Land of the Free, Home of the Brave & Franchising

On the eve of Fourth of July, many of us may be anticipating the summer holiday tomorrow: a day spent outdoors with family and friends, flag waving at parades, barbecuing on the beach and ooh-ing and aah-ing at the local fireworks display. We should all take a moment, especially today, to remember the true meaning of this holiday and take the time to thank a military veteran….

According to VetFran, since 2011 there have been 151,000 veterans, wounded warriors and military spouses who have entered the franchise industry with 5,100 veterans being franchise owners. I recently had an opportunity to interview Kevin Blanchard, Coordinator of IFA and manager of the VetFran program. VetFran works to provide access for veterans and military spouses in the franchise industry for franchise ownership and employment through education, financial discounts and mentorship. What many individuals do not realize is that there are many transferable skills learned in the military that can be used within the world of franchising. “Veterans acquire strong leadership skills and a thorough understanding of teams in the military. Military experience includes leading people, improving processes and accomplishing the mission. Just like in the military, in franchising, the mission is accomplished by the team working together as a whole,” said Blanchard. He goes on to explain that franchises run on implementing systems and following procedures with exact precision. These skills are all emphasized in military training and can lead to success in the world of franchising. “This means a veteran can enter into a completely new field, follow the franchisor’s proven business model, and receive the training, guidance, and support a new business owner needs to succeed,” adds Blanchard. With the support of franchising, veterans have the ability to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves. Today, VetFran is the most developed program that focuses on franchising. It provides a great option for veterans that want to own their own business, but not start their own business. Veterans interested in franchising should contact a representative at http://www.vetfran.com.