Top Franchises for Veterans
The Top Franchises for Veterans
One out of every seven franchises is owned by a veteran. From planning and communication to problem solving and leadership, veterans make some of the best franchise owners because of their knowledge, skills and experience gained in uniform. The best franchises for veterans offer discounts and special pricing along with dedicated support to their veteran franchisees.
1 out of every 7 franchises is owned by a veteran.
How Do Franchises Work?
Franchises, also called chains, are hybrid business models combining entrepreneurial freedom and corporate structure.
According to the VA, there are two types of franchises. With product/trade name franchising, a franchisor owns a name or trademark and sells it to the franchisee. For example, a veteran franchisee owns a business that sells a branded product, like tools, household appliances or vehicles.
Veterans with a business format franchise might own a restaurant, hotel or a business to business (B2B) company. The veteran would buy not only rights to sell a product, but also the franchisor’s business system and services. The business format franchise is the most common type of veteran-owned franchise.
What Are the Best Franchises for Veterans?
There are franchise opportunities for veterans across many sectors: automotive, home décor, restaurants, hair salons, elder care, shipping, hardware, and more.
The best franchises for veterans offer more than just discounts. They have good name recognition, products or services in high demand, low competition in a geographic area, offer strong training and support systems, and are backed by a reliable parent company that actively recruits veterans as franchisees because of their unique experience and work ethic.
List of Top Franchises for Veterans
Many franchise companies offer veterans a 10 – 20% discount off initial franchise fees. However, these highly rated franchises for veterans offer a 30% or more discount off their initial franchise fee. Some provide additional benefits to veterans starting out with their franchise.
Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels
Auntie Anne’s consistently lands in the top of food franchise rankings. They offer a variety of venue options for franchisees, from the traditional mall and airport locations to food trucks and street side locations. Veterans pay a reduced initial franchise fee of $20,000 for any location they open.
RELATED: Veteran Friendly Food Franchise Opportunities
Biggby Coffee
The fastest growing coffee chain in the U.S. is passionate about happy customers and community engagement, while bringing a casual, laid back vibe to the coffee shop experience. After starting in Michigan, Biggby’s gourmet coffee and specialty beverage locations are expanding across the nation. Qualified veterans receive 50% off the initial franchise fee.
Charleys Philly Steaks
The #1 Cheesesteak franchise in the world has been franchising for about 30 years. One of the metrics of their success is how often current franchise owners re-invest in new locations. Most of their franchisees start with no food service experience. Qualified veterans receive 50% off the initial franchise fee of $24,500.
Cinnabon
The world famous cinnamon roll franchise has over 850 locations across the globe and continues to grow. Cinnabon offers a variety of venue formats, including a full bakery, an express bakery and co-brand opportunities. Qualified veterans receive a $10,000 discount off the regular initial franchise fee of $30,000.
Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.
Dale Carnegie Training started in 1912. Today, the Dale Carnegie & Associates franchise delivers corporate training services in workplace learning and professional development to businesses of all sizes and individuals across the globe. Veterans receive 50% off the initial franchise fee.
Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment franchisees help local businesses find qualified employees, and help their neighbors find meaningful work. This #1 staffing franchise has over 850 locations across the U.S., Canada and South Africa and continues to grow. Veterans receive 50% off the initial franchise fee.
Fast Signs
The #1 leader in the $29 billion sign industry, Fast Signs specializes in providing visuals to businesses like interior decor, promotional products, printing mailers, digital signage, and exhibits. Actively recruiting veterans, 10% of Fast Signs franchise owners are veterans. Veterans can get 50% off the initial franchise fee and receive additional benefits as franchise owners.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Combining a fast, made to order, Southwest themed menu with a casual attitude and fresh food theater, Moe’s offers U.S. and international franchise opportunities. The franchise has taken full advantage of the growth in off premise revenue streams and is positioned for continued growth. Veterans receive $10,000 of the standard initial franchise fee of $30,000.
Pirtek
This industry leading franchise meets the nonstop industrial demand for hydraulic and industrial hose replacement services. Pirtek offers 2 franchise options for a potential franchisee, either a storefront with a mobile fleet, or a single Mobile Sales & Service unit. Pirtek offers 30% off the initial franchise fee to qualified veterans.
The Cleaning Authority
The largest residential cleaning company in the market, The Cleaning Authority franchises offer their customers full service home cleaning using environmentally friendly products. The Cleaning Authority offers 2 franchise formats based on territory size and franchisee budget. They give qualified U.S. and Canadian veterans 30% off initial franchise and territory fees.
The Maids
One of the largest domestic cleaning companies in the U.S. and Canada, top ranked The Maids franchise has offered residential deep cleaning to their clients for over 40 years. Franchisees don’t need to have residential cleaning experience. Veterans receive $4,000 off the regular initial franchise fee of $10,000.
The UPS Store
More than 200 veterans own more than 300 The UPS Store franchises nationwide. This top ranked franchise for veterans has been the #1 postal and business services franchise in the U.S. for decades. Qualified veterans get $10,000 off the franchise fee. This includes 50% off the initial application fee.
RELATED: The UPS Store Waives Franchise Fee for Veterans For Limited Time
Tropical Smoothie Café
With a menu combining smoothies and food to meet the growing demand for healthy and fresh fast food, Tropical Smoothie Café franchises are one of the fastest growing food franchises in the U.S. Franchisees have multiple revenue streams: dine-in, drive-thru, delivery, and catering. Veterans get 50% off the regular initial franchise fee of $30,000, and pay a reduced price of $15,000 for additional properties.
Ziebart
The auto appearance and protection franchise, Ziebart, started in 1962. Products have been expanding with the times and now include bed liners, auto wraps, and more. Zeibart now has locations in 32 countries and the average length of franchise ownership is 26 years. Veterans pay no initial franchise fee through Ziebart’s veterans Assistance Program.
The best franchise ownership opportunities for veterans give veterans and transitioning service members another path to the American Dream. These exclusive franchises help veterans build on skills and experience from their time in uniform, and allow them to continue to support the country through community engagement and employment opportunities. Top rated franchises welcome the skills and experience that veterans bring to their businesses and smooth the process for them in many ways.
RELATED:
- Choose Veteran-Owned Businesses as the Economy Normalizes
- Where Should Veterans Choose to Live After the Military
- SBA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program
- Solid Start: Helping Veterans Transition to Civilian Life
- Getting a Degree in Business Administration
- The VA’s Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Program
About the author
Lori Waddell serves as Co-director of an emergency response COAD in Montana, a freelance writer, and an Air Force Key Spouse. She is passionate about empowering communities and individuals through knowledge and resources. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and two children.
