Franchising offers a framework that empowers entrepreneurs  to build a future for themselves while offering a guiding hand. For veterans transitioning into civilian life, this is especially important. Though not all military-specific skills are transferable to everyday life as a civilian, the Pestmaster franchise model leverages strengths that many veterans develop over the course of their service. Justin Kendall, a former U.S. Army signals intelligence specialist and now franchise owner of Pestmaster, shares that the ability to follow a system and work with a team have helped him substantially in his ownership journey.

“In the military, you become very good at following systems,” said Kendall. “I chose to partner with Pestmaster as they were the number one small business pest control provider for the federal government and second overall. My prior independent pest control experience was primarily in residential pest control, so government contracts were a weakness, and I knew they had a system in place that could help me drive that aspect of my business.”

Kendall opened his Richmond, Virginia Pestmaster in 2018 and has grown to include six service vehicles, four techs, two sales representatives and an office manager. Now, he and his business partner are looking to buy out other franchise owners and purchase additional territory.

As he has developed his business, Kendall’s ability to follow the strategy and systems provided by Pestmaster, has allowed him to reap incredible rewards.

“The greatest reward has been being recognized as the fastest-growing franchise, franchise owner with best practices and Franchise Owner of the Year,” he said.

How Teamwork Drives Franchise Success

In addition to following proven systems, veterans are well-adapted to work alongside team members toward a shared goal, and the ability to do so can be a key driver of success in franchise systems.

“I thought that there might be better purchasing power as part of a large organization,” Kendall added. “I also know that when all the other franchise owners are involved, share best practices and use all the tools that are available to us from the franchisor, all of our efforts are more powerful.”

The Pestmaster franchise system is already very powerful with over 60 units in operation and a group of franchise owners with varied backgrounds and perspectives. In addition to his military service, Kendall, for example, serves on Pestmaster’s Franchise Advisory Board, is a Director on the Virginia Pest Management Association Board, is an associate certified entomologist and has studied business at Harvard Business School and Cornell.

A Veterans’ ability to work within a team is especially important in the context of the larger Threshold Brands franchise system. As the parent company to 10 home services brands, Threshold Brands is home to a leadership team with decades of franchising and home services experience, and it serves as a central hub for franchise owners throughout all of its brands.

With multiple veterans either owning their own Pestmaster business or employed within the system, the brand has seen just how well it works with individuals from military backgrounds. In an effort to recognize this, thank veterans for their service and decrease the barrier to entry for well-qualified individuals, Pestmaster offers significant discounts on the initial investment for veterans and first responders. As it continues to expand in multiple markets across the U.S., the franchisor encourages veterans to reach out and launch their entrepreneurial journey with the support of a proven model and network of other dedicated owners.

The total investment cost to purchase a Pestmaster franchise ranges from $84,600 to $188,800 including a $42,500 franchise fee. To find out more information, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pestmaster/info 

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Morgan Wood

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Morgan Wood

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