Veterans Winning at Franchising: Eric Freeman

When decorated U.S. Army veteran Eric Freeman has time off from his job as a Dallas police officer, you won’t find him relaxing at home. Instead, he spends his time off working to grow his own business as a Maid Right franchisee.

Freeman comes from a long line of military service—his father was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. That inspired Freeman’s decision to enlist in the U.S. Army right out of high school. He served 10 years on active duty, including multiple tours in Iraq as a platoon leader in Operation Desert Storm during the first Gulf War. Freeman then spent another 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

That leadership experience and drive to succeed has helped Freeman establish a strong presence in the franchising industry. Within two months of opening his first Maid Right franchise, Freeman grew his business to 50 clients. He’s now the Master Franchise owner for Maid Right of Frisco along with his wife Shannon.

1851 Franchise recently spoke with Freeman to learn more about how his military experience prepared him to successfully take on the franchising industry.

How did your military service prepare you for franchising?

When you enlist, you’re taught how to be an effective leader. My experience in the U.S. Army instilled a take-charge mentality in me, which is ultimately what you need if you’re going to open your own business. You can’t be timid—you need to grab the bull by the horns and go with it. I also learned discipline and respect in the U.S. Army, and I firmly believe those two qualities have been invaluable in my efforts to grow my business.

What is it about Maid Right that attracted you to the brand?

My first step into the industry was when I owned and operated a Kwik Kopy business center franchise. But when the economy took a turn for the worse and businesses cut out printing, I had to shut down. That’s when I started researching other franchising opportunities and found Maid Right.

The brand offers a quality service that’s incredibly recession resistant. Even when money is tight, consumers still have maid service. Maid Right also had the exact business model I was looking for. It’s a credible brand with seemingly unlimited opportunities for growth.

What advice would you give to veterans who are looking to get into franchising?

Do your research. It’s crucial to franchise with a brand you believe in. The franchising process starts well before a unit officially opens its doors for business, and franchisees need to learn everything they can about a model before investing. That knowledge takes the fear out of taking a leap and going into business for yourself.

What does franchising mean to you?

Franchising gives me the opportunity to grow my own business while having the support of a strong company behind me. In the Army, I wasn’t by myself—I had a whole team backing me up. The same can be said for franchising. At the end of the day, I’m growing my business at my own pace and making the moves that are right for me. But the Maid Right team is always there to help. I'm only as good as the people around me.

What would you like to achieve in the next five years?

I want to see Maid Right of Frisco become a household name. We’re growing quickly, so our focus is on providing exceptional customer service to maintain our strong reputation in the community. My main goal is to keep building on that momentum to become the largest Maid Right franchisee in the system.