1851's Vet 100: #8 - Big Boy Restaurants

8. Big Boy Restaurants International, LLC

Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, Big Boy Restaurants has more than 149 Big Boy Restaurants in the United States and Japan. Founded in 1936 by Bob Wian, Big Boy became famous for its double decker hamburger, also known as the Big Boy. With over 75 years of heritage in the restaurant industry, Big Boy is “rooted in traditions of craveable food and lasting memories.” Big Boy is also a participant in the VetFran program, offering a whopping 50% off of the franchise fee to qualified veterans. Veterans can also feel proud to be a part of one of the most iconic fast food franchises in history. As an established, successful franchise system, Big Boy provides proven support, training and communication tools. New prototype store designs have created lower investment opportunities. In addition, multiple territories remain available for development in the United States. Big Boy also supports its franchisees with quarterly limited time offer promotions, as well as marketing materials like television and radio ads and billboard placement. David Crawford, Senior Vice President of Marketing, cites the iconic Big Boy statue places outside of each location that creates the emotional connection between the consumer and the brand. Big Boy looks for passionate people when it comes to their franchisees, and we believe veterans are some of the most passionate people out there, making Big Boy a great franchise opportunity.

9. Arby's Restaurant Group

Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. with more than 3,500 restaurants system wide. Arby’s has a reputation in the fast food industry as offering some of the best roast beef sandwiches, originally opening in 1964 in Boardman, Ohio. And while many consumers may equate Arby’s with its famous Curly Fries, Arby’s is also known to be one of the most veteran-friendly franchises. The brand offers qualified veterans 50% off of the initial franchising fee, opening up the prospect of owning and operating an Arby’s location to a large number of our military heroes. Arby’s is also known to offer free roast beef sandwiches to active duty soldiers and veterans on Veteran’s Day. Arby’s was also one of the first fast food brands to open a location on an active military base, signing a development agreement with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service to operate a location at Ft. Bliss, Texas. With a national brand presence, 45 plus years of experience and being number one in market share for roast beef, franchising with Arby’s provides an excellent opportunity for veterans.

10. Goddard Systems, Inc.

Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) was recently named the #1 Childcare Franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine for the eleventh consecutive year (January 2012) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales) by Franchise Times for the fifth consecutive year (October 2011). Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, GSI is expanding The Goddard School network throughout the United States. GSI currently licenses 380+ franchised schools with more than 45,000 students in 35 states. Goddard participates in the VetFran program, offering qualified military veterans an astonishing $20,000 discount on the franchise fee. Goddard also sees veterans as some of the most valuable potential employees. “Clearly, veterans, because of their background and experience in the armed forces, are used to systems and procedures,” said Tony Padulo, Vice President of Franchise Development. “Veterans work well within the system and have very strong work ethics. They understand the need to have a system in place, and this ultimately translates into exceptional franchise owners.” Indeed, Goddard has a solid system in place, offering strong training and support, making it easy for veterans to transition into the company’s structure. With many exciting developments on the horizon, including the deployment of cutting edge technology like the use of smart boards throughout classrooms, and business continuing to grow despite the economic downturn (revenue has increased 5% over the past year), franchising with Goddard is a fantastic opportunity for veterans.