With Veteran’s Day in November, it is important to focus on how franchising can empower veterans returning to civilian life. Franchising offers a unique and lucrative entrepreneurial opportunity that can help vets build businesses while serving their communities and relying on skills they honed while in the service.

As a veteran, I am passionate about lifting up other vets and I frequently rely on the training and skills I learned during service. Before carving out my career in franchising, I was in the Army and served as Battery Armorer, taking care of and maintaining all weaponry for my company. It was a role that taught me responsibility and would shape the leader I am today.

IFA’s VetFran identified that an impressive 14 percent of franchise owners in the United States are veterans with numbers trending upward, as 65 percent of franchisors noted their overall number of veteran hires have increased in recent years — and for good reason. Franchising offers a nearly seamless opportunity for veterans to return to civilian life with flexible, profitable franchising opportunities, and the skills vets learn in the service also create tough, tenacious and successful business leaders.

Some of the skills and experiences gained throughout my service in the Army that have served as cornerstones to my leadership include:

A Team Mentality

While serving in the United States Army when troops were still returning from Vietnam, I saw firsthand the importance of supporting those who have served. The biggest lesson I learned from my military days was that the bond you develop with others is crucial to surviving and thriving. Franchise owners also learn from the top, so when leaders are willing to roll up their sleeves and problem-solve it creates that sense of camaraderie systemwide.

I believe many veterans return with an improved ability to empathize with others and a deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork. This also helps when it comes to the challenges of being a franchisee, and these challenges can look different each day, like hiring or customer issues. Many franchise leaders, myself included, actively work to improve the lives of each franchise owner in the system as this creates a trickle down effect that benefits everyone involved. Franchise owners that are well supported often extend that support and level of care to their employees who then extend it to the customer. This creates not only a profitable business where owners can exceed their goals but often creates a level of customer service that is unmatched and creates repeat revenue over time.

Discipline & Drive

The military instills a discipline in people that is like no other and this helps create the drive needed to be successful in franchising. Franchising calls for implementing existing systems and adhering to franchisor guidelines, something vets can excel at.

A military background also creates a strong attention to detail, which is a must for successful franchise owners, and an intense work ethic that can help drive success and profitability. The self-sufficiency time in the service can create lends itself to driving a business toward profitability and expansion.

Adaptability

Today’s soldiers are extremely well-rounded and often highly educated. They are accustomed to procedures that have evolved over the years and often have a sense of adaptability that is unmatched. Following a franchise operations manual that has existed for decades can seem daunting or challenging, but to a vet it may seem like a comfort zone. Throughout their time in the service, veterans utilize systems that have stood the test of time and even help them evolve while handling challenges on the fly.

Many franchise leaders, myself included, actively work to improve the lives of each franchise owner in the system as this creates a trickle down effect that benefits everyone involved.

 In basic training at Fort Knox, we had to march up three hills — aptly named Misery, Agony and Heartbreak — in full gear. I often say practices like this have prepared me for nearly anything and that if someone can conquer Misery, Agony and Heartbreak, then figuring out franchise operational challenges can almost seem easy. Veterans often have a mentality that does not allow them to quit, they adapt and find new paths to success. They can problem solve and figure things out.

Superior Support

An often unspoken veteran bond is the ability to spot a fellow vet anywhere — we know them when we see them. The bond of having served links us together, so veterans who are new franchise owners feel more comfortable asking questions and looking for insight and advice. Many franchise concepts offer veteran hiring programs, mentorship and community resources to help veterans — especially those recently returning to civilian life — feel that support and connection as they ramp up their business.

I continue to support veterans through non-profit work and Authority Brands offers programs and resources for soldiers transitioning out of their active-duty status, veterans and military spouses. I often attend live and virtual events on military bases to promote franchising as an employment opportunity because there is such a natural connection between service and franchising as the industry, through Authority Brands and otherwise, offers veterans like me a unique opportunity to create a lucrative business while supporting fellow vets. With a variety of franchising options like restaurants, home service, health and more vets can carve out a post-military career that interests and empowers them while serving their communities and relying on a skillset built during their time in service. 

Dan Mock is the vice president of operations for Mister Sparky (Authority Brands). Dan’s prior experience includes his role as vice president of operations for Re-Bath, and vice president of operations of Glass Doctor. He has also served as a franchise systems manager and senior franchise systems manager as well as a Glass Doctor franchise business owner. Dan served for five years on the Auto Glass Safety Council Board of Directors promoting standards and practices in an unregulated industry. For more information about IFA franchisor member Mister Sparky, please visit franchise.org/franchise-opportunities/mister-sparky-electric.