How I Franchised My Business: JDog Junk Removal & Hauling

If anyone is living the true American Dream, it’s Jerry Flanagan. After the Army Veteran left the military, the 2008 economic crisis sent him and his wife, Tracy, into bankruptcy. The duo started from the ground up removing junk for extra money as they worked to get back on their feet, eventually launching JDog Junk Removal and Hauling.

“I was 43 and looking for a recession-proof business to work on. I started hauling junk on the weekends to make money, and used index cards as marketing materials,” said Flanagan. “When I got my start with what would become JDog, I thought I was just doing this as a side hustle until I got a ‘real job.’’’

However, things took a turn and business picked up in a way Flanagan could never have imagined when his customers found out that he was a Veteran. That’s when the light bulb went off — he would change his marketing strategy to being a Veteran-owned and operated business.

How JDog Aims to Drive Down the Veteran Unemployment Rate

When JDog needed to hire more employees, Flanagan turned to the VA Hospital. 

“Before I knew it I realized I had a real business,” he said. “We did that for about a year, and then in 2012 my wife and I noticed that the unemployment rate was high for Veterans and a lot of military Veterans coming out of service.”

That’s when another light bulb went off. Tracy wanted to start franchising the business, but Flanagan wasn’t too sure about it. Flanagan said some convincing on Tracy’s part led them to building a model around a franchise system. 

JDog Junk Removal and Hauling officially became a franchise in 2012, although Flanagan said they didn’t sell to a franchisee for a year. The couple put whatever money they had into the franchise. Eventually they sold one, then another, and three more by 2014. 

“The only problem was we had no infrastructure,” said Flangan. “We were sitting at the kitchen table, realizing we were in over our heads. Then, in 2014, we approached a company and offered up the model that could put Veterans into business ownership.”

The Veterans that joined on as franchisees are able to run their own business while repurposing, recycling and re-donating to people in need.

“JDog allows Veterans to become CEOs and shows them how to hire and train employees, all of which is affecting the Veteran unemployment rate,” said Flanagan. “Our goal is to reduce the Veteran unemployment rate, and we’re doing that now with 247 franchises and 14 carpet cleaning and floor care franchises through JDog Carpet Cleaning and Floor Care.”

There are a total of 262 JDog franchise units out there, and Flanagan has set a goal of adding between 80 and 100 new franchises each year. Flanagan said that current lead generation is at least 900 this year compared to last year, and the brand even saw sales increase over the pandemic.

“There are over 42,000 zip codes in the U.S.,” said Flanagan. “We want a JDog franchise in every zip code. We want a franchise opportunity to be available to all Veterans in the future — whether that’s in moving, painting, plumbing or electric. I’d like to have a military Veteran or family member operate a JDog service in every market.”

JDog is Spreading Awareness of Its Mission Through Television Series “Operation Hidden Treasures”

The word about JDog and its mission to help Veterans own their own business is taking the spotlight through Discovery’s “Operation Hidden Treasures.” 

Season 1 of the show just wrapped, and the team is in the process of working on Season 2. 

“I’d like to see the show get on more mainstream channels, because it shows how much our business is making a difference in the lives of our nation’s Veterans,” said Flanagan. 

“The show gives viewers a chance to see just how hard our Veterans are working. We show up on time for our clients, we say ‘yes, sir,’ ‘yes, ma’am,’ and we know how to follow the rules and regulations,” he added. 

Flanagan hopes the television series will elevate the brand even more, making JDog a household name.

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, visit https://www.jdogbrands.com/own-a-franchise.