Why Fresh Coat Painters Is a Perfect Franchise Fit for Veterans

Following a six year stint in the Army, Sean Cardell was looking for something familiar he could return to. As someone who had painted houses regularly during his adolescence, he applied to work for a local Fresh Coat Painters franchisee (another veteran) in Clarksville, Tennessee, but the military had taught him to never do something halfway — within four years, he owned the whole business. 

Today, as an Army veteran turned successful franchisee with Fresh Coat Painters, the industry-leading residential and commercial painting franchise with over 170 units, Cardell’s story underscores the potential that franchising holds for veterans, combining their military skills with the structure of a franchise model.

A Soldier's Transition to Entrepreneurship

Cardell served in the Army between 2006 and 2012, specializing in ammunition and explosives. Following his honorable discharge, he took a job working for a DoD contractor. Over those few years, Cardell kept in touch with the Fresh Coat franchise owner he had briefly worked for in Tennessee. When the opportunity presented itself to manage that particular franchise, Cardell took it. 

“After about two years, the previous owner came up to me and asked: Do you want to buy a franchise? You’ve been running this business for two years,” said Cardell. “At that point, the only role I hadn’t had was franchise owner.” 

Although Cardell had never considered becoming a small business owner, life had other plans. “That same year I got diagnosed with Diabetes,” he said. “That meant I couldn’t continue to go overseas and contract with the DOD. But where one door closes, another one opens. I decided to jump in.”

Cardell officially signed on as a Fresh Coat franchise owner in 2018. In general, that transition from the disciplined world of the Army to the structured framework of Fresh Coat Painters was seamless. 

“The Army really emphasizes the importance of SOPs — Standard Operating Procedures,” said Cardell. “With Fresh Coat, all those same proven processes are there. If you can follow a procedure and you are willing to listen and learn, you can do this. The military is the exact same way.”

Veteran-Centric Support at Fresh Coat

With a robust franchisee support infrastructure and a proven business model, the Fresh Coat system is made up of several veteran entrepreneurs like Cardell.

“The Fresh Coat corporate team has really been there to support us every step of the way,” Cardell said. “My business coach is a Navy veteran himself, so we have that connection there. The team gives you the raw truth of what you need to do. You can get in the weeds. It creates a family environment among the franchise owners. Once you meet people that you can mesh with, it creates a circle that you can’t get elsewhere.” 

Now, Cardell’s Fresh Coat franchise isn’t just a business — it’s an extended veteran community. Many of his employees are veterans, and this shared background fosters camaraderie and mutual respect. Cardell even takes pride in having mentored some of his employees into joining the Army. Many return as veterans to continue working alongside him.

Overall, Cardell says the last five years of franchise ownership have been incredibly rewarding. And in a true full circle moment, he just recently celebrated the signing of a DOD contract for the painting of a military base next year.  

“For me, it has been great to maintain this veteran community,” said Cardell. “We don’t have a lot of headaches, the kind that you would find in civilian life. It’s about camaraderie, understanding and working towards a shared goal.”

For veterans considering a similar path, Cardell says the Fresh Coat Painters franchise model is an exciting opportunity waiting to be seized. The team is looking for passionate and qualified entrepreneurs in markets like Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.

For more information on franchising with Fresh Coat Painters, visit: https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info