When  Luke Cain graduated high school in Georgia in 2001, the tragic events of September 11 shaped the course of his life. He remembers walking into a recruiter’s office and saying, “I want to go.” That moment marked the start of his journey into the Marine Corps. Cain would go on to serve five years on active duty in the Marines and another 11 as a contractor in the intelligence field. “After that time, I decided I needed to find my next thing and started looking outside of the government,” he said. That search led him to an unexpected opportunity with  Mosquito Squad Plus , the fast-growing pest control franchise under the  Authority Brands umbrella.  From Combat to Entrepreneurship Transitioning from military structure to civilian life wasn’t easy. “It was completely different money and a major lifestyle change,” Cain said. “I really wanted to do things on my own and beat my own path, but after two decades of being around the government world, I didn’t have the experience to start something on my own. I didn’t even know what ROI was. I didn’t know the business side of it.” A friend from South Carolina owned a  Mosquito Squad franchise and encouraged him to look into it. “I thought it might be a good fit,” Cain said. “Someone owned the territory in my area and was willing to sell it. That’s what happened. I continued my intelligence career in tandem for a few years while I got the business going. I jumped right in after that in Augusta, Georgia.” Cain opened his first Mosquito Squad location in July 2015 and soon discovered that his Marine Corps discipline translated perfectly to business ownership. “By year three, I entered it full-time, and that forced me to really work it and expand,” he said. “That’s when it really took off.” Leading From the Front Cain approached business the same way he approached his military career — with leadership, structure and accountability. “In the Marines, you lead by example,” he said. “Any task my team is doing, I’ve done myself already.” That leadership mindset paid off. Cain not only grew his Augusta franchise but also purchased his friend’s South Carolina location, turning around its stagnant performance. “More than 80% of the employees stayed,” he said. “So with me investing the time and getting the processes and procedures in place, we grew 43% the first year.” His ability to rally and lead others didn’t stop at his own team. Around the same time, Cain joined the Franchise Advisory Council, helping to strengthen collaboration among fellow franchisees.  “I completely jumped in at a leadership capacity and was learning along the way,” he said. “After visiting other locations, I learned a lot of best practices. We really need to learn from each other. I started contacting other owners and said we should get together. My favorite part definitely is the relationship with the other owners — I can call them my friends.” Living the Mission and Finding Freedom For Cain, the military taught him structure and dedication — skills that helped him  thrive as a business owner . But franchising also gave him something he didn’t have before: freedom. “I have a lot more time with my kids now,” he said. “I coach my kids’ football team, go on all the field trips and holiday meals at school. That was one of my reasons for franchising. I wanted my own family, and I wanted to be able to spend enough time with them.” Today, Cain’s two Mosquito Squad locations are hitting record growth, and he continues to plan for the future. “As a franchise, we’ve figured out that we are coming to a plateau and we are evolving into a full pest control company,” he said. “Figuring that part out and doing it well is the goal now.” Advice for Fellow Veterans For other veterans considering franchising, Cain’s advice is simple. “If you go into it, go into it fully,” he said. “Do what is put in place. There’s a reason it’s a franchise. Don’t try to do it your own way. There are other owners doing the same thing — take that wealth of knowledge and use those processes. You also have to put in the time.” Cain’s story reflects what many veterans find in franchising — a chance to use their leadership and discipline to build something meaningful, on their own terms. “It’s about freedom,” he said. “I’ve spent my life serving others, and now I get to do that in my own way, building something that supports my family and my community.” For more information, visit:  https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad .