1851

After serving in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, Rich Whitaker decided he wanted to go into business for himself. But he didn&rsquo;t want to jump into an opportunity blindly&mdash;there were a few conditions that his new venture needed to meet.

For starters, Whitaker knew he wanted to do something that would allow him to stay closer to his home and family in Tennessee after traveling extensively during his time in the military. He also wanted to be a part of a brand that allowed him to give back and be an active member of his local community. When he came across <a href="http://www.freshcoatfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=us-army-veteran-finds-successful-business-ownership-opportunity-with-fresh-coat-7647" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fresh Coat*, the nation&rsquo;s leading residential painting franchise</a>, he knew he found the perfect fit.

&ldquo;Right off the bat, it was clear that <a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/how-fresh-coat-s-proactive-employee-business-model-leads-to-higher-average-gross-revenue-4574" target="_blank">Fresh Coat&rsquo;s proven system and business model supported and encouraged growth</a>. I was confident that the opportunity would generate profit and be attractive to potential customers in my community, and I was right,&rdquo; said Whitaker. &ldquo;But what separates Fresh Coat from every other franchising opportunity is trust. That&rsquo;s ultimately why I decided to invest&mdash;as I got to know the leadership team, I knew that they would work with me to help my business get better and succeed.&rdquo;

That commitment to providing unrivaled support is evident across Fresh Coat&rsquo;s entire franchise system, which is currently made up of more than 120 units across the country. The brand&rsquo;s leadership and support team are constantly working to ensure that their franchisees&mdash;and ultimately customers&mdash;are receiving the best possible service.

&ldquo;I continue to be blown away by how supportive Fresh Coat&rsquo;s corporate team is. As an owner, seeing their drive to improve the brand and make it more profitable makes me want to work harder as a local business owner,&rdquo; said Whitaker. &ldquo;That added effort is then visible to my employees and customers. People respond to businesses that show that they care&mdash;things as simple as showing up on time and getting the job done right really do go a long way.&rdquo;

Fresh Coat&rsquo;s reputation is unparalleled in the industry among business owners and consumers alike. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/fresh-coat-painters-is-piecing-together-a-fragmented-industry-3849" target="_blank">By relying on painters that are employees rather than subcontractors</a>, the brand ensures that jobs are being carried out by people who understand and support Fresh Coat&rsquo;s commitment to quality. That high level of service combined with the brand&rsquo;s tested and proven business model continue to make Fresh Coat the brand to beat not just in the painting industry, but in the franchising industry as a whole.

&ldquo;At the end of the day, working with franchisees like Rich is what makes Fresh Coat unique. Our network of local owners all share the same heightened level of passion and excitement for the brand that we do on the corporate level, fueling Fresh Coat&rsquo;s continued growth,&rdquo; said Tara Riley, President of Fresh Coat. &ldquo;We look forward to welcoming new franchisees into our system as we continue to expand our reach from coast to coast.&rdquo;

Rich Whitaker Fresh Coat Franchisee Army Veteran

U.S. Army Veteran Finds Successful Business Ownership Opportunity with Fresh Coat

1851 Franchise

Rich Whitaker signed on to open his own Fresh Coat franchise after meeting the brand’s supportive corporate leadership team.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

us-army-veteran-finds-successful-business-ownership-opportunity-with-fresh-coat

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Franchise Brands Can Prepare for the Rise of AI-Driven Advertising

how-franchise-brands-can-prepare-for-the-rise-of-ai-driven-advertising

Coffee & Analytics graphic with photo of Nick Powills

Franchise Growth Is Messy. Lead Gen Is Uncomfortable. Let’s Fix It.

franchise-lead-generation-insights

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

U.S. Army Veteran Finds Successful Business Ownership Opportunity with Fresh Coat

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS