The men and women who serve our country in the military are true heroes. This is why opening up opportunities for them is essential. Franchising and the military seem to go hand in hand. This is largely because of the Vetfran Program, which gives resources and extra support to Veterans looking for franchise opportunities.

What Is the VetFran Program?

Our military veterans are key members of society. Helping them make a smooth transition into civilian life is an essential part of taking care of our brave service men and women. The Vetfran program aims to assist people in their post-military careers by giving them access and opportunities for franchising.

After the end of the Gulf War, the VetFran program was started to offer resources to veterans merging back into civilian life. After September 11, the International Franchising Association (IFA) brought VetFran back to life. Since then, VetFran has worked tirelessly to find the best opportunities for veterans and give them the resources that they need. The number one goal of VetFran is to make finding a career after serving in the military easier.

More than 15 years later, the VetFran network has grown to include 650 franchise brands that are recognized by the program. VetFran included Great American Cookies as a member of that network.

Why Is Franchising a Good Choice for Veterans?

You have probably heard that investing in a franchise is a great career opportunity for veterans. But what is it about franchising and veterans that go so well together?

It’s all about balance. Franchising has many of the structural elements in which veterans thrive, while still maintaining a sense of independence. Similarly, franchise systems offer veterans the opportunity to excel as leaders while still working with a team to meet goals.

Independence

Owning your own business is the ultimate way to be independent. As a business owner, you are the decision maker. Everything comes down to how you want to accomplish your goals. Plain and simple, owning a business gives you plenty of freedom to take charge of your career and its direction.

Structure

Working as part of a franchise system means that you get the independence of being the owner with the structure of a proven business model. Great American Cookies has been in the cookie franchise business for 40 years. During that time we have built a model that works by:

• Streamlining the process
• Testing our products
• Vetting our systems

Our veteran franchisees can appreciate this structure because they are accustomed to the many systems used by the various military branches. These systems keep things operating smoothly, which is essential for reaching goals. Even though the systems Great American Cookies uses are on a smaller scale, they are no less efficient at running our brand.

Leadership

As the owner of your own franchise, you are automatically put in a place of leadership over your employees and your company. Many of our veteran franchise owners are comfortable in this role because the intense training and work involved in military service. Since military service is the ultimate preparation for being a leader in virtually any environment, veterans are prepared to lead businesses.

Teamwork

What is the most important thing you learned in the military? Working with your team to meet your objectives. Similar to leadership, teamwork is essential to run a good business. Military veterans understand that there is no greater strength than teamwork. Becoming a Great American Cookies franchisee means that you will have access to our built-in team of franchisees and corporate agents, all of whom have experience in owning a cookie franchise. Our tight-knit community is available anytime! Whenever you have a question or an idea, simply get in touch with our team.

Veterans have all the skills that we look for in our franchisees. Because of this, we are proud to be part of the VetFran program. Great American Cookies is a flexible franchise opportunity that works in a variety of locations to fit your market. Download our ebook for ideas on where Great American Cookies will fit in your neighborhood.

The post The VetFran Program & Why Franchising Is a Common Career Choice for Veterans appeared first on Great American Cookie.