Companies value franchisees with military experience

A few years ago, many companies viewed hiring veterans as something that was simply nice to do—it was a way to chip away at sky-high unemployment while getting some good public relations in the process.

But things have changed.

With the unemployment rate for the latest generation of veterans running below 7 percent, companies across all industries have realized how vets can boost bottom lines. Today, franchise businesses have emerged as an ideal career choice for veterans, who are often tech-savvy and skilled at working within a system. Veterans currently own about 14 percent of retail franchises.

Mosquito Joe, a franchise system based in Hampton Roads, Virginia—a city that’s home to several large military installations—is investing heavily in veterans; some 15 to 20 percent of its franchisees are former service members. While the company offers a $2,500 discount on its franchise fee to veterans, COO Brian Garrison, who left the military in 2012, believes vets are attracted to the brand’s culture.

“We feel vets bring the right set of experiences and work ethic to our business,” Garrison said in an interview with Entrepreneur Magazine. “Veterans coming through the pipeline look at the other vets in our system, and it resonates with them. Our team has close to 100 years of franchise support experience. We can look veterans in the eye and say, ‘We understand that you don’t have any experience in the private sector, but we can be a backstop for you as you make the transition.’”

Jan-Pro, a 10,000-unit commercial cleaning franchise, and its recently launched residential cleaning brand Maid Right, have sought to employ former service members since 2000, when the company launched its VetConnection Program. The Georgia-based company offers a 10 percent franchise-fee reduction for vets, and because of its master franchisee model, the company aims to find individuals who have experience managing large groups of people.

Workout Anytime also offers a veteran initiative—the franchise reduces its $30,000 franchise fee by a third for vets. Co-founder and President John Quattrocchi says the past few years remind him of when he returned home from Vietnam after serving four years in the Air Force.

“It seems like an awful lot of people are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan and are looking for work, and we have a great need for people with the tools they’ve learned to help us expand,” he says. “I certainly have a soft spot for veterans. We should give back to anyone who serves their country.”

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