What is it that makes veterans so successful as franchise owners?

Each year, thousands of vets make the transition from the military to entrepreneurship as franchise owners – all because of the success of others before them.

But what is it that makes them excel in franchising?

Here are 4 Reasons Veterans Thrive as Successful Franchisees:

1. Dedication, taking responsibility, and executing. In order to succeed in the military, veterans had to make the kind of sacrifices most people can’t or aren’t willing to make. During those experiences, their dedication ensured they took responsibility for their actions while executing their missions accordingly.

2. Superb ability to follow systems and processes. Veterans thrive in franchising’s systems and processes because they, in many ways, mirror the military. Because of this, vets have an outstanding ability to follow systems and optimize all processes to best ensure long-term success and profitability.

3. Real-life experience paired with strong education. Many veterans have a unique combination of having worked in real-life combat situations with a strong education. Department of Defense statistics in 2015 revealed that about 90 per cent of enlisting military men and women have high school diplomas and a bachelor’s degree.

4. Outstanding leadership and problem solving abilities. Vets have uncanny leadership and problem solving abilities gained from the military, which make them invaluable assets to any franchise. When problems arise, veterans are ability to think on their feet and find the best solutions to problems under pressure – while leading their teams effectively.

To learn more about entrepreneurship through franchising, attend our free monthly webinar, Franchise Ownership as a More Stable Career Path. The webinar is free, but you need to pre-register, which you can do online by clicking on the linked seminar title.

You may also register by calling 866-246-2884.

The American dream is alive and well – showing that sacrifices do pay off.

In a recent survey by OnDeck, 81% of American small business owners stated that they traded the security of a corporate job for the flexibility and earning opportunities that come with owning a business.

On top of this, more than half said they work 50 hours a week, with 9/10 admitting to working on weekends – that’s compared to just 1/10 of the rest of the working population.

And after they’ve left the office, 80% continue working from home or elsewhere.

Major benefits to entrepreneurship despite long hours

Despite the long hours, 65% of entrepreneurs said they’re in a better financial situation and half said they have a better work/life balance.

Best of all? Nearly 90% said they wouldn’t change a thing or go back.

See the following infographic from OnDeck for the full picture:

To learn more about entrepreneurship through franchising, attend our free monthly webinar, Franchise Ownership as a More Stable Career Path. The webinar is free, but you need to pre-register, which you can do online by clicking on the linked seminar title.

You may also register by calling 866-246-2884.

Military veterans are trained to be vigilant, well-informed, and prepared.

And when it comes to buying a franchise, the process shouldn’t be any different.

For vets looking to invest in a franchising opportunity, it’s important for them to do their due diligence while researching all of their options – otherwise, they could end up in a very different situation than what they expect.

Here are 10 Questions Every Vet Should Ask a Potential Franchisor:

1. What will my expected income/revenues be? This is #1. You’re leaving behind a military position, where your income was at a set level. While veterans thrive as entrepreneurs – and especially franchisees – you still need to invest in a proven franchise that has the systems and processes to help ensure you maximize your earning potential.

2. How much time will I have to prepare? It’s really important to find out how much time you’ll need to prepare before opening. After all, you may need to find a brick-and-mortar space, hire employees, and get trained by the franchisor yourself.

3. Is a starter kit/smaller brand available first? Some franchises offer “starter kits” or smaller-sized brand investments. These are sometimes good for first-time franchise investors new to business, depending on your comfort level.

4. Do you offer reduced fees/royalties for vets? Many franchises off reduced franchising fees and royalties for U.S. military veterans.

5. How many vets have you recruited and what’s their success rate? While vets thrive as successful franchise owners – that’s why so many franchises want them to invest in them – it’s still important to do your due diligence and find out the success rates of veterans.

6. Do you offer any special support for vets? Find out the type of support they offer to all franchisees, and then ask if they offer any special support to their veteran members and their families.

7. Who will I report to and serve as my main contact? Franchises range from small, emerging businesses to world-wide chains. That’s why it’s so important for you to establish early on who you’ll be working with.

8. Do you offer logistical start-up support? Negotiating leases, finding suppliers, and identifying employee talent can all be made easier when a franchisor comes on board to help oversee your initial logistical issues. Find out what kind of start-up support your franchisor offers.

9. Do you offer staff training support? While having top-notch systems and processes is important in franchising, it’s equally important to have a well-trained staff that can execute within them efficiently and effectively.

10. Are there veteran-specific expansion incentives? Once you’re successful at operating your first franchise, will the franchisor offer veteran-specific incentives to help you acquire more franchises and scale your income? Will they provide the same level of support again?

To learn more about entrepreneurship through franchising, attend our free monthly webinar, Franchise Ownership as a More Stable Career Path. The webinar is free, but you need to pre-register, which you can do online by clicking on the linked seminar title.

You may also register by calling 866-246-2884.

Think Red Bull is going to help you stay on top?

Think again.

While these types of ‘high-energy’ drinks – filled unhealthy amounts of sugar – can boost your energy over a short burst of time, they’re not going to deliver the type of long-term, sustained energy you need to achieve the best productivity and results.

In reality, eating real food – and eating it often – is the key.

In fact, recent data revealed that people who ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, four or more times a week, were a whopping 20% more productive than their non-fruit-and-veggie-eating counterparts.

So, how do you achieve this? By eating energy-rich foods for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks throughout the day, on a regular basis.

See this recent infographic from EBOC and HubSpot for the full details:

Looking for work is never easy, and that’s been even more true for veterans.

Our country’s proud service men and women put their lives on the line, making sacrifices to themselves and family that few would go through.

After they leave the military, however, many veterans aren’t sure where to turn next – and for good reason. Veteran unemployment has been higher than the nation’s overall unemployment rate in recent years.

Thousands of veterans have found success in franchising

With so many people competing for work, thousands of veterans in America over the past number of years have forged their own path as entrepreneurs through franchising.

Franchising thrives off of veterans’ core, military-honed skills sets – leadership, problem solving, and system-and-process-following skills – which in turn helps veterans find a new direction in life as franchise owners.

Multiple financing options, discounts available to veterans

To help make the transition easier for veterans, there are also numerous ideal financing options available, including SBA-backed loans, conventional loans, equity payouts, and crowdsourcing. On top of this, many franchises offer discounts and royalty reductions to vets to help encourage them to invest in their business.

Simply put, veterans are natural-born leaders well suited to the entrepreneurial path.

And franchising provides a secure, trusted, and proven way to do it.

To learn more about entrepreneurship through franchising, attend our free monthly webinar, Franchise Ownership as a More Stable Career Path. The webinar is free, but you need to pre-register, which you can do online by clicking on the linked seminar title.

You may also register by calling 866-246-2884.