The Veterans Supplement from Franchising USA. This issue offers advice, great Franchise concepts and stories of successful ex Vets who are now running their own business under the franchise banner, A Great Read..
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Vets supplement 1851 franchising usa 3#1-5
1. Page 35
Veterans in Franchising
Franchising USA
feature
november 2014
PIRTEK
The Perfect Fit
www.franchisingusamagazine.com
Game Over?
Not for this
Marine Corps Vet
Tutor Doctor
To Assist Veterans
3. Veterans in Franchising Supplement
Franchising USA
Contents
november 2 0 1 4
Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become
a regular feature of Franchising USA.
To share your story in the next issue, please contact
Vikki Bradbury, Publisher
Phone: 778 426 2446
Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com
Franchisee in Action
40 Teen Road to Safety
News & Expert Advice
44 Franchises Offer a World of Opportunities
Tariq Farid, Edible Arrangements
50 Will Crowdfunding Help Make Acquisition of
Franchise Opportunities Easier?
Jim Mingey, Veterans Business Services
54 Veteran News
VetFran: A Growing Network
Cover Story
38 PIRTEK. The Perfect Fit
Profiles
42 Furniture Medic
48 Tutor Doctor
Focus
46 Money Mailer
52 GameTruck
4. Cover Stor y - Pirtek
One of the marks of a
good leader is that he’s
not only good at what he
does, but makes others
around him better at what
they do.
It’s this type of leadership that earned
Jim Lager, owner of multiple PIRTEK
locations in Dallas, the Multi-Unit
Franchisee Magazine 2014 Most Valuable
Performer Veteran Award.
After buying his first PIRTEK franchise in
2010, Lager turned some heads by having
the highest first and second year sales of
any United States PIRTEK franchise in its
history.
PIRTEK is a business to business
franchise that services, maintains, installs
and replaces hydraulic hoses and fittings.
All PIRTEK franchises consist of a
storefront, and a fleet of vans to perform
on-site service.
Because of his meteoric rise within
PIRTEK, Lager joined the company’s
franchise advisory council and
immediately started contributing valuable
ideas.
Lager then found himself giving
motivational speeches at the owner’s
conference to tell them how he was doing
so well, which prompted vice-president of
franchise development Gwyn O’Kane to
approach Lager about working with some
of the company’s franchises on the west
coast, which were having a difficult time
recovering from the recession.
Happy to help out his fellow franchisees,
Lager headed to the west coast and spent
a week in San Francisco before he and the
company decided that he should develop
Franchising USA
his own program and take it to the various
other PIRTEK west coast franchises to
help them get their sales up.
Some of those stores, like the PIRTEK in
Kent, WA, went from being in the bottom
10 percent to being in the top 30 percent in
the country under Lager’s tutelage.
“I took them from losing cash to making
cash and now they’re actually growing to
be a profitable business,” Lager said during
a recent interview from his own office in
Dallas.
The program he developed was hardly
rocket science, though, the veteran said.
He merely took his experience from his
time at Snap-On Tools and combined it
with obvious sales techniques that focused
on the customer relations experience.
But, sometimes, he pointed out, it’s the
obvious techniques that people can miss
the easiest. He actually went out with sales
managers on customer calls and gave them
direction on how to reach out to customers,
what to say and how to keep track of what
they were doing and he made it all simple
enough that they could easily adopt it.
O’Kane said Lager really deserves the
Veteran’s Award for franchising because
he truly understands the importance of
the franchising system and that it’s not
just about the individual franchisees being
successful, but about everyone within
the system and the system itself being
successful.
Snap On Experience
Lager had perhaps the perfect background
for putting together the program that he
did with PIRTEK. Prior to purchasing his
PIRTEK franchise, he spent time with
Snap On Tools as both a franchisee and an
employee of the company as a field sales
manager, meaning he had 12 different
routes he was responsible for with training
and helping franchisees grow their
businesses.
Lager credits Snap On with giving him
a great opportunity. He exited the army
reserves young and with no money, as
he recalled. But, Snap On gave him a
chance and within nine months of joining
the company as an employee, he was a
franchisee.
He was with Snap On for several years,
running a franchise and then moving
into his field sales manager position.
Eventually, he left and opened his own
independent business, but he sold that
and went back to Snap On as a franchisee
again, this time growing his business up to
five franchises.
And then he found PIRTEK.
“That’s what really changed my life and
it’s an opportunity that I was really able to
grow with and do what I wanted to do with
a franchise,” Lager said.
He currently owns two PIRTEK franchises
and is working on opening his third one
by the end of this year. What Lager likes
about PIRTEK is that you can build a
team around you to help run the business,
meaning it’s not just a one-person show.
Plus, it’s also a lucrative business.
“You can make a really good living with
just one franchise in this business,” he
noted.
Military Service
For Lager, having a team that he can rely
on harkens back to his military days. In
the military, he said, you have to work in
teams and you don’t get to choose your
teammates, but you are expected to make
it work regardless.
“You have to work as a team and your
environment isn’t always ideal, but you
PIRTEK
The Perfect Fit
Veterans in Franchising
5. Page 39
Franchising USA
still have to make it work at the end of the
day,” he said.
It’s this ability to make the best of any
situation regardless of the team you’re
surrounded by that Lager said he brings
over to his franchising business from his
military days. He joined the U.S. Army
air defense in 1985 and was stationed in
Germany for two years before joining the
Army Reserves in Minnesota. He left the
reserves in 1991 and joined Snap On.
Veteran Savvy
Veterans are a natural fit into a franchising
system, PIRTEK’s O’Kane said.
In the U.S., PIRTEK has about 10 owners
who are veterans that come from the Navy,
Army and Marines.
“We find veterans are excellent because
they make great franchise entrepreneurs
because they’ve got that entrepreneurial
spirit and they’ve got that willingness to
follow a program,” O’Kane said during an
interview from the company’s Rockledge
headquarters.
With their U.S. headquarters stationed
in Rockledge, FL., PIRTEK now has 48
locations and another two set to open
in the U.S. by the end of the year. The
company started in Sydney, NSW in
Australia back in 1980 and is currently
active in 23 countries with about 400
locations worldwide.
PIRTEK is part of the VetFran Directory
program, run by the International
Franchise Association, and the company
offers discounts off of its franchise fee for
veterans, O’Kane said.
As for advice for veterans who are
transitioning out of the military and into
civilian life and are looking at franchising,
Lager said it’s important to do research
and pick the right franchise for themselves
because there are a lot to choose from
and they might not be a good fit for all
of them. But, he added, with so many
franchises to choose from, any veteran
should be able to find one that is a good fit
for them.
For more information visit:
www.pirtekusa.com
Article by Rob Swystun.
Veterans in Franchising
Jim Lager
6. Teen Road to Safety
From Employee
to Franchise
Owner
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
“I purchased the franchise because of the
business model of using retired law enforcement
officers as instructors and the professionalism of
Often with franchises, an
employee who works for
the business will enjoy it
so much that they want
to get involved as an
owner.
That’s exactly what happened with Dan
Mulrenin, a former instructor with driving
academy Teen Road to Safety, who is the
company’s first franchisee.
Mulrenin, who served with the U.S.
Marine Corps from 1975-79 (honorably
discharged as a sergeant) and then as a Los
Angeles Police officer from 1980-2008
the way we teach.”
(retired as a lieutenant) purchased his Teen
Road to Safety franchise in May 2011.
Prior to purchasing his franchise,
Mulrenin was an instructor at the driving
academy. He respected the fact that
Teen Road to Safety president Andrew
Wunderlich was dedicated to teaching safe
driving.
“I purchased the franchise because of
the business model of using retired law
enforcement officers as instructors and the
professionalism of the way we teach,” the
franchisee said in a recent interview.
Although focusing on teenagers, the
company teaches all people who are old
enough to drive using the same training
Dan Mulrenin
7. Page 41
Franchising USA
methods that police officers receive for
their own driver training.
Captain of his own ship
After serving in the military and then on
a police force and finally as an employee
in a business, Mulrenin wanted to know
what it was like to be his own boss, so he
jumped at the chance to go from instructor
to franchisee.
Being involved with the business already
meant that it was extremely easy for him
to transition into being an owner. Mulrenin
said Wunderlich was helpful in showing
him the management side and the on-going
support that TRTS provides continues to
be an important resource for him.
Like most franchisees, Mulrenin found
that getting the business started was a
Veterans in Franchising
lot of work, but his work/life balance
is getting better now. He doesn’t do
as much instructing anymore, instead
leaving that to his top notch team while
he concentrates on the marketing of the
business. Learning this side of the business
is something that prospective franchisees
need to be prepared for he says, however
having the support of a great system
behind you really makes the difference.
“It is challenging, fun and you have to
be very dedicated,” Mulrenin said. “The
rewards of being your own boss are very
gratifying.”
However, even more gratifying for
Mulrenin is the fact that Teen Road to
Safety can have such a positive impact
on people’s lives through the company’s
dedication to teaching teens and adults to
drive safely.
For more information visit:
www.teenroadtosafety.com
8. Furni ture Medic
When Ron Pierce
retired from the U.S. Air
Force after 20 years
as a Cardiopulmonary
Technician, he was
interested in maintaining
that sense of fulfillment
and joy in a new vocation.
He found it as a Furniture
Medic franchise owner.
Transitioning from repairing hearts and
lungs to repairing furniture may not seem
like a natural next step, but Pierce says
his new career lets him use his problem-solving
and free-thinking skills to help
other people find new life in objects they
value and cherish.
Franchising USA
“I have always been one to reap what
I sow,” Pierce said. “Being fully
responsible for my results brings a sense
of accomplishment that you can’t get
anywhere else.”
And Pierce knows about rewarding work.
Not only did he work stateside as a medic
in the cardiac cath lab and manager of a
sleep disorders clinic for the Air Force,
he had two deployments as a member of a
critical care trauma team. His deployments
supported Operations Northern Watch and
Iraqi Freedom in 2002 and 2003. Pierce’s
expertise was recognized by Air Force
leadership, and he culminated his career as
the advanced course curriculum developer
for his cardiopulmonary career field.
At a friend’s suggestion, Pierce worked
in moving claims when he first retired
from the military in December 2010.
Seeing first-hand the bumps and bruises
a family’s belongings sustained during
relocation, he understood the enormous
need in the furniture repair industry. Pair
that demand with his lifelong hobby of
building furniture and the fact that he also
loves engine mechanics, and purchasing
a Furniture Medic franchise was a match
made in Heaven.
Or at least, for Pierce, a match made in
Wichita Falls, Texas.
The North Texas town is home to
Sheppard Air Force base and is just across
the state line from Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
Among Pierce’s many clients, he’s happy
to count people serving in the military.
“I’m humbled every day to be able to
interact a lot with Army and Air Force
personnel,” he said. “Giving back to folks
in the military is a really rewarding part of
my business.”
Pierce normally limits his service area
to a 75-mile radius, but has had special
requests to travel 250 miles or more. A few
of his many satisfying projects, include
refinishing all 175 dining room chairs for
a retirement village, thrilling the elderly
residents with their “new” chairs, and
restoring an antique Partners Desk from
the 1800s. At four by eight feet, it was a
very large piece with built-in drawers in
the top slab and three leather inlays that
all required precision detail restoration.
The owner, the president of an oil and
gas company, remembered the piece from
decades earlier and had originally wanted
it in his home. But when he saw the
restored desk, he wanted it in his office for
all to see.
Beyond his profession of bringing new
life to cherished possessions, renovating
cabinetry and rescuing new furniture
from delivery mishaps, Pierce gives back
personally. He supports a therapeutic
horseback riding farm in his community,
teaches Sunday School, and serves on
the Education Policy Team of his state
representative’s office. He also enjoys
golf and camping with his wife and three
teenage sons.
For more information visit:
www.furnituremedic.com
Ron Pierce Profile
Veterans in Franchising
9. Page 43
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13. Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
Tariq Farid, Founder and CEO, Edible Arrangements
Now More Than Ever,
Franchises Offer a
World of Opportunities
for Today’s Vets
For years, franchising
has been known as
a fulfilling post-service
career option for military
veterans. The numbers
back it up too.
One out of every seven franchise
businesses in America is owned and
operated by veterans of the U.S. military,
according to a recent study conducted for
the International Franchise Association
Educational Foundation, and based on
U.S. Census data. More than 66,000
veteran-owned franchise businesses in the
U.S. provide jobs for 815,000 Americans,
generating more than $41 billion.
At Edible Arrangements, some 600
veterans are employed in our locally-owned
stores and we have a goal to ensure
that we create at least 1000 jobs within
the next year. We currently have dozens
of franchisees who are veterans and we
plan to boost this number with our Hero’s
Welcome program which offers a reduced
franchise fee for U.S. military veterans.
It is estimated that one million vets will
Tariq Farid
14. Page 45
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
“U.S. military veterans have the qualities that
every franchisor is looking for and have a huge
potential to become the standard-bearers for
their brands.”
be returning home over the next five
years. Opportunities to transition from
the military to the civilian job market are
critical, to prevent returning vets from
having higher-than-average unemployment
rates. Franchising can play a major role
in this transition. There are number of
reasons that the franchise business model
has always been - and will continue to be -
a perfect fit for America’s veterans.
Franchise operations mimic
military ones
Strict protocols and chain of command
are a way of life in the military, and also
in franchise operations. While vision and
drive are critical, it’s also important that
franchisees have an ability to work within
prescribed guidelines that have proven the
test of time.
Most franchises offer veterans
reduced-fee loans and
subsidies
Some franchise companies provide a
discounted franchising fee to veterans.
We do this at Edible Arrangements and
it’s just a small way to thank veterans for
their courageous service. Additionally,
loans in excess of $1billion are available to
returning service men and women through
special veterans’ programs administered
by the government.
Veterans’ ability to handle risk, adapt
to change and continue to persist, make
them more suited, in many cases, to
handle everything that business ownership
may throw their way. Lenders know this
and that is why franchises remain one
of the nation’s most stable and healthy
investments.
Franchises provide training
From the day they enter boot camp,
veterans know that ongoing training
is a part of military life. An ability to
stay abreast of the latest techniques and
technologies can mean the difference
between success or failure and, in some
cases, life or death.
As a result, I have found veterans some
of the best students when it comes to our
training programs at Edible Arrangements.
I have found that veterans are always on
the look-out for a competitive advantage
and they are among the first to ask to
be a part of testing new programs and
initiatives.
Franchises need leadership and
decision making ability
Leadership and an ability to make
decisions are two characteristics I have
found in every veteran who has become
a franchisee at Edible Arrangements.
Through training and experience, they
have honed these skills to where they have
become second nature.
Business owners are faced with
circumstances that are constantly
changing, sometimes without warning,
and snap decisions must be made. Last
year’s severe winter caused some of
our franchisees to make unique, in-the-
moment choices that enabled them
to weather the storms and provide 100
percent satisfaction for our customers,
safely and without incident!
Franchises thrive on
commitment
Even with proven systems and processes in
place, running a franchise business is hard
work, sometimes requiring long hours. Of
course, that is nothing new to someone
who has spent any time in the military.
In fact, this is often when veterans are at
their best - riding the adrenaline rush that
comes by pushing yourself more than you
ever thought possible, seeing a situation
through to success.
Franchises inspire and
encourage philanthropy
According to FranchiseHelp, whether
it’s on a national level or in an individual
franchisee’s neighborhood, the world’s
best franchises not only generate profits
but contribute meaningfully in their
communities.
Veterans know about sacrifice and service.
I have found that our military veterans
appreciate everything they have and the
opportunities our country has given them.
As a result, they have a burning desire to
continue to serve and help others.
In short, U.S. military veterans have the
qualities that every franchisor is looking
for and have a huge potential to become
the standard-bearers for their brands.
If, over the next few years, franchisors
make a concerted effort to reach out to
U.S. military veterans, not only will their
companies benefit, but we might begin
to close the unemployment gap faced
by those who have given so much to our
country.
Tariq Farid is the Founder and CEO
of Edible Arrangements. The company
began in 1999 with one small store in
East Haven, Connecticut. Through
franchising, the company has grown
to 1,200 stores in 14 countries and
territories in just 15 years. Farid is a
champion of the franchising model as
a great way to grow a large business,
but also firmly believes becoming a
franchisee is the pathway for successful
small business ownership.
For information on Edible
Arrangements’ franchise opportunities
for Veterans:
www.ediblearrangements.
com/FranchiseOpportunities/
RequestInformation.aspx
For information on International
Franchise Association’s VetFran
Program:
www.vetfran.com/about-vetfran/
15. Money Mailer
Veteran Translates
Military Training into
Business Savvy
Franchising USA
Living up to his name,
Tom Wisdom made a
wise decision about two-and-
a-half decades ago
when he purchased a
Money Mailer franchise.
Now this army veteran and his wife
Judy are getting ready to pass along
the business to their son, who has been
involved with it for the past 10 years.
Money Mailer is a hyper-local marketing
services franchise that provides local
business owners with marketing solutions
so they can reach their best prospects
with coupons delivered in the mail, on the
Internet to mobile devices and on social
media.
While Wisdom had a lot of sales and
management experience as an executive
at 3M, he credits his military experience
with giving him the discipline to follow
Money Mailer’s proven 35-year operating
system to get out on the street and scale
his business.
He even credits it with inspiring his sales
technique. “I joke to people, but I sell by
ambush, I really do,” Wisdom said during
a recent interview from his home office in
San Antonio, TX.
The “ambush” that Wisdom refers to is
the way he goes into a business armed
with so much knowledge about it that he
may even know the business better than
Tom Wisdom
Veterans in Franchising
16. Page 47
Franchising USA
the people he’s talking with who work
there. Money Mailer provides extensive
marketing databases on every business
category so franchisees can work with
business owners as marketing consultants
understand their goals and objectives and
develop customized marketing campaigns
that bring more of the right customers in
the door.
“I’m part of their marketing staff,” he
said. “I’m the cheapest employee they’ve
got. They don’t pay me a salary, they
don’t pay me benefits, they don’t pay me
workman’s comp, they don’t have to pay
me termination fees and if I’m not doing
a good job for them, they just quit talking
to me.”
He goes in focused on what the client
needs and how he can help them and is
highly motivated to perform to make them
successful and, Wisdom said, the army
taught him that focus.
Service Career
Wisdom attended Texas AM and joined
the Corps of Cadets, leaving the school as
a second lieutenant in 1960. He and his
wife Judy got married after school and
he stayed on active duty for eight years.
Wisdom commanded a tank company in
Germany, spent a year in Vietnam and
held staff positions at a few different army
bases.
Through all his service, Wisdom said,
he learned a lot about following a plan,
following an operations order, and about
self-discipline. The only way it didn’t
prepare him for the business world was not
having any financial training. However, his
time with 3M would provide him with that
financial training which has served him
well as he has built a thriving business in
San Antonio.
Back to Texas
Once he had held a variety of positions
in 3M, he and Judy decided they wanted
to exit the corporate culture and get back
to their beloved Texas. So, they decided
to look for a franchising opportunity
and Money Mailer kept popping up. So,
in 1991, the couple bought a regional
franchise with a territory that stretched
from Waco to the Rio Grande Valley and
included Austin and San Antonio.
As regional operators in a three-tier
system their responsibilities included
looking after all franchisees within this
large geography. In 2004, Money Mailer
changed their structure and became a
traditional two-tier system, buying back
regional licenses and resulting in a very
profitable outcome for the Wisdoms.
They were now able to run a substantial
operation in San Antonio from the
comfort of their home with extremely low
overheads.
“It allows us to run lean and mean and still
be highly effective” Wisdom explained.
For Wisdom and his wife, purchasing their
Money Mailer franchise back in 1991
was probably the best decision they could
have made. And, thanks in large part to
the discipline from his military career,
invaluable assistance from his wife Judy
and the training, support and systems
provided by Money Mailer they have built
a highly lucrative marketing consulting
business in San Antonio.
For more information visit:
www.franchise.moneymailer.com
Veterans in Franchising
17. Through a great
collaborative effort of
Tutor Doctor’s Operations
Team and Bob Rosedale,
a U.S. veteran and a Tutor
Doctor franchisee based
in Idaho, Tutor Doctor
won the bid and secured
a $3.25 million contract
with the U.S. Veterans
Administration.
The five-year contract will provide
vocational training and transition services
to military veteran men and women
pursuing non-military careers.
Tutor Doctor, the Number One at-home
tutoring franchise in the world, was
the only franchise company capable of
providing services across all of the nine
states in the western region, ranging from
Colorado to Hawaii, which the VA was
looking for.
Tutor Doctor’s 22 local offices across
the region and its ability to recruit, train
and retain the best tutors and trainers
with specialized skills were the primary
factors in the VA’s decision to work with
Franchising USA
Tutor Doctor. Bob Rosedale will lead the
regional Tutor Doctor team to ensure our
veterans are receiving professional and
high quality training.
Rosedale’s franchise success in Idaho
and his enthusiasm and support of Tutor
Doctor’s principles and values combined
with his entrepreneurial spirit were
instrumental in securing this contract.
He applies the same commitment and
dedication to his Tutor Doctor business as
he did to his country during his 26-year
military career. He retired as a U.S. Air
Force squadron commander in the late
2000.
Tutor Doctor offers help in any subject to
students of all ages including adults going
back to school. Rosedale has a roster of
more than 100 tutors, including active
and retired school principals, teachers,
engineers, business professionals, veterans
and professionals with experience working
with special-needs students.
Rosedale’s business has provided over
10,000 tutoring sessions to over 500
families since opening in 2011. About
100 new families have signed up this
year, giving Rosedale’s Tutor Doctor the
greatest year-over-year first quarter growth
rate among Tutor Doctor franchises in the
western U.S.
Tutor Doctor
Veterans in Franchising Tutor Doctor to
Assist Veterans
Tutor Doctor Franchisees
Partner with Veterans
Administration to Assist
Transitioning Veterans
Bob Rosedale
“We are in a fortunate position to be
helping our transitioning veterans,” says
Rosedale. “I personally went through
a transition over ten years ago and am
thankful to now have the opportunity to
help others.”
Today, there are a few areas included in
the contract with VA where a Tutor Doctor
franchisee is required including:
• Honolulu, HI
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Fort Harrison, MT
There are also a few remaining territories
in the western U.S. region which could
benefit from the contract! If you or
someone you know is a community leader
with strong people skills looking to start
their own business in these areas, get in
touch with Tutor Doctor immediately!
For more information visit:
www.veteransbusinessservices.us/
product-item/tutor-doctor
18. Page 49
DON'T MISS THE BIGGEST FRANCHISE EVENT OF THE YEAR!
You will notice some innovative changes at IFA's 2015 annual convention! We've upped the
ante with new enhanced features and paramount educational and networking events. You
don’t want to miss franchising’s biggest and best event of the year!
Franchising USA
HERE’S WHY:
Unique networking opportunities
will connect you with other franchise
executives to expand your portfolio
of contacts and cultivate partnerships
that will help you and your brand get
to the next level.
Interactive roundtable discussions
led by experienced and savvy
franchise leaders will give you
an array of new and exciting
information that will help you
grow and evolve your brand.
Informative educational sessions
focus on hot topics that impact
your bottom line – everything from
operations, technology, franchise
relationships, sales development
and more. This is the perfect event
to showcase your innovative brand
in the exhibit hall!
REGISTER NOW Reg istering
convention.franchise.org
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE SAVINGS!
IFA Members: Register before October 24 and save $50!
online is now easier
than ever with our
newly improved
and streamlined
process!
Contact Lynette James at 202-662-0782 or ljames@franchise.org if you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring.
19. Veterans in Franchising
Jim Mingey, Veterans Business Services
Will crowdfunding Help Make
Acquisition of Franchise
Opportunities Easier for Veterans?
One would think that a
non-profit crowdfunding
platform for honorably
discharged service
disabled veterans who
want to start small
businesses is particularly
well suited for a number
of reasons.
First is the fact that being a veteran is
the Number One indicator of successful
business ownership. One out of every
ten businesses is owned and operated
by a veteran. Secondly, many disabled
veterans have issues that allow them to
tap into caring support networks. So what
is crowdfunding and could it help fund a
veteran franchise acquisition?
Franchising USA
Crowdfunding is the process of raising
public money to fund a private campaign.
It allows you to tap into your social
network and receive contributions from
all of your “friends” to develop an idea
or event. The majority of crowdfunding
money raised today is on rewards-based
platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo
websites. With these sites, supporters
of a project typically get some kind of
incentive, from a coffee mug to a listing on
a marquee, in return for their contribution.
In addition to rewards-based systems, the
equity crowdfunding market now allows
investors to receive a share of the company
in exchange for funds.
While Kickstarter and Indiegogo are
generalist platforms for raising money,
niche sites are springing up that may
serve to help drive equity to veteran small
business and complement new peer to peer
lending platforms for veterans like Street
Shares. The crowdfunding market is going
to be full of specialized players that serve
particular market segments very well. So
why not veterans in franchising deals and
what are the problems?
One problem is that the crowdfunding
platforms mentioned need campaigns
that are relatively expensive to organize
and promote. Another is that the success
rate of their veteran campaigns to date
is poor and only raises amounts that are
typically below $5,000. With millions
of crowdfunding opportunities out
there, it’s difficult for people to choose
what to support or invest in. However as
crowdfunding becomes more mainstream,
some expect to see crowdfunding funds
start that aggregate multiple causes or
investment opportunities. This could be
a great new risk capital pool for veterans
in franchising. This could be particularly
true as equity-based crowdfunding success
20. Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
Jim Mingey
“Crowdfunding is the process of raising public
money to fund a private campaign.”
stories spread and the public wants in
on the action. Franchising provides a
relatively stable business analysis platform
for investors and consistent regulatory
information requirements.
While it will be exciting to watch
crowdfunding evolve into new areas like
franchising, it’s important to note that
each crowdfunding site must ensure that
the money is distributed efficiently and
that contributors get what they bargained
for (the initial incidents of fraud have
been low, less than .1 of 1 percent on
Kickstarter). It will be easy to find veteran
franchise deals that need money and
tough to find deals that will work out
for investors. For now SEC accredited
investor rules still apply for due diligence
requirements to over 1000 crowdfunding
platforms worldwide.
Page 51
One very interesting facet of
crowdfunding that has emerged is that
communities are expected to use the
crowdfunding vehicle for public/private
partnerships. Envisioning community
economic development actors partnering
with veterans on franchising projects is a
refreshing thought. Even if veterans have
to bring their own “crowds” I believe at
least a few franchise deals will probably
get done with crowdfunding.
Happy Veterans Day!
VBS’ Founder and Managing Director,
Jim Mingey, is a decorated Vietnam
Veteran raised from a proud military
background. An entrepreneur for
more than 35 years, Jim can relate
on a personal level to the needs of the
Veteran small businessperson, and
possesses the practical knowledge to
implement his experience in today’s
market. Jim participated in the EBV
Program at Purdue University, is a
mentor at American Corporate Partners,
developed the first approved franchise
training program for the Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment(VRE)
Program at Veterans Administration,
and was instrumental in forming the
first equity fund in the United States
exclusively for Veteran owned small
businesses and franchises: The Veterans
Opportunity Fund. Jim intends to
keep on ‘advocating’ for Veterans in
franchising.
For further information visit:
www.veteransbusinessservices.us
21. GameTruck
Joshua Brasure is a
Marine Corps Veteran,
a stay-at-home dad
and an accomplished
business owner who
has found success in
joining GameTruck as a
franchisee.
Franchising USA
GameTruck is a mobile video game
theater company that brings people
together to enjoy gaming in an interactive
multiplayer environment. The video game
parties feature all the latest consoles
including Xbox 360,PS3 and Wii and
can accommodate a minimum of sixteen
players. In addition to video games, they
also offer laser tag parties that take place
outside of the theater and are complete
with specialty missions, challenges and
obstacles.
During Mr. Brasure’s eight years with
the Marine Corps he’s been deployed
three times, twice to Iraq and once
to Afghanistan. During one of the
deployments he unfortunately was forced
to watch his first daughter being born on
a web cam. Having missed out on such
a miracle, Joshua knew he wouldn’t miss
another special moment like that in his
family’s life, and needed to find a career
that provided him with the flexibility to do
just that.
Veterans in Franchising
Game Over?
Not for this
Marine Corps Vet!
22. Page 53
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
“I’ve done a lot of deployments, and
unfortunately missed out on many events
in my kids’ lives. I knew it was time to
be home with my kids and my wife. We
have been together for almost nine years,
and my wife had to take care of the kids
when I was away for as many as seven or
eight months at a time. I missed my first
child being born, I missed birthdays, I
missed lots of things. We talked about it
and as much as I loved the Marine Corps
very much, I wanted to do something that
I loved just as much, but could be with my
family at the same time,” recalled Joshua.
The Veteran learned about GameTruck
while he was working as a land surveyor
in Charlotte, North Carolina and was
surprised with the fact that GameTruck
parties were booked three months in
advance. Hearing about GameTruck’s
popularity and its veteran discount
offering for Vets prompted Mr. Brasure to
research the company and how to become
a franchisee.
“I thought that was very interesting, so
I did a lot of research and found out the
company is very veteran friendly. I started
talking to them and I was hooked from the
beginning,” said Joshua.
The veteran started the franchising process
in October 2013 and bought his franchise
in April 2014. In fact, he decided to begin
the process before he had completed his
time with the military.
“It was an extremely hard transition. The
hardest part was that the military takes
very good care of you, in all aspects, with
your money, housing, food, medical and
a lot of people don’t realize that when
you get out you’re on your own and you
suddenly have to take care of all those
things. Especially for me, since I have a
family; I had to make sure they were taken
care of,” said Mr. Brasure.
Thankfully for Joshua, GameTruck’s
training process involves step-by-step
phases with education to help candidates
get to the next level. The company
considers everyone a member of their
team and their success rate is linked to
consistent support, growth and overall
strength in the brand. Franchisee training
helps operators run their business
from start to finish including incoming
customer phone calls to hosting parties
and maintaining their rig. Joshua said that
every single time he reaches out to the
corporate offices for support he gets the
answers he needs.
“The training was amazing. They gave
me everything I needed and they were
nothing but helpful. I am a very outgoing
person, even if I have one question I
will call someone and there is always
someone there. I created a great working
relationship with the corporate offices
and that continues today. They made it as
simple as possible even though it is not an
easy process,” explained the franchisee.
Joshua has found a very big difference
in his work-life balance since he became
a GameTruck franchisee. Of course he
is now out of the Marine Corps and no
longer finds himself being sent away, and
thankfully he now has the ability to work
from home and be more available to his
family whenever he’s needed.
Now that Joshua works from home, he is
able to pick his kids up from school and
never misses a birthday party, a school
concert or a sporting event. He can commit
to his family and work his business around
their needs.
“The work-life balance is almost unreal.
It is like a dream in comparison,” he said.
“When my kids come home from school, I
am there waiting for them.”
Joshua Brasure wants veterans to know
that their potential does not peak with the
military.
“After leaving the military, veterans may
think they have to get a regular job just
to pay the bills. I want them to know that
we have a lot out there for us and that they
need to take that leap. I was scared to
death but looking back I am glad that I did
it, because there are so many great things
that have happened for me since then. I
am just a regular guy but there are a lot of
great things out there that we are entitled
to and we don’t have to settle. I hope
people look at their options and think to
themselves ‘hey, maybe I can do this too.’”
For more information visit:
www.gametruckparty.com
Joshua Brasure
23. Veteran News
vetfran: A Growing Network
of Franchise Companies
Dedicated to Providing
Opportunities for Veterans
and Military Spouses
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
For Veterans and their
spouses interested
in small business
ownership, consider that
successful franchisees
are fundamentally
different than
entrepreneurs.
While entrepreneurs are essential to the
American economy, franchising provides
an alterative for creating jobs and being
the master of your own destiny.
Many people with a military background
gravitate towards well-organized systems,
such as the franchise business model. The
franchise industry has certainly responded
by helping veterans enter the franchise
industry with fewer barriers.
VetFran is a network of the International
Franchise Association member companies
that offer financial discounts, training,
mentorship and other incentives for
veterans and military spouses. This is
a network of nearly 650 participating
companies offering discounts on franchise
fees, reduced royalties, credits for
marketing, and other materials needed
during startup.
VetFran recently revamped it’s website
to make it easier to engage with member
companies and find the resources to get
you started. The VetFran Toolkit is an
educational portal designed to teach you
about the franchise industry, and supply
resources to help veterans succeed in their
business goals.
No matter what stage of the process you
are, the Toolkit can help further your
education in the industry. There are
eight primary resources to help guide you
through the process of franchising and
increase your chances for success.
1. Franchisee Personality Type
Profile
This is an easy to use assessment tool that
helps veterans determine their potential
for success as a franchisee and identify
and explore the types of opportunities at
which they may have the greatest chance
for success.
2. An Introduction to Franchising
This will help a prospective franchisee
understand the very basics of franchising
with questions such as: What is a
franchise? What are common franchise
terms? What are the alternatives to
franchising and the advantages and
disadvantages of owning one? And what
are the legal issues in franchising?
3. IFA Franchise University
The IFA Franchise University is part
of the Certified Franchise Executive
program. There are free courses available
on the basics of franchising. There is
also the option to take the entire course
and become certified, which will give
you a comprehensive understanding of
franchising.
4. Making the Franchise
Decision
This workbook is a tool to evaluate
franchise opportunities. Once you
24. Page 55
(1-2) VetFran.indd 1 10/2/14 11:59 AM
Franchising USA
Veterans in Franchising
“The VetFran Toolkit is an educational portal
designed to teach you about the franchise
industry.”
understand the basics of franchising and
some of the mechanics, the next stage
may be the evaluation stage. At this point
you will want to start evaluating specific
franchise companies to determine the best
fit for you.
5. The Federal Trade
Commission’s Consumer
Guide to Buying a Franchise
The Federal Trade Commission, the
nation’s consumer protection agency,
has prepared this booklet to explain how
to shop for a franchise opportunity, the
obligations of a franchise owner, and
questions to ask before you invest. This
resource goes into much more detail
about franchise laws and understanding
Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD).
6. The VetFran Video Library
The VetFran video library is designed to
support veterans in understanding and
assessing franchising through video-based
discussion from experienced veteran
franchisees and franchisors. The videos
cover the fundamentals of franchising,
legal issues, franchise finance, and more.
Featuring veterans in the franchise
industry, these seminars offer best-in-class
education from the perspective of
industry leaders and Board Members of
the International Franchise Association.
7. Financial and Other Small
Business Resources for
Veterans
The financial resources section of the
Toolkit provides financial and small
business resources that include state,
local, federal, and public funding sources,
verification process for Veteran-Owned
Small Business from the SBA and VA,
and other general resources for veteran
entrepreneurs.
8. The VetFran Directory
The VetFran Directory is a list over 650
plus VetFran member companies and
their discounts for veterans and military
spouses. You can search by industry or
investment and view each company’s
VetFran program in their profile.
VetFran Mentorship
Network
Once all the material in the Toolkit has
been reviewed, VetFran is able to match
interested veterans and spouses with a
mentor closest to their location of interest.
Experienced franchise executives and
franchisees have the opportunity to apply
and become a VetFran Mentor.
A VetFran Mentor assists transitioning
veterans with an understanding of the
options available to them in the franchise
sector. Such options may include franchise
ownership, employment, internship or
other roles to build a career after their
military service.
Mentors must be available to listen to
what the veteran is saying, inform by
sharing information on franchising,
help him or her understand and navigate
various aspects of their journey, and in
general, be a resource of unbiased and
worthwhile information to help the veteran
make the best decision for them and their
future. All mentors have to satisfy a set
of requirements and be vetted by the
Chairman of the Mentorship Network
to ensure the veteran’s best interest is in
mind.
For more information visit:
www.vetfran.com