After Two Decades in the U.S. Army, Veteran Jay Rimel Opens Military-Focused JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Business in Round Rock, Texas

For 20 years, Jay Rimel served in the U.S. Army, where he worked mainly with a weapons of mass destruction emergency response unit. After his service, Rimel knew he wanted to take control of his destiny and become a successful business owner in his local community of Round Rock, Texas, just north of Austin. But it was about more than just making money — Rimel also wanted to find a way to stay connected to the military community and help Veterans transition back into civilian life. JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, a military-centric home services franchise that only hires Veterans, proved to be the perfect fit. 

“During my active duty in the Army, I was stationed in various parts of Texas, where I retired as a Captain,” said Rimel. “About halfway through my service, I went to Officer Candidate School to become a commissioned officer. Upon graduating, I served as a platoon leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). After that, I spent most of my time working with a weapons of mass destruction emergency response unit.” 

When Rimel retired from the Army, he went to work for the Williamson County and Cities Health District, where he was responsible for emergency planning and response for the district. “This was a natural fit as it was closely related to my military career; however, I have always wanted to start my own business and be my own boss,” he said. 

Fueled by his entrepreneurial dreams, Rimel decided to contact JDog Junk Removal & Hauling after discovering its Veteran-focused franchise opportunity. “I only looked for opportunities online and through speaking with other Veterans,” he said. “It wasn’t about franchising itself in my research, it was about finding a Veteran-centric opportunity that enabled me to continue serving the military community in some capacity.”

JDog Brands stands out in the franchising world due to its unique, Veteran-focused business models. For America’s 19 million military Veterans, the transition to civilian life can be challenging, especially when it comes to work. JDog was designed specifically to provide lucrative work opportunities that align with the skills, needs and values of Veterans like Rimel.

For example, the JDog business model is service-based and flexible, requiring no brick-and-mortar space and minimal overhead costs. That ease of operations allows JDog to work with franchise owners from virtually any military background, so long as they demonstrate an alignment with JDog’s core values of respect, integrity and trust. Best of all, JDog franchisees can tap into a nationwide network of fellow Veterans and stay true to supporting their military community.

“I signed with JDog because of the emphasis on supporting Veteran causes and trying to lower Veteran unemployment,” said Rimel. “It’s a Veteran community where we can all support each other while providing a sought-after service to the community. JDog Brands is a company that’s making a real difference, and saying ‘yes’ to this opportunity was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made.”

Now, Rimel says he is committed to providing exceptional and compassionate customer service to his Austin community through his junk removal business. Most importantly, though, is the ability to give back to the Veteran community, Rimel says. 

“It has been a win-win for me as I am my own boss and I get to help other Veterans by employing them, providing discounts to Veterans who need our service and supporting Veterans' causes,” Rimel said. “I want to grow the business so that I can serve a larger portion of the community. I understand how hard the transition back into civilian life can be, and I want to help ease that any way that I can.”

As the brand appeals to more and more passionate Veteran entrepreneurs like Rimel, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling has seen record growth over the past year. Now, JDog Brands is actively seeking qualified franchisees to open franchise territories in markets across the country. 

“We are incredibly proud to have dedicated franchisees like Jay Rimel in the JDog system who are eager to find ways to help others in their community,” said JDog Brands CEO and founder Jerry Flanagan. “As we continue to grow JDog across the country, we are thrilled to partner with passionate and driven Veterans like Rimel to help them achieve their dream of business ownership.”

The cost to open a JDog Junk Removal & Hauling ranges from $30,000 to $110,000, including a $35,000 franchise fee. For more information on franchising with JDog, https://www.jdogbrands.com/own-a-franchise/.