Many veterans have returned from service and found themselves undecided or even lost at the thought of what to do next, or what they are even qualified to do next.
The amount of skills gained in the military are surprisingly transferable, and very desirable to many types of businesses. And the felt desire to become entrepreneurial can be a common trait in veterans.
If you feel like this is the right direction for you, but you do not know where to start, then franchising could be the ideal option for you.
And, lot of franchisors are eager to recruit military veterans as potential franchisees. This is not only the perfect springboard back into employment; it also offers the independence that you might want.
Although at first the reasons may not be blatantly obvious, once you start to consider the skills that you need to run a successful franchise, there are a lot of overlaps.
Structure
If you were in the military, structure is something that you know well. Entrepreneurs that are looking to be their own boss need to be aware of the structure that comes with owning a franchise. Abiding by the standard operating procedures is second nature to military personnel and this will be a great asset for you as a franchisee.
Military veterans are also familiar with being part of a larger predetermined structure that is not changed simply for the sake of changing it. This is another reason why you could thrive as a franchisee. Owning a franchise allows you to run a business that is tried and tested and already has a structure in place.
Camaraderie
One of the advantages of becoming a franchisee is the fact that you become a part of a team. Every step of the way, there are franchisors and other franchisees offering each other support.
Franchisees are working for their own benefit, yes, but they are also working for the benefit of a larger team in order to maintain the franchise’s ongoing success.
Focus
When starting a new business, there will be a lot of tasks to juggle, and a lot of your time will be taken up by making sure that you get your business set up properly and get the training you need.
This kind of focus is something that veterans are well versed in, so staying focused once the business is up and running is a great transferable skill to have.
Favoured by franchisors
Franchisors are looking for people with these kinds of skills to grow, commit to their brand and become part of their team.
For ex-military personnel that want to run their own business, franchising can be a great option as a lot of the facets of running a franchise will fall within your skill sets.
Franchisors are aware of this and there are many of them that encourage military veterans to become franchisees because they are aware of the success that will usually follow.
Before you leap in
Although becoming a franchisee could be a great option for you, remember that not every franchise is made equal. Do your research and find out as much as possible about any franchise you’re considering.
Choosing the right franchise for you will be an important part of making sure that this new venture is a success. Don’t leap at the first offer you see.
Be patient and wait until you are sure that the franchise that you have found will be the one that you really want to use all your skills to make it thrive and become a success.
By Anthea Taylor, Assistant Editor at Dynamis and writes for all titles in the Dynamis stable including BusinessesForSale.com, FranchiseSales.com and PropertySales.com as well as other industry publications.