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With a unique, veteran-focused business model, low start-up costs and an in-demand consumer offering, the emerging carpet cleaning franchise is making a name for itself as a top choice for veteran entrepreneurs.
JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care, a new floor cleaning franchise from veteran-focused franchisor JDog Brands, was launched in 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every sector. Still, despite 2020’s myriad challenges, JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care thrived, signing a whopping 17 franchise locations in its first two years. Now, the emerging brand is preparing to build on that momentum, with a goal of opening 10 new locations by the end of 2022.
Here are five of the top reasons franchise owners are eager to join the fast-growing, veteran-focused carpet cleaning franchise.
When JDog Brands founder and military veteran Jerry Flanagan first started the franchise, he was looking for a way to provide for his family following the 2008 recession, and he was set on finding an opportunity that would endure in any economic climate.
“I didn’t want my livelihood to be tied to some company that could go under overnight without any warning,” Flanagan said. “I Googled ‘recession-proof industries,’ and waste management was one of the top results. I thought that was something I could do, so I hooked a trailer up to my Jeep and got started.”
With that, JDog’s first franchise, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, was born. When Flanagan was looking to expand on the business with a complementary service, he found that carpet cleaning and floor care not only went hand in hand with junk removal but the category also demonstrated the same economic resilience as junk removal. Both residential and commercial property owners will always need to keep up with their spaces, and both junk removal and carpet cleaning are specialized services that are difficult for individuals to do on their own and can not be automated by technology.
Plus, since JDog Brands encapsulates both a carpet cleaning and a junk removal concept, franchisees could benefit from both cross-promotional referrals and increased brand awareness while satisfying homeowners across markets.
And those homeowners have never been more in need of JDog’s services. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the home services industry saw a massive boom as homeowners spent more time investing in projects that would better their living spaces. Now, in 2022, the segment shows no signs of slowing down, with both the $10 billion junk removal segment and the $5 billion carpet cleaning industry still thriving.
Since day one, JDog Brands has been dedicated to creating a community where veterans could feel supported and productive after returning home from service. The military encourages a lifestyle of honor, courage and service, which can unfortunately be the opposite of many modern work environments. That is why many veterans — particularly those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders — may find it jarring when trying to relate to civilian coworkers or find fulfilling work post-service. Flanagan set out to fill that void by creating a veteran-focused franchise opportunity.
“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,” said Flanagan. “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. Through franchising, JDog Brands aims to decrease veteran unemployment rates to under 1%.”
Some of JDog Brands’ veteran-centric benefits include: low startup costs without the need for inventory or retail space, a proven and operationalized business model that taps into the common skills developed during service and the opportunity to leverage a community of supportive and like-minded veterans. Overall, first-time veteran franchisees don’t need any specific industry experience in junk removal or even business ownership to thrive with JDog. Instead, owners need to connect with JDog’s core values of respect, integrity and trust — three staples of the military lifestyle.
Additionally, the niche, “veteran owned” aspect of JDog gives the brand a distinct advantage in a fragmented market. Customers appreciate the reliability and work ethic brought on by JDog’s military background and also respect the brand’s mission to help decrease veteran unemployment rates to under 1%.
“We never expected our veteran focus to be such a big part of what consumers love about JDog,” said Flanagan. “We knew we wanted to do something to support the veteran community, and we knew that veterans are excellent at following processes and getting the job — any job — done right, but it was surprising to see just how dramatic a difference that made to our customers."
The JDog Brands business models are service-based and flexible, requiring no brick-and-mortar space and minimal overhead costs. That ease of operations allows JDog to work with franchise owners from virtually any military background, and also creates a faster ramp up time for those eager to get started. Best of all, franchisees can feel confident that they will benefit from an attractive work-life balance.
“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 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.”
As a relatively new sister concept to JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, prospective JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care franchise owners have the opportunity to leverage wide-open market availability in markets all across the country.
Currently, JDog is actively seeking qualified franchisees to open franchise territories in markets like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and more.
“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.”
In order to provide business opportunities for as many veteran entrepreneurs as possible, Flanagan knew it was important to keep the investment costs low. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care ranges from $37,909 to $169,947, including a $10,000-$25,000 franchise fee. This puts JDog JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care on the low-end of the medium level investment in franchising.
All of these benefits helped the multi-brand franchisor see a 28% increase in franchise owners who signed agreements in 2021 — a total of 89 franchise agreements among 47 franchise owners for both brands. And that growth may just be the beginning for the multi-brand franchisor, which is planning to ride that momentum to expand further in 2022.
With each agreement signed, we are able to reach more veterans with employment opportunities and increased ways to help local organizations that give back to veterans in these communities,” said Flanagan. “I know 2022 is going to be another record setting year for both brands and we’re looking forward to expanding our footprint.”
For more information on franchising with JDog, visit https://www.jdogbrands.com/own-a-franchise
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