The military trains men and women to lead by example. Many of the same traits that make veterans successful in the military also make them great local business owners. Transitioning from active duty to civilian life comes with a new set of challenges. But the very skills honed in the military—leadership, discipline and teamwork to name a few—are the same that make successful entrepreneurs. And not surprisingly, veterans have a strong track record of franchise success—and their commitment to teamwork carries over into other areas as well, including hiring active duty and retired service members and building diverse opportunities across our communities. Franchising can open the door to a new path—a path to prosperity for our nation’s veterans entering civilian life. Together, we are Open for Opportunity.
97% of surveyed franchisors think veterans make excellent franchisees
Although veterans make up only about 7% of the population, they account for a whopping 14% of all franchisees in America
70% have brought on a veteran franchisee or corporate employee in the last year alone
Vashti Moore has become a passionate advocate for military spouses and their entrepreneurial aspirations. Vashti mentions how events like Open for Opportunity are critical to raising awareness of the opportunities…
Meet Vashti
Jeff Mulkey, a former Navy Pilot and Epsilon executive, is a franchise owner of Chick-fil-A in Irving, Texas. After his time as an Epsilon executive, Jeff took on the challenge…
Meet Jeff
Jody Lamb, an Army veteran, now owns two FASTSIGNS locations in Arlington and Mansfield, Texas, where giving back has become a central part of his mission. His time in the…
Meet Jody
After 22 years of service in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant First Class (E-7), where he specialized in Armor Tactics, Infantry Leadership, and Tow Missile Integration, Darrin thought he…
Meet Darrin
Brad Stevenson, Chief Development Officer at Neighborly, has played a pivotal role in helping veterans transition into the world of franchising. As a Texas A&M graduate with a strong background…
Meet Brad
Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI, began her professional journey as a logistics officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. After her military service, she sought a new way to lead…
Meet Mary
Patrick Alcorn served nine years in the U.S. Army, including a time at the U.S. Military Academy where he played football and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management.…
Meet Patrick
IFA was honored to welcome U.S. Navy veteran and Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee Clement Troutman to share his inspirational story to the IFA staff this August – following a visit to…
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With their military background, Jessica and Tyler Gustafson liked the familiarity of having a prepackaged business deal with an included operations manual. The Gustafsons’ passion for health and wellness led…
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Open for Opportunity made its way down to the Lonestar state to celebrate Texas’ ranking as the number one state for franchise growth in IFA’s 2023 Franchising Economic Outlook. With…
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