Franchising for Those Who Have Served our Country—You Bet!

There are some great programs out there to assist people with getting into a franchise business today, and we’re going to be discussing them all week long. Among these great opportunities are those involving the SBA, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Minority Business Opportunity Center, and today’s topic — programs that afford veterans the opportunity to become franchise owners at reduced costs; or even free!

Okay, free is pretty unusual, but Maid Brigade Founder and Chairman Don Hay has been involved with assisting veterans becoming franchise owners through the International Franchise Organization’s VetFran program for many years, and his commitment has been amplified through his own personal dedication to serving those who have so gallantly and courageously served our country.

A great example of this is Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway which Don discusses during his visit on The Franchise Show. This is a unique opportunity for up to 100 qualified veterans to be rewarded for their service, with the Gold Medal Winner receiving a “turnkey” Maid Brigade franchise valued at $45,000. This is unquestionably a great program, but here are the even bigger takeaways:

• Franchising is easily the best way to go into business. In today’s economic environment where so people many are reexamining their careers and employment status, franchising represents a unique opportunity to take the entrepreneurial plunge with a proven concept that is the right fit for an individual's talents and goals.

  
  

• New vehicles need to be deployed to get people into franchising. Credit is tough, home equity has been depleted, and many are starting over — or even from scratch. Someone once said the best time to go into business for yourself is now, with “now” being whatever moment you, the economy, the world is currently in. Business isn’t stopping —  stalled out, maybe -- but the world is growing and business will grow with it.

• Let’s dig harder to make it happen. If you’re a veteran, there are great programs to take advantage of. Many franchisors have special programs for vets, and we’re going to make it a theme on The Franchise Show. Last Friday, for example, we had Chris Loudermilk from Mr. Rooter and The Dwyer Group — both leaders in providing opportunities for veterans. We’ll listen to Chris and Ron Eldred, a Mr. Rooter franchisee and vet, discuss these opportunities on the air.

A Chinese proverb says, “May you live in interesting times.” Well, these are interesting times: Let’s make the most of them. Millionaires were made during the Great Depression. We’re definitely not in a depression, so let’s get the right franchise concept, the right financing opportunity, and the right location on our radar.

Let’s get creative — and let’s get into business.

Jeff has 25 years of hands-on franchising experience with such high-growth companies as McDonald s, Blockbuster, and Quiznos, and is host of The Franchise Show every Friday at 2:00 pm PDT, and broadcasting live from the West Coast Franchise Expo in Los Angeles, October 2-4. Tune in Friday and Saturday to hear live interviews with Expo guests and attendees with a special focus on special programs such as VetFran and minority business programs.