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Franchising USA JUNE 2014 UNISHIPPERS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION V-WISE WORTHWHILE AND SPECIAL www.franchisingusamagazine.com VBS PRICING GUARANTEES? VETERANS in Franchising
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Franchising USA
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JUNE 2014
unishippers a Move in The riGhT direcTion
v-wise
worthwhile and special
www.franchisingusamagazine.com
Vbs pricing guarantees?
Veterans in Franchising
Franchising USA
50 Cover Story: Unishippers a Move in The Right Direction
Contents
V e T e R a n S i n F R a n C h i S i n g S U p p l e M e n Tj U n e 2 0 1 4
Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become
a regular feature of Franchising USa.
TO ShaRe yOUR STORy in the july issue, please contact
Vikki Bradbury, publisher
phone: 778 426 2446
email: [email protected]
expert advice54 how to Make your Franchise actively engaging as a VetFran participant gordon logan
60 V-Wise Worthwhile and Special Mehan Conroy Florkowski
66 Franchise Broker vs Consultant vs a hybrid? james Mingey
70 VetFran news: Veteran Franchisee is The Voice for Veterans Franchisees everywhere
profiles52 amerispec
57 jiffy lube
58 ice house america
64 precision auto Care
68 68interim health Care
Franchising USA
CovEr STory
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As many veterans unfortunately experience, one of the greatest challenges transitioning back to civilian life is finding a job. It’s incredibly overwhelming returning home without an obvious, paved career path waiting for you and a lot of veterans struggle with how to start the process and move in the right direction.
When I retired from the U.S. Air Force, the first thing I did was search through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Approved Franchises” list for logistics franchise opportunities. During my 31+ years in the military, I served as a Logistics Superintendent for the Air Force, a Master Scheduler/Planner for the Crestview Aerospace Corp, and a Logistics Manager for the Department of Defense regarding foreign military sales; thus, I knew logistics was the route I wanted to take.
RetiRed U.S. AiR FoRce VeteRAn teRRAnce tURneR tellS oF hiS expeRience AFteR winning A UniShippeRS nAtionAl FRAnchiSe
unishippers a MOve IN The rIGhT DIreCTION
Franchising USA
After nearly a year of thorough research, I came across an opportunity with Unishippers, the first and one of the largest small package and freight third party logistics franchises in the nation. The franchise was hosting a Veterans Franchise Giveaway contest in support of the International Franchise Association’s Operation Enduring Opportunity and VetFran program, both of which strive to help veterans gain employment through franchising.
In collaboration with USA Cares, a charity that provides financial and advocacy assistance to post 9/11 active duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families, the purpose of the contest was to award a deserving, qualified military veteran a free Unishippers National Franchise. To participate, each veteran had to create a two-minute video explaining why we were interested in owning a Unishippers franchise, why we were deserving of a free franchise and how our military experience would help us become successful.
Given my extensive background in logistics and passion for the field, the concept and contest aligned perfectly with my personal and professional goals, and I set out to make my case to the Unishippers team. After reviewing over 50 entries, a panel of judges from
Unishippers corporate selected five finalists, including myself, and flew us to Unishippers headquarters in Salt Lake City for a special Discovery Day where we met executives, department leaders and the judges.
On Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2013, – a day I will now never forget – I was officially announced as the winner of a free national franchise.
Since launching my business six months ago, I’ve had a unique advantage of being able to leverage my former relationships with freight forwarders and military base transportation management officers for business, diving into an untapped sector for the Unishippers system. I’ve been working with freight forwarders since 1992 so I’m able to use my knowledge of their needs and services and speak their language, so to speak, to attain their business and grow my own.
Throughout this, my first entrepreneurial experience, I’ve found the qualities I acquired during my time of service – discipline, following a structure, being patient, remaining calm – have translated
into strong business skills for running a franchise as I’m able to put these qualities to use and get to know my customers on a deeper level, even when it’s over the phone.
Being a franchise owner has been such a rewarding experience so far and I’m incredibly appreciative of the opportunity Unishippers provided through the contest. Over the next two years, my primary goal is to continue expanding my client base by developing additional military-related business relationships.
Operating a national franchise, I’m able to work from anywhere and sell to businesses across the country, which means I’m also able to use my role as a small business owner to give back to the veteran community and hire retired logistician veterans from around the U.S. as sales consultants.
Following Unishippers’ example, I’m very eager to pay it forward by reaching out to other deserving, qualified veterans for employment in the near future.
For more information:
https://www.unishippers.com
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“I’m also able to use my role as a small business owner to give back to the veteran community
and hire retired logistician veterans from around the U.S.”
Terrance Turner
Amer ispec®
guy hartMan Profile
A 25-year veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps, Guy Hartman is no stranger to hard work. He retired in 1998 after a long list of accomplishments and challenges including Marine Corps boot camp, Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, U. S. Navy Flight School, Navy Test Pilot School and earning a Master of Science degree. All while raising a family.
He was the chief test pilot for the presidential helicopter program located at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland. He led his team in developing a test program that remains in use and is now the model for other military test programs on the base.
“Impressed by the consistency and experience overall, the AmeriSpec business model was his choice when he retired from the aviation
industry.”
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ForMEr MArINE. AMErISPEC® oWNEr. INNovATor
Hartman continues to innovate. When formulating his future career trajectory, Hartman honed in on franchising in home inspections, an area of personal interest and experience.
“I had been interested in becoming a home inspector for many years,” he said. “I came to the AmeriSpec® franchise so that I could quickly build my business. From personally buying and selling many homes, I felt AmeriSpec had a consistent
product that was clearly better than the competing franchises.”
Now, four years into being an AmeriSpec® owner and continuing to add staff and inspectors to his franchise, he says there’s no place he’d rather be.
“I’ve had some fantastic and unique experiences in my life,” Hartman said. “But, I’d rather be doing what I’m doing now – running my AmeriSpec® home inspection business!”
During his military career, Hartman sold and purchased many homes and had several inspections done by AmeriSpec. Impressed by the consistency and experience overall, the AmeriSpec business model was his choice when he retired from the aviation industry and was contemplating his next career move.
With a home base in Jupiter, and a service area that covers north Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, Hartman helps South Florida buyers, homeowners and realtors with all their home inspection needs. His wife, Cindy, handles the operations and marketing while Hartman covers the inspections. With new ideas and innovation in mind, Hartman began building a ServiceMaster networking group for support and business synergy. This unique vehicle benefits all ServiceMaster franchises in his area – ServiceMaster Clean®, ServiceMaster Restore®, AmeriSpec® and Furniture Medic® – with relationship building and interaction between each other, home buyers and the real estate and insurance communities.
Full-knowing a healthy balance of work, personal time and community give back is important, Hartman plays the drums in his spare time and plans to support a youth baseball team in the near future. Maybe, he’ll call them the “Inspectors.”
Franchising USA
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Gordon Logan, Founder & CEO of Sport Clips Inc.
how to Make your Franchise
actively engaging as a vetFran participant
Franchising USA
Page 55
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The International Franchise Association’s vetFran program is making a difference in the lives of people who’ve served our country through the military.
The numbers prove it:• One-out-of-every-seven franchise
businesses is owned and operated by a veteran of the U.S. military.
• More than 66,000 veteran-owned franchise businesses in the United States provide jobs for 815,000 Americans and generate more than $41 billion in GDP.
• Since the November 2011 launch of Operation Enduring Opportunity, more than 150,000 veterans started careers in franchising, including more than 5,200 new franchise business owners.
• More than 640 franchise businesses participate in the VetFran program through incentives and by providing mentorship opportunities.
As VetFran vice chairman and a VetFran mentor, I’m proud of the tools we offer online and in-person through member franchises that are essential in the discovery and decision-making processes around becoming a franchise investor or operator.
From a veteran’s perspective – typically with a preference for structure − it is critical to provide a framework for all information and resources necessary to methodically walk through the benefits of franchise ownership.
The required financial profile and operational model should be communicated in a way that easily allows a potential veteran candidate to determine
a good lifestyle and value system fit, for those who possess the entrepreneurial spirit. Through the franchise business model, we can help them find a purpose that allows them to continue to serve others.
Up-to-date franchise news, how-tos, personal stories and frequently asked questions are just a few of the items included in a toolkit offered by VetFran that make it convenient to source customized information required to launch what may well become a second career with a franchise for our veterans.
For franchises to be effective in our outreach to service members and veterans, we, as VetFran participants, must actively engage the same principles that make us relevant to our clients and customers in recruiting these potential franchisees to our ranks.
• Franchises should stay on trend, relevant, inspiring, purposeful, innovative and community-centric − these are things that will make our future franchisees pause, listen and
pay attention. It’s “Marketing 101” to be engaging, and the same is true when it comes to franchise recruitment, especially for military candidates. We’ve all seen franchise concepts come and go, but those with staying power maintain these key characteristics from the highest levels in their support centers to those individuals who deliver our frontline products and services. These are the qualities that will motivate candidates to not only seek us out, but look deeper into the opportunities we offer them.
• Franchises should incorporate military-support programming to demonstrate concern for active-duty service members and veterans, not just in word, but in deed. Having a military recognition component as a part of your operations or philanthropic outreach is an effective way to give back and gain the respect of those who serve, as well as the respect of their friends and family. As a veteran, I made it a priority to support the military
“one-out-of-every-seven franchise businesses is owned and operated by a veteran of the U.S.
military.”
Franchising USA
through the franchise I founded, Sport Clips Haircuts, and soon found it was enthusiastically embraced by team members, clients and franchisees. Giving back to those who have given so much to us fits well with our brand and with our values, and gives a sense of purpose to the entire organization.
• Franchises that honor the military may find it becomes an essential, powerful component of your brand identity, as it is in alignment with the lifestyle demands of clients. For many franchise concepts, and certainly for ours, it is quite literally a part of who we are. If you don’t already have a philanthropy established, I encourage you to take a close look at the options you have available to support worthy veterans’ causes, including partnering with established veterans’ organizations such as the VFW. Our signature outreach is through Sport Clips’ Help A Hero program (administered by the VFW) that funds scholarships for returning military members who are working toward the next step in their careers, as well as free phone calls home through the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Operation Uplink. Other options we’ve supported through in-store fundraisers and donations include Wounded Warriors Family Support, Honor Flights and Ageless Aviation Dreams; there are many that may well fit your interests and your brand.
• Potential franchisees, military or not, want brands to be deliberate with their identity and make it simple; the same is true no matter your concept and your audience. Make it simple for those military members who are transitioning to civilian careers or are coming to us years after their military service to understand what it is you have to offer. Ours is to offer a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports-themed environment. Yours may be just as simple, but put it out there for them to see, learn, know and embrace. Start with your franchise development team, make sure they know it and live it. The more comfortable you are with your brand identity, the easier it will be communicated to potential veteran franchisees in a way that resonates and is effective.
• Franchises should work to build teams that allow for rallying behind a mission. Franchises typically offer a focused business strategy that sets us apart in offering investors a way to work together toward a common goal. The same is true for those in the armed forces, who are accustomed to being provided with the tools and equipment needed to be successful in their missions. We can do the same through our franchises in recruiting them; we simply need to communicate that mission as we build our teams through franchise recruiting efforts.
• Franchises must have well-documented policies and procedures. Veterans have been trained to follow systems, where precise execution is key to successful mission completion and in many situations, life or death. Make sure that your franchise systems are well-documented and effectively communicated to take advantage of this key advantage that veterans have in becoming successful franchisees.
Noted author and agency executive Roy Spence suggests that it is important to help people discover and live their purpose, with the understanding that purpose drives performance. As members of VetFran, we can help veterans discover the enthusiasm we have for our brands and what we deliver daily through our service offerings. Our messaging to veteran candidates as potential franchisees should be deliberate and concise. We must have a strong support structure to provide through a franchise model as a roadmap for their success in our systems. By doing so, we’ll help veterans evaluate if our purpose and values are consistent with theirs, and will make franchising an even stronger option for veterans in reaching their civilian career potential when they consider next steps. If we do this effectively, the number of veterans in franchising will.
Gordon Logan is the founder and CEO of Sport Clips Inc. and serves on the IFA board of directors.
Find him at: fransocial.franchise.org.
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Gordon Logan, Founder & CEO of Sport Clips Inc.
“The more comfortable you are with your brand identity, the easier it will
be communicated to potential veteran franchisees in a way that resonates and is
effective.”
Franchising USA
Page 57Ji f f y Lube
Mike soules Profile
A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Mike Soules has always had a passion for all things mechanical and automotive. Soules joined the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, working to keep aircraft including the C5 and C141 flight ready. During his years of service, he managed the Air Force Base Self Help Program, supervising facility renovations, and he received recognition as one of the top Air Force recruiters in the country.
Shortly after retiring from the Air Force in 1996, Soules decided to utilize his passion for mechanical operations and his extensive leadership expertise by joining the nation’s leading fast lube provider, Jiffy Lube. Soules served as the manager of a Jiffy Lube service center located in Dover & Lewes, Del., for 12 years combined. After gaining thorough knowledge about the preventive maintenance business, Soules made
“I’ve always wanted to partner with a company whose mission and values were consistent with
mine and Jiffy Lube was a natural fit.”
U.S. AIr ForCE vETErAN, JIFFy LUBE FrANCHISEE
the decision to become a Jiffy Lube franchisee.
“I’ve always wanted to partner with a company whose mission and values were consistent with mine and Jiffy Lube was a natural fit,” Soules said. “When the opportunity presented itself, I knew that the timing was right to take the plunge.”
In 2012, Soules and his wife, Sara, became first-time franchisees after purchasing an existing Jiffy Lube service center based in Lewes, Del. This family-owned business also includes their daughters Kim Soules, Erin Soules Rivera and son-in-law Jovan Rivera. Since opening the store, Soules has managed the service center. After two years in business, the Soules family has never looked back.
“We have truly enjoyed our experience working with Jiffy Lube and are grateful for our dedicated team of employees
who have contributed to our growth,” said Soules. “Our business has brought us closer together as a family and has strengthened our relationship with the community. We couldn’t imagine not being part of such a dynamic brand.”
Soules attributes his success in part to the ongoing support and training that Jiffy Lube provides to franchisees. “Jiffy Lube offers an award-winning training program that is second to none,” said Soules. “The company’s commitment to its franchisees has allowed us to focus on providing the best automotive preventive maintenance services to our growing customer base.”
Jiffy Lube International is a member of IFA’s VetFran program, which voluntarily offers financial incentives to veterans seeking to become franchise small-business owners. Through VetFran, Jiffy Lube continues to help veteran franchisees find a path to business ownership. With a network of more than 2,000 franchised service centers across North America, serving 22 million customers each year, Jiffy Lube serves as the fast lube industry leader.
For more information visit:
www.jiffylube.com
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Ice House America, the pioneer in automated ice vending technology, has announced that Andy Wallace, of Seymour, TN, who has won the “IceBorn Franchise Giveaway for veterans” contest had his grand opening this month in Knoxville, TN. Andy was one of 10 veteran finalists from across the United States vying to win the IceBorn franchise by producing a 2-minute video. Wallace was awarded an IceBorn “House” franchise, a freestanding, 24/7, automated retail ice and water destination offering water and ice that is filtered, clean and made on demand -- valued at $118,000.
For the final round of the contest, each of the top 10 finalist veteran videos from across the country, including Andy’s were posted on FaceBook for public voting. In addition to the FaceBook voting aspect of the contest, finalists were also judged based on a phone interview and their overall video score based on creativity, compelling personal story and ability to apply military experience to business ownership.
Wallace served as a U.S. Army Intelligence officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and is the past President of the Seymour Rotary Club and the Sevierville BNI Chapter. He and his wife Lori both grew up in north Knox County and now
“As a veteran, Andy has learned those necessary skills needed to run a business.”
Ice House Amer ica
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Veteran andy wallace WINNEr of the NATIoNAL “ICEBorN FrANCHISE GIvEAWAy For vETErANS”
resides in Seymour, Tennessee where they are the proud parents of two children.
“As a veteran, Andy has learned those necessary skills needed to run a business and embodies the entrepreneurial spirit so important to being successful in today’s highly competitive market place,” says Pete Cotter, Ice House America CEO. “Ice House America is honored to be supporting veterans like Andy who are already established and for those currently in a life changing transition going from the military to civilian life. An IceBorn vending franchise gives veterans the opportunity to own their own business and helps make this a reality by offering a veterans’ discount through the International Franchise Associations’ (IFA) VetFran program.”
About Ice House America:Ice House America, headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and founded in 2003, already has more than 2,700 installed and independently owned ice house locations in 27 states. There are over 100 corporate-owned Ice House locations, with the balance independently owned and operated. In addition to being chosen as “Top New Franchises to Watch” in 2014, landing on Entrepreneur’s 2014 Franchise 500 list, IceBorn was named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Vetrepreneur.
For more information regarding Ice House America ownership opportunities, please visit http://www.veteransbusinessservices.us/product-item/ice-house-america/
Franchising USA
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on a Monday afternoon when the phone rings with a prospective veteran or military spouse on the other end, curious about the v-WISE program and whether it’s the right fit, the first question is often, is v-WISE worthwhile for me?
My response is less than simple - typically a series of questions to garner where they might be in their entrepreneurial journey. When we come to the end of this first conversation, more often than not, they are enthusiastically ready to get started.
Another question that is often posed is what makes V-WISE special? I always
“What makes v-WISE worthwhile (“special”) is the female veterans and military spouses
attending and a group of instructors and speakers who are committed to their success, in
and beyond the classroom.”
V-WISEfeel at ease with my response here. In thinking about what to focus on with this article, I realized that the reason why some might use the word “special” to describe the program is the very same reason why prospective participants are eager when we finish our call and why we’re about to embark on our 10th program this summer with a full schedule of events on the horizon through 2016.
So what’s so “special” about the V-WISE program? I put the question out to our team of instructors and speakers to allow for you to hear from the folks who are committed to the success of our participants and understand truly how “special” they are. Through their words, I think you’ll be able to assess if V-WISE is the right fit for you and understand why we’ll do our very best to keep the V-WISE program going as long as it is needed. I also encourage you to read on through a few of the many testimonials that have come in over the life of the program.
In the words of v-WISE instructors and speakers:Jessica Eaves Mathews, CEO and Founder of Leverage Legal Group and Untoxicating Beauty, V-WISE speaker - “I greatly enjoy and am so honored to teach at V-WISE because it gives me a chance to inspire,
empower and educate the amazing women veterans of this country who have served to protect and defend our freedom and our democracy. They have helped ensure that our country remains a place where anyone can do anything with their lives, and can create financial freedom for themselves through entrepreneurship. We have them (and all vets) to thank for their service and sacrifice, so it is such a great honor to get the chance to share my knowledge and expertise with them.”
Thomas Kruczek, President of Notre Dame College, V-WISE instructor - “I love teaching at V-WISE because the participants are so focused and driven and they understand fully the hard work that will be required to launch and grow their own business. The participants also come to the sessions with many of the skills necessary to succeed, thanks to their time in the military. And, I love working with the veterans and family members of V-WISE because so many of them are also trying to find ways to give back to their fellow vets or to other individuals or groups that are in need.”
Scott Nadzan, Vice President, Marketing and Sales, V-WISE instructor - “A V-WISE participant is a passionate and fledgling entrepreneur, preparing (not parading) to take the next step in their lives.”
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Meghan Conroy Florkowski, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Meghan Conroy Florkowski
WorTHWHILE AND SPECIAL
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Nell Merlino, Founder and President, Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, V-WISE speaker - “A V-WISE participant is interested in serving her country and community. She has the focus and discipline to be successful. She is open to learning about new skills, opportunities and techniques to grow businesses. I have met women with category disrupting products who are changing their sectors.”
And in the words of our participants who expressed similar feelings for the program and their passionate instructors and speakers:Nichole Bluemle, CEO Back To The Box, LLC, V-WISE Denver 2013 – “I attended the Denver VWISE conference and found the education and motivation provided to be invaluable. I had bootstrapped to get my business started before the conference but was really lost in terms of marketing especially with regards to making the most of information technology and social media. Since the course I have been diligent in my social media campaign and using a blog and strategic online advertising which has boosted SEO so that potential customers become aware of our existence.”
Stephanie Brown, Founder, The Rosie Network, V-WISE Denver 2014 - “With the sea of resources and programs available to veterans and their families, it is hard to identify those few that stand
heads and shoulders above the crowd - this is one of those! From the material presented to the quality of the speakers, you leave this program with the knowledge that the VWISE team has done their homework and is 100% committed to your success. It goes without saying this is one of the best investments you’ll make in yourself and your business.”
Trisha Barrett, Candle Soap Bar, LLC, V-WISE San Diego 2012 – “V-WISE gave me the push that I needed at just the right time. It empowered me as a female and gave me the confidence to kick start my company. I’ve never felt so empowered and proud to be a female business owner.”
Sandra Olgletree, Satani, Corporate Cycle Consulting, V-WISE Jacksonville 2013 – “Participating in this program allowed me to network with others and gave me the opportunity to think beyond the scope of limitations. Our company was selected as Small Business of the Year 2013 through the Charleston County Council Small Business Enterprises and was one of six finalist for 2013 Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. Going through this program allowed our organization to soar to new heights and we are still flying towards our next milestone.”
So simply put, what makes V-WISE worthwhile (“special”) is the female veterans and military spouses attending and a group of instructors and speakers who are committed to their success, in and beyond the classroom.
THE v-WISE ExPErIENCE CoNSISTS oF THrEE PHASES oF TrAINING AND oNGoING SUPPorT:
Phase 1: This 15-day online learning experience is designed to teach participants the “language of business,” instruct students how to understand opportunity recognition as it relates to growing a sustainable venture, and present actionable strategies related to new venture creation.
Phase 2: The conference phase of the V-WISE experience is a three-day training offered to cohorts of 200 women at locations across the country. The conference includes more than 20 distinct modules of training, designed for both new business owners and to support the needs of existing ventures. Delegates are exposed to successful entrepreneurs, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and leaders in government. Upon completion of this phase, participants will receive 2.7 continuing education units from Syracuse University (documentation is required).
Phase 3: Following the conference, graduates are connected to ongoing support and community-building opportunities focused on small business creation and growth. This resource network includes both SBA-provided supportive services,
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Meghan Conroy Florkowski, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
including Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Veterans’ Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offices, as well as services provided by the IVMF and other IVMF partners to include American Corporate Partners (ACP), BoeFly, and Kiva Zip.
ProGrAM METrICS & oUTCoMES As of January 2014, over 1,000 female veterans, transitioning female service members, and female military spouses have taken part in the V-WISE experience. Based on post-training assessments, the impact of the V-WISE experience has been overwhelmingly positive.
Program assessment metrics include:
• 97% of program participants reported the V-WISE online courses to be useful and appropriate for their needs.
• 59% of V-WISE graduates have launched a new venture, or report a positive impact of the program related to growing an existing venture.
• 96% of program participants reported their overall experience at the V-WISE conference to be positively related to their business needs.
• 95% of program participants reported high satisfaction ratings regarding V-WISE content, instructors, guest speakers and staff.
ELIGIBILITy V-WISE is open to all female veterans, active duty female service members and female partners/spouses of active service members and veterans who share the goal of launching and growing a sustainable business venture. Participants may be from any branch of the military and any era of service.
CoSTS & LoGISTICS The program is offered to qualified participants for a one-time $75 registration fee. Participants are responsible for their transportation costs to and from the on-site conference location. The cost of the program, meals, and lodging during the conference are funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the IVMF’s private-sector partners.
ABoUT THE INSTITUTE For vETErANS AND MILITAry FAMILIES (IvMF) The IVMF is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families post-service. Through our focus on veteran-facing programming, research and policy, employment and employer support, and community engagement, the institute provides in-depth analysis of the challenges facing the veteran community, captures best practices and serves as a forum to facilitate new partnerships and strong relationships between the individuals and organizations committed to making a difference for veterans and military families.
APPLy We operate on a rolling admissions basis, therefore early application is highly encouraged.
Apply online at: vets.syr.edu/vwise
QUESTIoNS (315) 443-4629 - [email protected]
BioMeghan Conroy Florkowski is responsible for the management, coordination and administration of the IVMF’s V-WISE and Operation Endure & Grow veteran entrepreneurship educa¬tion and training programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering psychology with a minor in systems engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania.
“v-WISE is open to all female veterans, active duty female service members and female
partners/spouses of active service members.”
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our veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (vETFrAN) program enables you to pay an initial franchise fee of $10,000 on signing a Franchise Agreement. Precision Tune Auto Care is the right franchising concept for the times.
Precision Tune Auto Care began as a small tune-up shop in Beaumont, TX and has grown to 350 service centers operating in six countries. We are a recognized world leader in the automotive service industry.
Our service centers perform diagnostics, scheduled maintenance and auto repairs. Our brand proposition can best be described as a successful combination of “customer care” and “car care” services.
On top of all that, higher gas prices work to our advantage as people are servicing and repairing their vehicles instead of purchasing new ones.
Of course, our franchisees have played a major role in the success of Precision Tune Auto Care. To help our franchisees operate successfully and to meet the challenges of today’s marketplace, we provide them with proven operating systems giving them every opportunity to succeed.
“our franchisees have played a major role in the success of Precision Tune Auto Care.”
Precis ion Auto Care
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VetFran prograM For all united states Veterans!
preCision auTo Care, inC. is proud To announCe iTs
Our value proposition includes (but is not limited to) the following:
• 35+ Years of International Franchise Success
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• Proven Proprietary POS System
• 24/7 Intranet Community
• National & Local Support
• Powerful Brand Proposition
• Proven Business Model
• Continuous Research & Development
U.S. and international franchise opportunities are currently available.
For more information visit:
www.precisiontune.com
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901-672-7243 www.highervisibility.com [email protected]
Franchising USA
Franchise broker vs consultant vs a hybrid?
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Jim Mingey, Veterans Business Services
In the business world, having the right skills and abilities is essential to starting and running any business including franchises.
Veterans are no different in regards to needing those skills to be successful in the franchise marketplace. They expect no different treatment because they were Veterans but usually get it anyway because of their responsible nature and their commitment to excellence which makes them great franchisees. Veterans interested
a r e T h e r e p r i C i n G GuarantEES f o r V e T e r a n s i n f r a n C h i s i n G ?
“As everyone knows the term free often has its price. The “price” you pay in your transaction may be that your receive limited exposure to
other franchise opportunities.”
in the franchise marketplace are just as savvy as any other franchise candidates and must be thorough about their franchise selection process. So why do they need a franchise broker or consultant to get their deal done? What are the advantages, disadvantages and economic considerations for selecting either or neither? Are there really any guarantees on price and service?
So what’s the difference between a franchise broker and consultant? Although each franchise transaction could benefit from either a “Consultant” or a Franchise Broker, for purposes of this article, we define a Franchise Broker as someone who has a contract with a franchisor and receives a fee from that franchisor if your transaction closes. A Consultant solely represents your interests and receives a fee directly from you for his/her advice. Often both Consultant and Franchise Broker roles are erroneously used interchangeably and Franchisor Broker fees are typically framed as free because their paid by the franchisor.
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As everyone knows the term free often has its price. The “price” you pay in your transaction may be that your receive limited exposure to other franchise opportunities because your Franchise Broker doesn’t have a contract on that opportunity and/or simply doesn’t promote it to you or compare it to other similar ones. With a Consultant you typically pay upfront or at least on an ongoing basis for trusted advice. In either case there are “costs” to your transaction. So even if a Franchise Broker has multiple contracts with various franchisors there’s ultimately going to be some bias towards those franchise companies. There’s nothing sinister about that as long as it’s disclosed to you. So the Veteran’s job is to illuminate and mitigate any bias and still get professional advice you desire or alternately pay for a Consultant you trust directly.
Whether you choose a Franchise Broker or a Consultant or neither, you should do so because you believe that decision can add to your process of selecting the most suitable franchise for your ultimate success. Third party industry knowledge and due diligence experience can be critical for your selected franchise idea.
Many Franchise Brokers/Consultants do have in depth and real time knowledge of what’s happening in the marketplace for your particular opportunity and your prospective franchisor selection right now, not last year. And if they don’t they must be able to develop a credible plan to guide your own due diligence toward a rational go/no go decision. In the end you are ultimately responsible for your own due diligence.
Franchise Brokers/ Consultants will of course want to get to know you; to qualify you and undoubtedly have one or more conversations with you over the phone. They will ask about your previous business experiences and your goals for business ownership. At that same time you should be asking them direct questions about all fees and how they or you might benefit and how they will obtain the best prices
and values for you. What sort of financial advantages can they provide on a franchise acquisition? What sorts of discounts on franchise fees may be available directly from Franchise Brokers?
Discounts outside of the Franchise Broker’s Franchise Directory Veterans have earned the right to benefit from any and all incentives available to them in the franchising marketplace. All Franchise Brokers should perform research to find out what additional franchises incentives are available to the Veteran outside their typical contract relationships, not only discounts through great programs like VetFran.
At Veteran s Business Services (VBS) we always agree to research any and all potential Veteran franchisor opportunities that are pledged to supporting Veterans. VBS, as part of the Veteranscorp.org social enterprise, commits to do this whether it earns a fee or not.
VBS believes all Franchise Brokers must be willing to reach beyond their own in-house Franchise Directory to support Veterans in franchising. VBS connects Veterans to any and all opportunities they choose and also provides a guarantee that the Veteran will receive the best prices for franchise fees available in the US marketplace. VBS is also committed to the continuing success of Veterans we have placed in franchises by providing ongoing marketing support and pledging at least 20% of our franchise broker revenues directly to the Veterans we place.
Whether a Veteran chooses to work with a Franchise Broker or a Consultant or pursue a hybrid approach to due diligence and price negotiation, at the end of the day that Veteran makes all the final judgment calls about the best deal for him/her. And even if a hybrid arrangement for Veterans might offer good advice and a price advantage too, making that decision comes down to a matter of trust. So it might make sense to work with someone who has “borne the
Jim Mingey
battle” but getting that price guarantee wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
For more information about VBS
Services and Guarantee’s Click Here
www.veteransbusinessservices.us
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(VR&E)
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
Franchising USA
Inter im Heal th Care
Jason bracer Profile
Jason Bracer joined the U.S. Air Force in 1994. After aptitude and job placement testing indicated a strong propensity for managing disasters as well as a strong instinct for helping others, he was assigned to work in the fire department.
Little did he know that career trajectory would be the best thing that ever happened to him and having this skill set would take him all over the world.
“That training put me in a direction
“Something goes wrong – you name it - and people call 911. And we have to figure it out. It
made me grow as a person.”
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VeTeran Couple ConTinue To serVe WiTh inTerim healThCare
and path of serving the public and responding to peoples’ needs,” Jason said. “Something goes wrong – you name it - and people call 911. And we have to figure it out. It made me grow as a person.”
Since leaving military service in 1998, Jason has worked all over the world as a firefighter / fire captain in civilian fire departments. He’s served as a firefighter in places like Kosovo, Bosnia, Hungary, Kuwait, Iraq (Baghdad-Green Zone) and Kyrgyzstan. And all the locations, except Iraq since it was a combat zone, he’s had the good fortune to have his wife working alongside him. Throughout their 13 year
marriage, they have shared the priority of making a difference in peoples’ lives and helping those less fortunate.
Their multiple deployments with the Department of Defense at military installations across the globe, with Jason as a firefighter and Maribel as the office manager for base operations, has uniquely prepared them for the next step in their life journey.
The two recently purchased an Interim HealthCare franchise and this spring began providing in-home personal care and support services to patients in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica area.
“We wanted to continue doing the same line of work and keep serving the public,” Jason said. “With my expertise in mitigating and managing emergencies and managing emergency teams in just about any situation, it was natural to move into home medical care.”
Jason said that about 80% of calls that come into 911 are for medical emergencies. And of those 80%, a very high number require responding to seniors living in their own homes or in assisted living facilities.
“I’m in my element,” he said. “The difference now with Interim HealthCare is that when I go to do an assessment, it’s more of a relaxed home environment instead of an emergency situation.”
Maribel, a veteran of the Army Reserves herself, brings vast experience in office administration stateside as well as from overseas. Together, the team hopes to grow their new franchise to make a bigger positive impact on their community.
For more information visit: www.interimhealthcare.com
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veteran News
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Gon May 7, 2014 Arlington, vA UPS Store veteran franchisee Wade Franklin testified before the U.S. House of representatives Committee on Small Business.
Franklin and the other panelists discussed “Military to Entrepreneurship: Private Sector Initiatives to Help Veterans Pursue
“The idea of owning a business seemed appealing, but he did not know how to get the
ball rolling.”
Business Opportunities.” Franklin testified on behalf of The International Franchise Association’s VetFran, which supports Veterans and military spouses to enter the franchise industry as both business owners and employees.
From Honor to owner After leaving the Navy in February of 2012, Franklin was looking for employment opportunities. Franklin explains that the most prevalent prospects were corporate management jobs that many former junior officers are drawn to. He saw many of his friends take jobs in various corporations, but he did not necessarily want to go down that path. However, he also was not sure where else to look. The idea of owning a business seemed appealing, but he did not know how to get the ball rolling on starting a business, or have an original idea or product to form a business around.
While searching for veteran opportunities, he came across VetFran, the International Franchise Association’s veterans transition program, and saw the financial incentives that hundreds of franchise systems offered to veterans who opened franchise businesses. One of the franchises that most appealed to Franklin was The UPS Store, who also offered to waive their $30,000 franchise fee for the first ten veterans approved as franchise owners in 2012. In addition to their generous financial incentive for veteran franchise owners, The UPS Store also partners with the USO, IFA, and Georgetown University to offer the Small Business and Franchise Management program to educate franchise executives and owners on franchising. Franklin noted that, a brand with an excellent reputation that was so actively recruiting veterans as franchise owners was obviously an appealing choice.
Franklin applied to become a franchise owner of a The UPS Store in January 2012 and was approved for a franchise the next month. He was one of the ten veterans that had their initial franchise fee waived.
With nearly one million veterans transitioning out of military service over the next five years, it is more important than ever that we help veterans re-integrate into the civilian economy. Our service men and women are looking forward to rejoining their families, going back to school, or starting their own businesses. It is both an economic necessity and a moral obligation for our country to facilitate this transition.
veterans and Franchising – A Good Fit Franchise systems have complex yet effective operations guidelines, and the franchise owners that can best execute the system are the owners who can realize the most success in their businesses. Many of the qualities that make successful franchise business owners are found in our nation’s service men and women, while the training techniques used in the military provide a significant skill set that is especially valuable in franchise owners. The attention to detail, situational awareness, and communications skills I learned in the Navy also translate very well to business ownership, and I don’t think I could have learned those skills better in any other environment. Above all else, veterans possess the leadership skills necessary to run a successful small business, and to persevere through tough times to keep that business running. For these obvious reasons, franchise companies actively recruit veterans as franchisees, knowing that veteran-owned franchises tend to out-perform other locations.
Wade Franklin’s full testimony can be found at the following link: http://smallbusiness.house.gov/uploadedfiles/5-7-2014_franklin_testimonyfinal.pdf
VEtERAn FRAnCHISEE IS
thE VoIcE FOR VEtERAn FRAnCHISEES EVERywHERE
