Military Veterans Who Became Great Franchisees: Jason Madden, The Entrepreneur’s Source

Veteran Franchisee: Jason Madden

Franchise: The Entrepreneur’s Source

Jason Madden transitioned from a career in military intelligence to becoming a successful multi-unit/multi-brand franchise operator. Initially inspired by his desire to own a gym, he found his path in franchising with the guidance of a franchise coach. So inspired by his experience, he decided to franchise with The Entrepreneur’s Source himself and help others follow their entrepreneurial paths to freedom. 

Since then, Madden’s background in counterintelligence and human intelligence has helped him navigate and excel in the franchising world, eventually leading to partnerships with veteran groups and mentorship roles.

“Franchises are systems and processes, and that is something that we are all familiar with in the course of regular duty,” said Madden. “Our jobs as soldiers, airmen, navy, etc. are to make those systems and processes better so that the next person who comes in can fall into that and have an even better experience. There is that personal experience of building wealth, but we also want to give back. That is what is unique with veterans — there is a whole lot of giving back along the way.”

1851 Franchise talked with Madden about his journey in franchising, his accomplishments in the industry, and the advice he has for other veterans interested in venturing into franchising.

1851 Franchise: Can you tell me about your background? How does military service play into your history, and what was the journey from military to entrepreneurship?

Jason Madden: I was interested in franchising as I was transitioning out of the military. I knew I didn’t want to continue on the career path I was on, which was military intelligence. I didn’t see myself doing that long-term, and I always wanted to be a business owner. I looked at different paths, starting a business, etc. I landed on franchising because I always had an idea that I wanted to be a gym owner. The first franchise I contacted was Anytime Fitness. I liked the brand, but the investment was very high. There was no one there to educate me on franchising or have my back. Plus, owning a gym and being absentee wasn’t the way to go, and the only ones available were not in my area.

I got some great advice from an Entrepreneur's Source coach who guided me through the franchising education process. I loved that process, and it led me to become an [Entrepreneur’s Source] franchisee. As a counterintelligence technician, we did a lot of human intelligence — guiding people through the process. This is definitely in my wheelhouse, but this is a little less intense. I also realized that there weren’t a lot of franchise resources available for veterans, and that community was just starting to pick up speed. You knew there was a surgeon or captain who started a Jimmy John’s, but that's all we knew.

1851 Franchise: What made you choose The Entrepreneur's Source yourself?

Jason Madden: As a broker, I could leverage that network to find those people who were lost and didn’t know which way to look. That is where I saw that opportunity as an Entrepreneur Source franchisee, which led to partnerships with veteran groups like RecruitMilitary, etc. I taught on Kirtland Air Force Base, and in the veteran transition program, I was able to not only help people look at the employment sector but also think of entrepreneurship as a whole. That really excites me, and I love being able to do that with franchising.

The Entrepreneur's Source is a very unique franchise. It gave me a great edge on the other franchises that are out there. I’ve been able to examine many brands across a lot of industries. I can help people turn the stones, turn around and become successful franchise owners on their own. My first franchise led me to owning other franchises as well. I’ve become a multi-unit/multi-brand operator in franchising. 

1851: How did the military prepare you for success in franchising?

Madden: Franchises are systems and processes, and that is something that we are all familiar with in the course of regular duty. Our jobs as soldiers, airmen, navy, etc. are to make those systems and processes better so that the next person who comes in can fall into that and have an even better experience. There is that personal experience of building wealth, but we also want to give back. That is what is unique with veterans — there is a whole lot of giving back along the way.

1851: Looking at your franchise journey so far, what are you most proud of?

Madden: I’m proud of the Hire Heroes partnership that I did — they are one of the biggest non-profits that helps veterans with their job search. I’m also kind of surprised that I won the Marketing Trend-Setter Award in 2018 by Entrepreneur’s Source. That was exciting.

1851: What advice would you give other veterans considering transitioning to franchising?

Madden: Go into it with an open mind. If you see the social media ads for a specific brand and you think it’s cool, unique and different, make sure to do your due diligence. Measure it against different brands. You have your primary and your favorite picks. Use a coach or a franchise consultant, preferably somebody who has had some experience in franchising themselves. The Entrepreneur’s Source is very unique in that all coaches are franchisees. You may not get that with a regular consultant. You want to have some common interest, not just someone who wants to sell you a business.

Also, leave chapter one behind. A lot of the things that make us successful in the military are contrary to what makes us successful in business … It’s the leadership style. You’re going to have to adjust in order to work with the new team as a business owner. Having that awareness to make those constant adjustments — to continue to grow and improve — is something some veterans miss. I leaned on my old formula for success in the beginning, for example, which didn’t help me with the income in my business. Also, spare your genius to the franchisor before making those personalized tweaks. You are buying into a system, rather than starting something from scratch.

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.