After serving nearly 21 years in the military, Daniel Schultz wanted a new challenge that still allowed him to lead, serve others and make an impact. Transitioning to civilian life wasn’t just about finding another job — it was about finding purpose. Franchising offered that opportunity.

Now, as an East Omaha franchisee with The Cleaning Authority, the residential house cleaning services franchise under Authority Brands, Schultz applies the structure, organization and long-term mindset he developed in the military to running his own business. He was drawn to the franchise’s transparency, strong support system and growth potential — qualities that reminded him of the teamwork and accountability he valued in service.

Schultz hopes this can be the start of a family legacy. His oldest daughter now works alongside him, and he hopes to one day expand across Omaha and pass the business down to his six daughters. What began as a new mission after the Air Force has become a new chapter of service — this time, to his community.

1851 Franchise spoke to Schultz about his franchise journey with The Cleaning Authority and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Daniel Schultz: I served in the military for almost 21 years — 15 days shy, to be exact. I started enlisted, then became an officer after earning my degree within about five years. I flew for most of my career until the last few years. It was a good job. I enjoyed it and felt like I was doing meaningful work, especially during the first decade before things got more political as I advanced in rank. It allowed me to support my family, and I loved that I was defending the Constitution. I didn’t have as tough a time as others who were deployed for long stretches.

I deployed often — usually two months at a time, two or three times a year — but I stayed in close touch with my family, so it felt like a good balance. I thought of the deployments almost like vacations. Sometimes I went to austere environments, other times to nicer locations. It all depended on the mission. For much of that time, I worked in intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance, flying missions to uncover information others didn’t want us to know. It was a great job that took me to a lot of interesting places.

1851: How did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Schultz: As I started planning my exit from the military, I realized I’d done my duty and it was time to move on. I wasn’t enjoying it as much anymore and began thinking about what to do next. I posted my resume on ZipRecruiter for Omaha because I didn’t want to go into government contracting. It paid well, but it felt like giving up. I wanted something more exciting and with greater potential.

A gentleman reached out — I think he was a kind of talent scout or recruiter who earned a commission for connecting people with franchises. He was great to work with and really helped me identify what might be a good fit. Through personality tests and conversations, we figured out where my strengths were. He didn’t even push franchising at first; he just wanted to understand what made sense for me. We realized I was no longer in the right fit with my military role and that I’m a strong project manager who doesn’t stress easily when facing risk. Franchising seemed like a good match for that skill set — and here I am, enjoying it.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Schultz: When most people think about franchising, they think of restaurants. Before I got into it, I didn’t realize how many other options there were — from haircut businesses to electricians. Authority Brands alone has so many home service opportunities.

What I want people to understand about franchising is that no two are the same, and they can be extremely helpful. The reason I chose this franchise is because, while you do pay for what the franchise provides, it saves you from having to handle the things you’re not good at. I don’t have to worry about marketing, which always overwhelmed me, or finding and setting up a CRM system — it’s all done for me. The franchise makes running a business easier. It’s not a guaranteed path to success, but it definitely helps.

1851: How does being a veteran help prepare you for franchise ownership?

Schultz: The military helped me focus on the long game and not stress about the short-term ups and downs. In the beginning, you watch your bank account dip week after week, and even though you’ve planned for that, it’s still stressful. I’m still in that phase now. But my military experience taught me how to handle stress, how to recognize what’s worth worrying about and when to just wait things out. It helped me stay steady and patient through the process.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Schultz: The Cleaning Authority stood out because they were upfront and honest about what they could and couldn’t share early in the process. They didn’t try to hide anything. When there were details they couldn’t disclose, they directed me to franchise owners who could answer my questions. That level of transparency meant a lot. They also offered strong support and real opportunities for growth.

The other brands I looked into had similar royalty and fee structures but offered maybe one-eighth of the support The Cleaning Authority provided, and their growth potential was much smaller. One franchise even required me to work full-time in the business for the first three years. With The Cleaning Authority, I do clean houses, but not every day — I have other responsibilities, and I clean enough to stay connected and lead by example. Over time, I can phase myself out more quickly than I could have with those other franchises. My goal is to make the business fully self-sustaining.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Schultz: I’d like to expand into the entire Omaha market. That would be a little more than double the size of my current territory. I also see this as something I could eventually pass down to my children.

I have six daughters, and I’d love for them to be involved. My oldest works with me now as one of my cleaners, and she’s grown so much through this experience. She used to think she wasn’t a good communicator, but this job has helped her build confidence and improve her communication skills. She’s now my trainer — she even traveled with me to Maryland for the initial franchise training — and she’s doing an incredible job working with and training employees.

Ultimately, I want this to be a family business that’s both successful and sustainable. I hope it becomes self-sufficient, but I still want to stay involved because I enjoy it. It would be boring to just step away completely.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Schultz: I was an electronic warfare officer on the Combat Sent — an RC-135U — based at Offutt Air Force Base for most of my career. That’s here in the Omaha area, technically in Bellevue. In my last four or five years, I served as a foreign area officer, focusing on diplomatic relations between the U.S. military and foreign governments.

One of my main responsibilities was organizing events that brought together top military leaders — including chiefs of air forces from other nations — to strengthen diplomatic and military relationships. I helped plan and execute those events, which was one of the highest-level things I did.

Still, some of the most exciting parts of my career were the flight missions themselves. I had the opportunity to travel to dozens of locations across more than a dozen countries, and those experiences were some of the most rewarding.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Schultz: Be wise, but don’t be afraid. It can be hard to tell the difference between fear and caution. Fear will stop you from succeeding; caution will help you succeed. Be thoughtful in your decision-making and planning, especially when deciding whether to move forward with something — but don’t let fear hold you back. Learn to recognize what comes from wisdom and what comes from fear.

ABOUT THE CLEANING AUTHORITY

Founded in 1977, The Cleaning Authority franchise specializes in residential house cleaning services across the United States and Canada, with over 220 franchise locations. Committed to delivering exceptional quality and customer service, The Cleaning Authority follows a structured approach using the Detail-Clean Rotation System in conjunction with a Professional House Cleaning Checklist. This method divides the home into zones, ensuring a rotating deep-cleaning schedule so that every area receives thorough attention at the right frequency. All cleaning crews undergo professional training, and customer satisfaction is a top priority. To learn more about this franchise and becoming a franchise owner, visit thecleaningauthority.com.