Hundreds of franchise companies offer military veterans incentives to sign on with them. The specialized training veterans undergo helps them develop a strong sense of responsibility for executing tasks, managing resources, and leading teams. Their training fosters strong leadership qualities that help them function within a highly structured, team-oriented environment. Former military personnel often possess a work ethic that is highly valued due to their service, training, and lifestyle. Veterans have a strong sense of accountability for their actions. They are accustomed to assuming responsibility for assigned tasks and executing them with self-reliance, requiring minimal supervision. For franchisors seeking seasoned professionals with a robust work ethic, it is wise to give serious consideration to candidates with military experience. With so many franchises competing for the attention of potential veteran franchise owners, knowing which brands are the best franchises for veterans can be difficult.
One of the best ways for veterans to determine if a franchise opportunity is really as good as it appears to be is to ask veteran franchise owners. Franchise Business Review (FBR) takes the guesswork out of this process by providing in-depth ratings and reviews based on survey results from veteran franchise owners. FBR’s franchisee satisfaction data is a great place for potential franchise buyers to conduct their research. Independent franchisee satisfaction ratings measure the health of franchise systems based exclusively on the feedback of actual franchise owners.
Here’s What Veteran Franchise Owners Have to Say
“I spent my adult career as a physician assistant in the Army,” said Tracie Dominguez, a HomeWell Care Services franchise owner. “One of the many important things the military taught me was how to lead a diverse group of people. My job was to lead, motivate, communicate clearly, and be decisive.”
According to VetFran, military veterans account for only 7% of the population, but 14% of franchise owners are vets. Veteran franchisees are more likely to hire veterans as employees, and 65% of franchisors have indicated that their rate of hiring veterans has increased in recent years.
Ryan Murphy, a Soccer Shots franchise owner, served over ten years on active duty with the U.S. Navy and another 10+ in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He said there are many similarities between military service and franchise ownership, including lessons that help veteran franchisees run a tight ship. “Veterans must follow a specific structure and take orders from a boss. Through franchise ownership, you work within the proven structure of the franchise system, and you answer to a ‘boss’—only now the boss is the client. And, through your business, you get the honor and privilege to serve your clients each and every day.”
Jon Noceda devoted over two decades to serving in the U.S. Navy, with the last three of those years recruiting medical professionals—a skillset that serves him well today as an Express Employment Professionals franchise owner. “Veterans are very good at following procedures. And franchising is no different,” Noceda said. “The processes, training, support, and especially the mentorship programs are top-notch. The recipe for success is already laid out for you. All you have to do is follow it without deviating!”
FBR’s Top Franchises for Veterans
To determine this year’s Top Franchises for Veterans, Franchise Business Review analyzed 18 months of survey data from 2,909 veteran franchise owners representing more than 385 franchise brands.
Franchise Business Review’s research regarding franchisees with military experience shows veterans are drawn to a number of franchise models and investment levels. The 60 brands on FBR’s veterans list have Franchisee Satisfaction ratings of 10-30% higher on average than other franchises. The most popular franchise segments for veterans are Home Services (14% vets), Services (11% vets), Automotive (10% vets), Retail (10%), Senior Care (10%), and Food (8%).
“Many franchises entice veterans to invest through special incentives and discounts, but what really matters is what happens after they buy a franchise,” said Eric Stites, founder and CEO of Franchise Business Review. “The franchises featured in our Top Franchises for Veterans list have earned the seal of approval from the veterans who own them.”
