The Winning Franchisee | Retired Marine Opens Veteran Centric JDog in Pinellas County

Tony Gregg, a former staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, never entirely stopped working in the military. For the past 12 years, Gregg has been working for companies that make drowns and assault vehicles for the Marine Corps. But he always knew he wanted to do something that would allow him to be his own boss and help other veterans. When Gregg discovered JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, he knew it would be a great opportunity to do exactly that.

Gregg will officially open his JDog Junk Removal & Hauling on Nov 19, 2022. The event will be partnered with the Irreverent Warriors Hike taking place on the same day. The hike’s goal of bringing veterans together in a community after their time in the military aligns perfectly with JDog’s nationwide goal of bringing the veteran unemployment rate under 1%. Gregg’s personal goal is to use his new business to contribute to veteran success in the Pinellas County area.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Gregg: I still currently work for a company that makes drones for the military. I’ve been doing that for 12 years. I Developed an amphibious assault vehicle for the Marine Corps. Before that, I was in the Marine Corps, where I retired as a Staff Sergeant. I always knew after leaving the military that I wanted to do something where I could work for myself. I started looking into franchise opportunities because I knew I wanted that support and name recognition that a franchise can bring. I knew that having a brand to help with training and the learning process would be a major help to me.

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?

Gregg:   I never had any negative thoughts about it, and I feel like I had a decent idea of what franchising meant. I had family members that had been franchisees before, so I knew what they had gone through with their brands. My dad owned his own company but wasn't a franchise, so I witnessed business ownership throughout my life. 

I think I would want people to know that if you franchise, you are buying into something that is already established and has a name. You aren’t doing it on your own.

1851: What makes you stand out as a business owner in your local community?

Gregg: I think that being a veteran-owned and operated business will set us apart. The desire to support the veteran population, which is large in the Tampa and St. Pete area, is overwhelming. I’m newer to the area, but I can already see the desire to help vets here. I look forward to learning more about the community through my business and outreach efforts.

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

Gregg: Honestly, I was sold because it is a veteran-centric brand. JDog is completely owned and operated by vets, and I appreciate that. The fact that they are very family oriented excited me too. They support everyone from a disabled vet to a standard vet to the family of those who served.

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

Gregg:  I want to grow my team. I wouldn't mind jumping into the carpet side of it and opening a carpet cleaning franchise in the area. I would also love to expand into different markets, like one in the state of Washington, so my kids could be brought into the business.