News from a few months ago that the Iraq war has officially ended has meant more and more soldiers are returning from the frontlines. They will home come looking for new horizons and new opportunities. Luckily, franchising is there to assist them.
I’ve been alerted to two interesting articles on veterans in franchising which each suggest that veterans will continue to enjoy more and more opportunities in franchising in the coming years. One centered on the large number of military veterans who attended last weekend’s Franchise Expo South convention in Miami Beach. CBS spoke with veterans who deliberately decided to attend the event with the hopes of finding an exciting new business opportunity. Vet Fran is there to help.
“We stepped up our campaign because of the need, the obvious draw down with the end of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We’ve stepped up,” said Beth Solomon of VetFran.
The unemployment stats for military vets is devastating: up to 30% according to estimates. Vet Fran aim to get 7500 veterans into franchising by 2014 and are doggedly looking for more franchise talent. One person who just realized his franchise dreams is Pablo Atehortua, who fought in the Iraq war and has just opened his own Little Caesars franchise in Connecticut. Little Caesars have their own Veteran program and Atehortua is delighted with the opportunity. There’s an inspiring TV report about it here.
“It’s perfect,” he said. “It’s been a dream of mine, like everyone else who wants to open their own business. It’s great news.”
He gets to share his dream by providing employment for 50 people.
The First Lady Michelle Obama has launched what must be the exciting government initiative to promote veterans in employment, Operation Enduring Opportunity.
“America has your back,” she told veterans in a speech and pledged to create 100,000 jobs for veterans and their spouses. Franchising will be a major platform in launching that jobs initiative.
She added the following comment during a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce: “That’s 100,000 veterans and spouses who will have the security of a paycheck and good career. That’s thousands of families that can rest just a little bit easier every night.”
Unemployment figures a pretty staggering amongst veterans. The Washington Post reported that among veterans who’ve served in the military since 9/11, unemployment rates are around 12%. And among veterans under 24 years of age, unemployment is 22%.
The IFA announced after that speech that it hopes to create 80,000 jobs for veterans via franchising.
For veterans looking to learn more about purchasing a franchise, Franchise Direct has many great resources, as well as access to franchises that offer franchise discounts to military veterans.
We often hear the business acumen of military veterans trumpeted, but what specific skills do they bring to franchise ownership?
In a new book, retired U.S. Army Reserve Special Forces officer Chad Storlie, a veteran with an MBA, makes the case for veterans in business (and by proxy, in franchising). His new book Combat Leader to Corporate Leader: 20 Lessons To Advance Your Civilian Career and Battlefield to Business Success: Applying Military Leadership and Skills in Your Career, Storlie seems to have created the definitive portrait of the veteran as business leader. His book will open the eyes of any franchisor unsure about offering discounts to veteran franchisees.
He sat down with Inc magazine for a Q&A session and his answers were particularly enlightening, especially as what veterans can contribute in these uncertain business times. From comprehensive training strategy to knowing how to cope in the face of chaos and uncertainty, it does seem that military training can provide excellent preparation for owning your own business.
It’s especially interesting what Storlie has to say about the link between McDonald’s and the military:
One of the things McDonald’s does well is training. It’s about standardizing employee procedures, so we have the most efficient way to sell food, and it’s done across the board. The company also is remarkably adept at operating at different locations. Menus adapt to what different localities need. This is very similar to the U.S. Military; it adapts the equipment and operations based on location. One thing the military can take from McDonald’s is to stress simplicity. That simplicity approach, with the store layout, formulaic kitchen, simple pricing, straightforward menu, and standardized training, ensures the restaurant can be effective 24/7. The final similarity is “we can never be happy with success.” McDonald’s is constantly adapting its menu to consider, for example, how to be more health-conscious, and how people’s tastes are changing.
Who knew the synergy between the military and franchising was so strong?
Great news for anyone who all franchises looking to attract military veterans as franchisees. The IFA has put its considerable lobbying muscle behind the Help Veterans Own Franchises Act.
IFA president Steve Caldiera made the following comments to Politico on why he thinks the law needs to be put into action:
“As tens of thousands of service men and women return from deployment in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia, expanded opportunities are needed to ensure veterans and their families are able to transition into the civilian economy. Not only is this critical for the economic and social stability of veterans and their families, but it is an important component of the U.S. economic recovery.”
The bipartisan bill has been put forward by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.). As the VetFran website sets out, the prospective “offers tax credits to offset start-up costs equal to 25% of franchise fees”.
This is a law that would create jobs and help veterans integrate back in to society. At a time of such economic stagnation, this is a law that needs to be enacted. We hope that the IFA can use its contacts inside the Beltway to make it happen.
It was disappointing when the Help Veterans Own Franchises (HVOF) Act faltered in Congress during the bitter partisan bickering spawned by the debate over health care, which coincided with its appearance on Capitol Hill. But it appears that there is still hope for the act.
HVOF would have created a tax credit for franchises that offer a discount on initial franchise fees, training, and additional support to military veterans. It was a common sense law that would have further bolstered the veterans franchise sector. Unfortunately it faltered in Congress, but it’s great to hear soundings from President Obama recently that there might be life left in the law. In the beginning of the month, he called on Congress to pass the law.
“At a time when everyone is focused on job creation in Washington, we think that the timing is good for us to be talking about this issue,” says Matthew Haller, director of communications for the International Franchise Association (IFA), told QSR magazine.
“I think the prospects are good … but, at the same time, we have to be realistic about the political realities in Washington right now,” Haller added.
What’s undeniable is that veterans continue to be drawn to franchising. With the help of VetFran, over 2100 military vets have become franchisees. That’s an outstanding interest. We can only imagine that number would surge if this law were to be enacted in the next 12 months.
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