Franchising presents a great opportunity for armed forces personnel that are currently on active or reserve duty — as it is, 1 in 7 franchises in the US are owned by veterans.

Franchisors know that veterans make for great franchisees because many of the factors that made veterans excel within the military make them ideal for franchisees. The world of franchising represents a marriage between the self-start world of entrepreneurship and the rigorous discipline needed to follow a set of instructions and execute on a proven plan. The ideal franchisee is someone who can take direction and work within guidelines provided by the franchisor, but who can also effectively lead a team and get things done.

The road to running a successful franchise involves having a long-term plan and hewing close to the plan, even when there are bumps along the way – neither the franchisee nor military personnel can let minor setbacks get in the way of a longer-term goal.

In addition, veterans know how to rely on a support network, which is essential for franchise success. As veterans have learned to trust and rely on their fellow personnel, franchisees must lean on franchisors, fellow franchisees, employees and others to ensure progress in their franchise.

In addition to being suited to business leadership, veterans like you are also often offered benefits or cost concessions as incentives to become franchisees. Offering 10% off the franchise fee for veterans is a fairly common practice for participating franchisors.
These combinations of financial incentives are a great way for veterans to enter the franchise industry, where the skills and training they’ve gained through their experience in the military make them uniquely qualified to run successful franchises.

Adapted from the International Franchise Association