According to the International Franchise Association, one in seven franchises in our country is owned by a military vet.
Meet Jared, a former active-duty Army helicopter pilot and National Guard Chief Warrant Officer, who could be the poster child for the IFA’s VetFran program. Here’s what Jared has to say about his decision to become a franchise owner:
First, why franchising?
“I’ve always wanted to own my own business. My dad owned his own plumbing and contracting business. As a helicopter pilot, I’d fly over the nice houses in Washington and I knew that owning my own business, rather than working for someone else, was my vehicle to getting one of those nice houses for myself. It would give me the ability to earn a more lucrative salary. I chose franchising over independent business ownership because it mitigates the risk with a proven and tested business plan. With the downsizing of the military, my wife Becky and I got very serious about making our move.”
How did you know which franchise was the right fit for you?
“It came down to the details of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and the Meet the Team Day (MTTD). I knew the geography of my market made a lot of sense for this type of franchise (environmental services for residential and commercial buildings) and I knew there would always be a need for my services, no matter the economy. That, combined with the higher gross margin per job, moved this franchisor quickly to my top choice. I called some of their other franchisees, past and present, and what was said confirmed what the company claimed in their FDD. They answered two simple questions for me: ‘Are you making progress?’ and ‘Are you doing better today than when you first opened for business?’ With plenty of praise for the company’s home office staff, their answers to both were, “Yeah! For sure!”
What did the other franchisees have to say about their core values?
“Everyone had great things to say about the relationships between fellow owners and this company – people getting along, helping and supporting each other, and pooling their resources for the benefit of each other and the brand overall. I saw this precedent of company culture firsthand when I visited for their MTTD.”
What Army skills have helped you with growing your business?
“As a military helicopter pilot, you’re always in service to somebody, always busy trying to find someone or something – no excuses. You get the job done – find the target and see it through to completion. For me, this relates to helping the customer solve their problem, no matter how difficult. There were many times in the military when I had to get creative on how to get things done, and I’m glad that component is still present. No day is just like the next or the one before it.”