Marine Corps Veteran Opens JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Business in Hammond, Louisiana

Zach Schwaibold, a 24-year-old Marine Veteran, knew he would join the military after an early high school summer trip to Hawaii. When his family went to see the Pearl Harbor memorial, “Something clicked,” he says. After high school, Schwaibold knew he needed to pursue the military as it was something he had always dreamt of.

After time spent in Japan and Australia, Schwaibold returned to his hometown in Louisiana and pursued a trade education in plumbing and pipe fitting. However, when a friend from boot camp reached out about his new JDog business, Schwaibold was quickly drawn in. Now, his very own JDog Junk Removal & Hauling business opened in mid-April of 2023.

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

Schwaibold: When I was in the Marine Corps, I was a diesel mechanic, working primarily on humvees. I spent about two years in Japan, did a few field ops on Mt. Fuji, and went to Australia for another year. We were only supposed to be in Australia for about six months, but COVID hit, and there were no flights in or out.

About two or three months ago, one of my buddies from boot camp sent me some information about his new JDog business. At the time, I was in trade school for plumbing and pipe fitting in commercial buildings, but I was curious about JDog. I started asking questions, and the more research I did, the more clearly it became a no-brainer.

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?

Schwaibold: Every time I would think about franchising, I would only think of the huge restaurant brands like McDonald’s. I never knew that franchising could exist on a smaller scale. I wish I had known that there was something like JDog — they’re there for you all the time. I didn’t know that type of support was available in the franchise model.

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

Schwaibold: The people. It just feels like family at headquarters. All of the owners are a bunch of military people, and things just click. When I’m talking to people from the military, it just feels different. I enjoy the people I work with now, but it’s just a different feeling.

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

Schwaibold: I hope to become the household name for junk removal throughout my territory. Whenever somebody needs something gone, I want the first thing they think about to be JDog. I want to walk around town and have everybody know me. It will be great to build those relationships and support the community and everyone around here.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Schwaibold: Age doesn’t matter. If you have the drive and want to do something, and if you put your mind to it, you can make it happen.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Schwaibold: Go to discovery day. Meet everyone, do your research and you’ll see how everything is. Every person is different, so you may like a different concept more or less than the next person, but there’s always something out there for everybody.

Discovery day is probably the biggest stepping stone. A concept can seem interesting, but going to discovery day will help you make the final decision. If you meet and enjoy the people, you’ll be hooked.

ABOUT JDOG BRANDS

Headquartered in Berwyn, PA, JDog Brands was founded by Army Veteran Jerry Flanagan, JDog’s CEO, and his wife, Tracy Flanagan, when they recognized the struggle many Veterans faced when acclimating back to civilian life. JDog Junk Hauling & Removal and JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care create business ownership opportunities exclusively for Veterans and their families with nearly 300 JDog franchises across the country. JDog Brands provide franchisees with comprehensive training and support for every step of their business ownership journey. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit jdogbrands.com