here at Veterans Franchise, our mission is to give back to our veterans in the best way we know how: helping those who have served transition from service to entrepreneurship.

We firmly believe that military veterans are the perfect fit for the franchising model, having the most important keys to entrepreneurial success firmly ingrained in them from their time serving in the armed forces. Military veterans know discipline, structure, and dedication better than most, making them ideal candidates to own their own businesses and thrive as franchisees.

“The franchise industry is a strong supporter of veterans,” explains David Schwartz, CEO and founder of VeteransFranchise.com. “Many franchise opportunities are aggressively recruiting veterans as franchisees. They realize how perfectly military training translates into franchise ownership.”

Because of this, there are countless franchises and business opportunities that provide support, financial benefits and other incentives for those who have served in the armed forces. That’s part of the reason why CEO Dave Schwartz founded VeteransFranchise.com, and the reason why VeteransFranchise.com is committed to only featuring veterans-friendly opportunities on our site to connect veterans with only the best opportunities available for them within the franchise space.

This Veterans Day, we encourage everyone to go out and thank a veteran for their service and for making the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all enjoy the benefits of freedom and peace. Whether you’re a military veteran, a military spouse, or whatever your situation may be: Veterans Franchise remains committed to giving back to our veterans and their families, not only on Veterans Day but every day.

Franchise Opportunities for Military Veterans

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In the past few years, thousands of veterans have joined franchising. This is a report that has been released by the International Franchise Association. The VetFran program has also played a major role in ensuring that hundreds of companies subsidize the franchise joining costs for veterans. This means that veterans interested in becoming business owners get discounts, training, and mentorship for them to have successful ventures. Such offers have given the sector a boost, making it possible for more military veterans to join franchising.

Why Veterans Make Great Franchisees

Vets who join franchising mostly end up being successful because they have skills and values that boost their businesses. Franchisors actually say that the teamwork and leadership skills possessed by vets as well as the propensity that enables them to follow a system make them successful franchisees. Veterans usually make perfect franchisees because they already have the necessary drive and leadership to own and operate successful businesses. Additionally, military veterans comprehend the reasons why they should adhere to guidelines and systems strictly. These are some of the reasons why franchisors are looking for them all over the region for recruitment. Any military experience impacts veterans with numerous skills needed to run a business successfully. The military background, therefore, gives people the required tools that make them unique in any industry. These tools include incredible decision-making abilities, leadership skills, determination to succeed, and personnel management experience. Therefore, if you have served the country at a military capacity, you can be sure that you have what it takes to run a successful enterprise in franchising.

What Franchisors Offer

There are numerous franchises that are actively searching for vets who can purchase their businesses. Other franchises have unique programs with the sole aim of giving financial incentives to support military veterans. Because of this, those who have served the country at any capacity in the past have continued to indulge in various enterprises and the number has been increasing over the years. To offer more support to veterans and their families, some franchises also have programs for military families and spouses.

How VeteransFranchise.com Can Help You Get Started

Regardless of the category of business, most veteran franchisees have similar traits that fuel their business success. This means that they work hard, they actively look for means to give back to society, they have grit and they are also team players. Of all the countries in the world, America is one of the best places to be a military veteran. This is because, from the recent past, there has been an explosion of different opportunities for veterans to create their own empires in franchising. Additionally, there are very few limitations that can hinder a veteran from establishing any number of franchises in the industry. The marketplace, therefore, allows franchise owners to create any number of well-established brands. Are you curious about how much better your life could be if you established your own franchise? Life does not have to stop when you are relieved of your duties as a military veteran: it can be the beginning of another life in the franchise industry. Several businesses want to appreciate the service you gave to the country. Take advantage of such opportunities and make a fresh start and improve your family’s future.

Of course, with any investment, it’s critical to do a lot of research to choose the opportunity that’s best for you. Start by asking around to other franchise owners to get their advice and insight. Next, research the different options available and do market research to identify which would be the most successful in your area. Perhaps most importantly, carefully develop your budget to account for all associated costs and fees to ensure you have all the tools you need to start and maintain your business.

VeteransFranchise.com is designed to provide as much information as possible on each veterans-friendly franchise so you can easily identify which opportunities align with your needs. Feel free to browse our franchise listings or search for available franchise opportunities by location, investment level or industry. Also, rest assured that only franchises and business opportunities that are as supportive of veteran business ownership as we are will ever be featured on VeteranFranchise.com. Thank you for reading our blog – we wish you the utmost success in your next business venture.

The Many Benefits Of Franchising

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Franchising is practiced in many business establishments today. With franchising, the franchisor generally licenses its trademarks and business modus operandi to the franchisee. This is done in exchange for a recurring payment from the franchisee which may be a percentage of gross sales or gross profits and annual fees. Businesses working as a franchise arrangement are referred to as chain stores, franchises or franchise outlets.

The advantage of franchising lies in the fact that the franchisor is still in command of the financial part of the business. The franchisee only pays the franchising fees and other commitments while the assets are controlled by the company. Moreover, with franchising, the franchisor provides trained employees for the franchise. In fact, if required, they will also provide the necessary training to the employees, wherein the franchisees save in training costs.

When entering into a franchise agreement, it is necessary for the franchisee to pay some capital amount as a security deposit to the franchisor. With this payment, the franchisee runs the franchise with the needed dedication as they will not want to lose the capital sum to the franchisor. As the company would have already had a good standing in the market and allots franchises just to expand, there is not much of a hassle in getting customers, and business to the franchise.

Franchising helps in the growth of a business as there are no limits to the number of franchises to a company. It is in fact much easier to open franchises of a company than branches of a business as the cost involved is much lower. Moreover, the franchisee receives franchise fees, franchise royalty, better lease options, discounts on equipment and raw materials and discounts from vendors. So they basically have more money to run the franchise than an individually owned company or companies.

A Detour for A WW II Military Vet

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Photo from Today.com

Here at Veterans Franchise, we love to see our military vets receive gratitude from their community members. This week in San Jose, California, Joe Bell, a World War II veteran, came outside of his home to cheer on runners for an annual 408K charity race. Bell was dressed in his military uniform clapping and waving as the runners passed by. The event benefited the Pat Tillman Foundation, which provides scholarships to military veterans and their spouses.

As runners passed by Bell and noticed him cheering them on, they began to head over to where he sat on his front lawn to shake his hand and thank him for his service. The military veteran, now 95 years old, smiled and shook each runner’s hand who left the street to come greet Bell on his front lawn.

What acts of gratitude and kindness have you seen in your own community for military veterans? Leave your comments below!

 

 

 

 

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Named 2013 Military Friendly Franchise®

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Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies, the flexible island themed franchise concept, announces it was ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise® by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs. This is the fourth year in a row that the company has made this distinguished list.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian honors military veterans by offering service members support and guidance to ensure a successful future as a Maui Wowi franchise operator. Veterans also receive a discount off the franchise fee in appreciation of their service. The company features low-cost franchise opportunities in a variety of flexible business models that allow a customized approach to business ownership.

“I like franchising because you learn from the experience of others. I’d rather work smarter, not harder. Why reinvent the wheel when somebody else has already laid it out for me?” said Dave Ricketson, a retired Navy Pilot and current Maui Wowi franchisee in Jacksonville, Florida. “As soon as we found out Maui Wowi offered a mobile business model and was Hawaiian themed, our search was over.”

Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise® places Maui Wowi Hawaiian in an elite group and is testimony to the company’s commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.

“Military veterans are hardworking, skillful, and determined individuals; making them ideal candidates for running a successful Maui Wowi business,” said Justin Livingston, Director of Global Franchise Development. “Being featured on the Military Friendly Franchise list for the fourth year in a row is a true testament to the quality support of our system and our continued efforts to offer a unique opportunity to members of the military.”

As a member of the IFA VetFran program, as well as SBA’s small business development program, Maui Wowi Hawaiian actively seeks to connect with military veterans and offer a dedicated support system to help them achieve their dreams.

Maui Wowi Franchisees receive hands on training, as well as guided support that includes a comprehensive launch program for retail and mobile event models; in addition to continued collaboration and operational support from the Mainland (corporate office.)

The 2013 Military Friendly Franchises® list was compiled via a data-driven survey overseen by an advisory board of industry experts. The survey results list were independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.

About Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies:
Since 1982, Maui Wowi Hawaiian has embraced the Hawaiian culture and has been serving paradise in a cup since the day it began, 30 years ago. From event carts, mall kiosks and stand-alone retail locations Maui Wowi Hawaiian offers premium, all-natural, gluten-free, fresh-fruit smoothies, as well as gourmet Hawaiian coffees and espresso beverages. With over 400 operating units in eight countries, Maui Wowi Hawaiian has truly gone “Global” by adding an online store, shop.mauiwowi.com. Now customers from anywhere in the world can experience the prized-gourmet Hawaiian coffees and taste the ‘Aloha Spirit’ with a ‘Click-of-a button!’ To learn more information about Maui Wowi Hawaiian’s, products, locations, or flexible, low cost franchising opportunities, visit http://veteransfranchise.com/franchise/Maui-Wowi-Hawaiian-Coffees-and-Smoothies.

WIN Home Inspection Named a 2013 Military friendly Franchise by G.I. Jobs Magazine

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WIN Home Inspection announces it’s achievement of being ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide, and being named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise® in both the general services and real estate listings by G.I. Jobs Magazine for the second year. At WIN, Veterans represent 1/4 of their company’s franchisee base and they provide realistic opportunities for Vets to become successful business owners through the WIN for America program, in which veterans can qualify for Gold, Silver or Bronze level awards, allowing for 100%, 50% or 10% of their franchise fee to be waived.

To date in 2013, four veterans have been recipients of WIN for America awards:

  • Marshall Davidson, Decatur, AL
  • Bryan Haley, North Branch, MN
  • Philip Morgan, Frisco, TX
  • George Parra, Memorial, TX

On top of that, WIN works with the IFA VetFran Program and the Military Base Transition Program.

“Our business model has low capital startup costs, low fixed costs, high margins, and requires no brick and mortar. It’s a proven success model,” says WIN Home Inspection President, Steve Wadlington. “Central to this effort is our ‘WIN for America’ Award program, along with individual business planning. We are proud to give back to those who have served.”

“The Military Friendly Franchises® list was created four years ago out of demand from military veterans, many of whom want to start or own their own business, but are unclear where to begin,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs. “Veterans make great franchisees in our business. Our most success and productive business owners are ex veterans.”

The full list of Military Friendly Franchises® is published each June in G.I. Jobs Magazine, and on http://militaryfranchising.com, a web tool that helps veterans decide which franchise to choose. Click here to learn more about the WIN veterans opportunity.

 

ABOUT WIN HOME INSPECTION

WIN Home Inspection began in 1993, offering home inspection business franchises in the Pacific Northwest. Within a year, the company dominated this regional market and has since expanded across the US with 173 locations in 27 states. It is one of the fastest growing home inspection companies in the country, and listed on VetFran and GI Jobs as a top 10 Veteran-Friendly Franchise.

A member of the VetFran Chairman’s Corps, WIN is a recognized leader on behalf of veterans and the franchise industry. For information on WIN Home Inspection and the home inspection business opportunity, please visit http://veteransfranchise.com/franchise/WIN-Home-Inspection.

Military Vets Transition to Life Back Home with Help of Corporate Initiatives

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A recent franchise industry study conducted by the International Franchise Association shows that 1 out of 7 businesses in the franchise industry are currently veteran-owned. This statistic offers positive feedback as opposed to the 2012 statistic that 9.9% of Iraq veterans were at the time unemployed. Since then, many large manufacturing companies have begun offering veteran incentives and outreach programs to help transition recent vets back into a job that matches the skills they learned in the military. Alcoa, Boeing, and General Electric all offer veteran initiatives, and have joined forces to employ over 15,000 military vets. All three have implemented programs to help vets transition from life oversees into a manufacturing career here in the States.

“We believe this initiative could have a major impact on the hiring of veterans nationwide,” Says Rick Stephens, a Boeing senior vice president. “It’s a proven approach for matching the skills of those who have served our country to the hiring needs of American businesses.” Their program, known as ‘Get Skills to Work,’ is comprised of three major concepts. It offers accelerated skills training for vets whose military experience does not immediately translate to their work in a manufacturing career. The program also aids in matching the right vet to where his existing skill set might be most effective, while also taking into account his or her personality traits and work habits, to find the best employment match. Finally, the program raises awareness to current employers wanting to hire veterans, and helps them find the best match for what they’re looking for in a future employee.

“Veterans offer the technical, leadership and critical thinking skills that advanced manufacturing demands,” said Paula Davis, president of the Alcoa Foundation. “Forming the Get Skills to Work coalition and coordinating with nonprofits to train, recruit and develop veterans is an exciting model that has the potential to change lives.”

Through the Manufacturing Institute’s Right Skills Now program, training sites for veterans will open across the U.S. in 2013. We can only expect that similar programs will continue to appear as more and more veterans begin to return home and begin life in the US workforce.

Sport Clips Haircuts Donates Half of a Million Dollars to VFW’s Free Call Days for Military

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Sport Clips Haircuts Connects U.S. Military with Loved Ones through $500,000 Gift to
VFW’s Operation Uplink™
“Help A Hero” campaign will increase monthly free call days for service members in 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December 10, 2012) – Sport Clips Haircuts will provide deployed and hospitalized U.S. service members the opportunity to call loved ones free of charge on 13 holidays and 21 additional days in 2013.  The franchise raised money through its Help A Hero campaign and made a $500,000 donation today in support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) Operation Uplink™ “Free Call Day” program. This is the sixth year for Sport Clips’ Help A Hero, which will provide 17 more call days in the year ahead over 2012. More than 950 Sport Clips locations across the U.S. raised funds for Operation Uplink, which provides the free “talk time” via satellite phone and computer.

Sport Clips representatives presented a check for the 2012 donation today to VFW National Commander John Hamilton at the VFW National Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. The contribution breaks last year’s record donation by $50,000 and was raised by stylists, managers, and franchisees in-store and through fundraising events in their communities. Since Sport Clips’ Help A Hero program began in 2007, more than 2 million dollars have been donated and almost 2 million calls have been made possible to date.

“It’s an honor for Sport Clips to be able to support men and women in the military through Help A Hero. By helping our troops stay connected to loved ones, we hope these call days will encourage them  through their physical separation from friends and family due to hospital stays or multiple deployments far from home,” said Sport Clips founder and CEO Gordon Logan of the donation. Logan served overseas in the U.S. Air Force and is a lifetime member of the VFW and a VFW Foundation Board member.
Sport Weddel, owner of the Amarillo, Texas store that raised the most money in the Sport Clips system, believes it’s important to participate in programs that support U.S. military like Help A Hero. “I love my country, and I am so proud of those men and women, both present and past, who have made a commitment to keep us free and safe,” he said. “We must not forget that while the great majority of us are enjoying friends and family during holiday times, there are thousands of men and women in uniform around the world who can’t do that. I enjoy the opportunity to help make connections possible through Help A Hero.”

“Sport Clips’ contribution is a remarkable expression of gratitude to all the brave men and women of our armed forces for their sacrifice and dedication. Our thanks goes out to everyone who has played a part in this wonderful and selfless endeavor. VFW is so fortunate to have forged such a strong friendship with Mr. Logan and his nationwide Sport Clips team,” says Hamilton.
To find out more about Sport Clips’ Help A Hero program, visit SportClips.com/Hero.

Edible Arrangements Begins Veterans Recruitment, Support Program

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franchises for veterans

Best known for it’s show-stopping arrangements of fresh and chocolate covered fruit, Edible Arrangements recently showed that its ability to wow the crowds goes beyond the sweet stuff.

 

Recently, Tariq Farid, Edible Arrangements chief executive officer, made a sizable contribution of $125,000 to the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program. Farid’s contribution is part of Edible Arrangements new “Hero’s Welcome” initiative, which aims to create franchise and employment opportunities for military veterans.

 

In addition to the $125,000 donation, Edible Arrangements plans to offer specialized training, a franchise fee discount and mentorship opportunities (by military veterans who already own Edible Arrangements) to military veterans who choose to become Edible Arrangements franchisees. The franchise has also set an additional goal of employing at least 1,000 veterans throughout its locations nationwide.

 

Aside from its “Hero’s Welcome” initiative, Edible Arrangements’ CEO is also actively involved in the IFA’s Veterans Business Accelerator program. Established by the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Veterans Business Accelerator program provides free courses and resources for all veterans interested in entrepreneurship, franchising or otherwise. The program also provides financial support to wounded warriors while completing coursework.

 

Of course, those military veterans who do become Edible Arrangements franchisees will join one of the franchise industry’s most successful concepts to date. Edible Arrangements has been ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 every year since 2009; been named one of the “Fastest-Growing” franchises for four years; and listed as one of “America’s Top Global” franchises for four years, all by Entrepreneur magazine.

Veterans Franchise and the 2013 IFA Convention

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The buzz of Las Vegas was louder than normal last week as 3,500 people swarmed the MGM Grand to attend the International Franchise Association’s annual convention, making it a record-breaking show for the association.

Matthew Haller, a spokesman for the International Franchise Association said, “We always have higher attendance when we’re in Vegas.”

Those in attendance weren’t just franchise executives. New franchise concepts, franchisees, franchise suppliers (like Veterans Franchise) and famous speakers also made the pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the IFA convention.

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During the convention a central theme emerged: growth. Dr. Condoleeza Rice, a keynote speaker, spoke of the importance of galvanizing the American dream through a strengthened economy and that an economic resurgence lied in the hands of the private sector, of which franchising is a major player.

CKE Restaurants CEO Andrew Puzder delivered a speech along the same notes, citing that at the core of his “unconventional” business strategy was a desire to keep his franchisees successful.

“When our franchisees make money, we make money,” he said. Puzder’s strategy has kept Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s growing for ten consecutive years.

In recent years the tumultuous economy and recession resulted in loss for the franchise community in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The tables turned in 2012; it was a year of recovery and most predict 2013 to follow suit. By the end of this year, 757,055 new franchise establishments are expected to be in operation, a 1.4 percent increase from 2012.

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In addition to celebrating the return of growth to the industry, the IFA convention also shone a light on those who support the franchise industry through various products and services.  McDonald’s would be lost without fryers, frozen yogurt franchises would melt without freezers and franchise expansion would shudder to a much slower pace without the efforts of lead generation experts like Franchise Buy, who provide franchise concepts with a steady stream of entrepreneurs looking to become franchisees. IFA Suppliers showcased their businesses over the course of two days in the exhibitor hall, which included various law firms, accounting firms, telecommunications concepts, human resources software companies and Google.

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