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The exclusively Veteran-owned home services franchise has identified room to add several locations in the city, which is home to one of the world’s largest populations of military personnel.
JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care, a new floor cleaning franchise from Veteran-focused franchisor JDog Brands, is gearing up for major expansion. Following a pandemic-fueled boom in the home services sector, JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care signed an impressive 14 franchise locations in its first two years of operation. Now, the emerging brand hopes to open 10 new locations by the end of 2022, and has identified several markets primed for growth across the country, including Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The Hampton Roads area, which includes Virginia Beach and several surrounding cities, is home to one of the world’s largest populations of military personnel, with approximately 83,000 active duty military personnel. Hampton Roads is also home to the largest Naval base in the world and the only NATO command on U.S. soil. The Hampton Roads regional economy has become increasingly dependent upon defense spending over the past decade, and Department of Defense (DOD) spending accounts for 45.6% of all regional economic activity.
The military bases in the Virginia Beach area include: NS Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, VA; Norfolk Naval Shipyard Navy Base in Portsmouth, VA; NAS Oceana Naval Base in Virginia Beach, VA; NWS Yorktown Navy Base in Yorktown, VA; NSA Norfolk Navy Base in Norfolk, VA and NSA Northwest Annex Navy Base in Chesapeake, VA.
“So many of Virginia Beach homes are occupied by Veterans,” said Jerry Flanagan, the founder and CEO of JDog Brands. “Veterans often have a difficult time transitioning into civilian life. Most jobs don’t look anything like the military structure that Veterans are accustomed to, but franchising, when done correctly, can fit like a glove. Veterans like to follow a process. They take their training seriously, and they’ve got the grit and experience to overcome challenges. We’ve built our franchise opportunities to make the most of those qualities and help our franchisees find success quickly.”
And as a relatively new sister concept to JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, prospective JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care franchise owners will have access to uniquely wide-open market availability. The JDog Brands has identified room to add 5 of territories in Virginia Beach.
JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care offers steam cleaning and power washing for carpets, area rugs, upholstery, tile, grout and hardwood. Since these are specialized services that are difficult for individuals to do on their own and cannot be automated by technology, Flanagan says, JDog allows owners to tap into a recession-resistant consumer offering, recurring revenue and repeat customers. Plus, the median household income in Virginia Beach is $79,054, significantly higher than the median U.S. income of $67,521, which means homeowners in the area have more disposable income to spend on home services like carpet cleaning.
Additionally, JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care franchisees can work in conjunction with JDog Brands’ other franchise, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, to offer a holistic service for homeowners who are moving or clearing out a space.
The JDog business requires no brick-and-mortar space, resulting in minimal overhead costs, a streamlined operational model and an attractive work-life balance. JDog’s streamlined operational model also means Veteran franchisees don’t need any on-the-ground experience in floor cleaning or even business ownership — they simply need to demonstrate an alignment with JDog’s core values of respect, integrity and trust.
The brand also offers comprehensive training and ongoing support from its corporate office, and most new owners open their business in as little as eight weeks after signing the franchise agreement.
“The beauty of this business is that it requires no specialized skills or knowledge, but at the same time, it is designed to elevate the strengths of veterans and make the most of their talents,” said Dana Forester, president and COO of JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care said. “So much of being in the military is about following a process, and with JDog, we’ve built a process that just about any Veteran can take and turn into a thriving business.”
Over the past year, the $5 billion carpet cleaning industry has proven to be more relevant than ever as people spent more time at home during the pandemic. As a result, while 2020 brought a series of challenges for businesses across nearly every segment, JDog Brands was able to thrive. Last year, JDog Brands showed no signs of slowing down: The company saw a 28% increase in franchise owners who signed agreements in 2021 across both concepts.
Looking ahead, the multi-brand franchisor is planning to ride that momentum to expand further in 2022. In addition to Virginia Beach, JDog is actively seeking qualified franchisees to open franchise territories in markets across the country, starting with New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“We have emerged as a leader in a very in-demand market, and we’re ready to take full advantage of that position,” said Flanagan. “We’ve got wide-open territory availability and increasing demand for our services from prospective customers. Now, we’re just focusing on finding the right franchise owners to help us launch in new markets.”
The cost to open a JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care ranges from $37,909 to $169,947 including a $25,000 franchise fee. For more information on franchising with JDog, visit https://www.jdogbrands.com/own-a-franchise.
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