Franchising USA- Veterans In Franchising Supplement- August 2013

Veterans in Franchising www.franchisingusamagazine.com

the ups store

packs great incentives for veterans

The Good, The Bad, And The Legal Power In Numbers Operation American Dream Franchising USA

feature

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vice Industr r e S e h y Co t e v ver a H ed e W ownafranchise.com

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V eterans in F ranchisin g S u pplement a u g u st 2 0 1 3 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the September issue, please contact Jenn Dean, Business Development Manager Phone: 250-590-7116 Email: jenn@cgbpublishing.com

Contents 44 The UPS Store Packs Great Incentives

for Veterans

53 Operation American Dream Signal 88 Security

46 A Franchise How-to for Veterans

54 Empowerment through Collaboration Dorothy Arndt, giftavet.org

50 The Good , The Bad, and The Legal

of Franchising Richard Ashe, Veteran Franchise Centers

56 Totally Accessible Homes Monti Marsters, Totally Accessible Homes

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nchisi ng

Th e U PS Sto r e

The UPS Store

Packs Gre at Incentives for Ve ter ans

As the world’s largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, printing and business service centers, The UPS Store is a rapidly growing franchise.

Starting out as Mail Boxes Etc. in the 1980s as a convenient alternative to the post office, the company grew to 2,000 franchises. In 2001, UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., and in 2003, introduced The UPS Store® brand. Approximately 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc. locations in the United States re-branded to The UPS Store

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and began offering the lower UPS-direct shipping rates. In 2004, the company sold more than 500 new The UPS Store franchise locations in the U.S. – a record for the company and exceptional growth for a quarter-century-old franchise.

Today, The UPS Store brand consist of nearly 4,400 independently owned locations in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The company strives to provide the most convenient, high-quality business services to start-ups, small business owners and consumers.

Non-traditional locations like college campuses, military bases, convention centers and hotels have also helped grow the franchise, creating opportunities to provide services to consumers, regardless

of where they live, work or travel.

In 2012, the franchisor, Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., became The UPS Store, Inc. The centers remained locally owned and operated, and continued to offer their wellknown world-class service. Throughout the company’s history, there is one constant they have prided themselves on: their commitment to their franchisees. In recent years, veterans have begun to make up a large part of these franchisees.

Working alongside the International Franchise Association with its VetFran Program since 2004, The UPS Store reduces the franchise fee by $10,000 for qualifying veterans and spouses of active duty personnel for new locations, as well as takes 50 percent off the initial

application fee. This is their way of saying thank you to veterans for their service to the country. As part of the Operation Enduring Opportunity, a national initiative to recruit or hire as many as 75,000 military veterans and their family members by the end of 2014, The UPS Store waived the franchise fee for 20 qualified veterans last year.

The UPS Store believes veterans make excellent franchisees because they are used to following an established system, they’re dedicated and hardworking. To date, more than $1 million in discounts have been given to veteran franchisees, which account for more than 250 of The UPS Store locations in the United States.

Additionally, Tim Davis, President of The UPS Store, Inc., is a former United States Marine Corps captain and a Gulf War Veteran.

“It is humbling to see other veterans realize their dream of opening their own business,” Davis says. “Veterans have experiences that really apply to running a small business. They are accustomed to structure and the skills taught and nurtured in the armed forces: listening, problem solving, being able to think on your feet, laying out a mission, setting goals and executing.”

The UPS Store’s franchise development team is dedicated to providing its franchisees with the tools they need to be successful. By completing over 40 Web-based training modules introducing

“Veterans have experiences that really apply to running a small business. They are accustomed to structure and the skills taught and nurtured in the armed forces.” them to The UPS Store system, followed by a 10-day University Business Course at The UPS Store offices in California, new franchisees are provided with instructorled training on marketing, finances, printing and staffing management. New franchisees then spend two weeks placed in an In-Store Experience, where they will work alongside a certified trainer to learn the daily operations.

The UPS Store franchisees not only benefit from a recognized top retail brand name, but they also receive national and local advertising support, dedicated support and tools, and corporate retail solutions.

Records show that approximately 34 percent of The UPS Store franchisees own more than one franchise location, due partly to the company’s reduced franchise fees and world-class training.

The startup costs for a franchise vary based on size and location. The total initial franchise cost to operate a new The UPS Store franchise at a traditional location ranges from $148,734 to $347,241*.

Franchisees must meet The UPS Store minimum financial requirements and be in a position to provide capital for the

franchise investment, including working capital and living expenses during the

set-up period. All potential franchisees

are also required to prove a minimum of $60,000 in liquid assets.

In 2013, Entrepreneur® magazine’s

annual “Franchise 500,” a ranking of

franchise opportunities based on factors like financial strength, growth rate and

size, rated The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. number one in the postal and business

services category for the 23rd consecutive year. In 2012, The UPS Store ranked in

the top ten percent of “Military Friendly Franchises” by GI Jobs Magazine, and

in 2011 Entrepreneur magazine placed

the company at number two for “10 Most

Popular Franchises for Military Veterans.”

The company also has an ongoing history of award-winning marketing and public relations campaigns.

For more information, visit www.theupsstorefranchise.com. * These figures are subject to change; see Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for current amounts.

Meeting the minimum liquid assets requirement does not guarantee approval or award of a The UPS Store franchise.

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nchisi ng

Sea n Falk, United S tates M a r ine C or ps, f ra nchisee

A Franchising How-To For Veterans Whether you are a neophyte or experienced veteran to franchising, there are a lot of things to consider before you buy into a franchised brand.

The decision points are different if you are opening your first location or your fifteenth, but you might be surprised by the similarity of the criteria. Here are some helpful steps to follow when considering a franchise transaction:

Do thorough due diligence This may sound obvious, but the best advice I can give is to read the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) in its entirety. The industry has changed significantly in the last 30 years. FDD’s used to be fairly short documents, but they have grown in scope as a litigious society has taken over.

The FDD is there to protect you, the franchise partner, and the franchisor, therefore It is imperative you understand the partnership you are entering into.

The FDD should be used to discover: key

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personnel in the organization, existing ownership of the franchise, the lawsuits that may be filed against the franchisor, and the location of all stores.

In addition, read the Earnings Claim (and build your own business plan using the information provided), find phone numbers of existing franchisees (and call several of them) and learn how many company stores are owned. Visit stores and ask questions.

Your research will help you make an educated decision.

Make sure you spend an equal amount of time reviewing the Franchise Agreement (FA) when you receive it. You should have it reviewed by a lawyer or a trusted advisor who is knowledgeable about franchising.

Do not be afraid to ask for advice and help., many franchise owners are eager to share their knowledge and experiences.

Evaluate the business model Sometimes people are motivated to go into business based on their previous hobbies.

Be sure you are making a “business” decision and not an “emotional” choice.

Let’s say a man has always loved model trains. He finally finds a franchise business that has a storefront for selling trains, tracks, little shrubs and tiny buildings.

This is what he has wanted to do since he was four years old; but, there is no profit margin in this business, the potential retail market is nonexistent, and the expenses pretty much wipeout any profit he could make. He ended up buying himself a job instead of enjoying a hobby. He will be chained to the store as he tries to cut labor costs to stay open. He will have no chance to open up multiple locations or diversify his portfolio with other brands.

Typically the biggest expenses in a business are the occupancy costs, the labor costs, the costs of goods and the utilities.

Look very closely at the business model and see if there is an actual profit to be made.

Side Note: The Affordable Care Act. I have been to at least 15 conferences in the last 18 months where there was a presentation about the Act, yet I still lack confidence when it comes to administering the plan and knowing all its nuances.

Here’s my take: I think that 25 percent of all business owners “kind of” know what’s going on, and 98 percent of employees have no idea. As a business owner, do you know that you are currently in the “measurement period?” The number of hours and employees you have right now will determine whether you must offer a

healthcare plan on January 1, 2014.

Do you have any idea how to measure that yourself? Do you know how or where you are going to report your measurements by the end of 2013? I don’t! Do you know that if you take the penalty for not offering insurance that the penalty is not tax-deductible, whereas the premiums paid for your employees’ healthcare plan are? Your tax situation may help decide which route you will take! There are a lot of considerations to think about here that could determine whether you open up just one location or 20 locations.

Evaluate the “maturity” and professionalism of the franchisor There are a lot of brands in the marketplace today that have been around for 30 years or more. While they may have good brand awareness with consumers, are they offering a relevant product/service?

“The FDD is there to protect you, the franchise partner, and the franchisor, therefore It is imperative you understand the partnership you are entering into..”

Are they still innovating and growing their market presence? On the flipside of that coin, there is a tsunami of new franchisors touting the “next best thing.”

In theory, franchising a concept is a popular way for start-up businesses to obtain growth, recognition and market share. However, we all know that theory does not always translate to reality and many concepts struggle to support their franchisees and fulfill obligations in the early years.

There are pros and cons to investing in companies that are too mature and those that are too young. Evaluate what you are looking for and then proceed with cautious optimism.

Be the brand There are significant advantages of joining a franchise brand as opposed to “doing it alone.” Franchised businesses tend to have a higher rate of success than independent small businesses.

Franchise systems have figured out an operations procedure, a defined product, a marketing plan, and preferred vendors.

They have also figured out proper site selection, lease negotiation, a construction guideline and a design. Although every organization admires a certain amount of out-of-the-box thinking, it is also important for franchise partners to follow the rules. Your choice to use different vendors, offer rogue products, or change

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nchisi ng

Sea n Falk, United S tates M a r ine C or ps, f ra nchisee

“Be sure you are making a “business” decision and not an “emotional” choice.” the production procedures may be logical in your mind, but ultimately they hurt the brand. In the end, if the brand is weakened, then your business is weakened too.

When I travel, I love to visit the brands I’m familiar with. It frustrates me when I observe an operator who has made a decision to offer a product completely different from the core line up. I get annoyed when I see unapproved marketing programs and altered construction finishes, which I know were both done just to save a little bit of money.

The typical American consumer goes to a location because they know exactly what to expect when they get there.

They enjoy the comfort of a reinforced choice. Varying from the brand standards creates uncertainty, confusion, and a lack of confidence. Consumers will choose somewhere else to go in the future. This choice will exclude your location and others in your brand. It hurts us all!

Be a team player. Work with your fellow franchisees and your franchisor to bring about the change that may be needed in your system. But, do not be an independent business owner. Besides, why spend the money to buy into a system if you aren’t going to follow it? You’re paying a group of professionals to make decisions that will help you and then you’re throwing that money away when you ignore it.

Invest in your research by attending professional conferences that are put on nationally almost every month.

Conferences can be specific to the industry you are considering, or specific to franchising in general.

At these events you will be able to talk to vendors who have significant experience adding value to your business model. You will also find franchisors that give you choice and comparison to the brand you

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may be interested in. Most importantly, you will find other business owners who are eager to share their experiences with you so you can start with a leg-up on the competition.

Sean Falk grew up in Monroe, Michigan. Upon graduating from The University of Michigan, Falk went into the United States Marine Corps. As an Infantry Officer he spent eight months in the first Gulf War. After returning from Operation Desert Storm, he was assigned to the Recon Battalion and spent his time off the coast of Bosnia.

During his time in the military he traveled extensively; training with military members from many different countries.

Falk started out his franchising

experience by investing in cookie, pretzel, and children’s retail stores.

Within ten years of opening his first location, Sean had 14 different franchise locations up and running. He has an agreement to open at least four more stores in the near future, with a desire to open many more!

Falk has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business World magazine and many other periodicals.

He recently testified to congress on the state of small business and was the lead feature on the Fox Business Network.

Sean also enjoys doing triathlons and has completed three Ironman competitions.

For more information: www.franchise.org

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from Corporate America.

Our semi-absentee owner/manager-run franchise model is perfectly suited for your new life as an entrepreneur. We help you build a stable financial future while you keep your present job until you’re ready to transition to financial and personal independence. ‡ 1R KDLU FDUH H[SHULHQFH UHTXLUHG ‡ .HHS \RXU FXUUHQW MRE ‡ 5HFHVVLRQ UHVLVWDQW ‡ )LQDQFLQJ DVVLVWDQFH DYDLODEOH ‡ 0RUH WKDQ VWRUHV RSHQ LQ 6WDWHV DQG &DQDGD ‡ 0RUH DIIRUGDEOH WKDQ \RX WKLQN

Learn more at SportClipsFranchise.com

Call: 512-868-4662 Email: Franchise@SportClips.com

RANKED IN THE

TOP 50 FRANCHISES AND

#16 FASTEST GROWING

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nchisi ng

Richa rd Ashe, President, Vetera n Fra nchise Center s LLC

The Good, The Bad a n d T h e L e gal

of Franchising

As with all things, there are many sides to consider in franchising.

Understanding what to expect, what not to expect and what your legal and contractual obligations are is the key to both the initial decision making and your on going success in your venture.

acquiring a franchise.

One of the things I learned during my career and also from watching a lot of Judge Judy, is that if it isn’t written down it doesn’t exist. This is important to know when reviewing the documents involved in

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Franchise Rule requires franchise sellers to provide prospective buyers with a Franchise Disclosure Document. The FTC does not require filings of these

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The franchise process is similar from concept to concept. There is the initial vetting between the franchisor and the prospective buyer to determine cultural fit and financial capability. Should you and the franchisor see eye to eye and decide to move forward then the process moves forward and additional disclosures are required. On the candidate side the disclosure is usually an application and/ or a personal financial statement. On the franchisor side, the disclosure is the Franchise Disclosure Document (aka FDD and formerly known as The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular, or UFOC) and then finally the Franchise Agreement.

documents. A total of 13 states keep franchise offering circulars on file. Most states provide copies of these disclosures, usually by allowing visitors to their offices by appointment to review or copy the documents. A few private companies may make franchise disclosure documents filed in one or more states available for a fee.

The FTC doesn’t support or endorse these companies.

The FDD is a serious legal document, it serves as a protection for the prospective buyer against making a decision based on information not supported by fact.

The franchisor is required to disclose the following information and each FDD is structured as ITEMS as follows: THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

“I recommend waiting and taking both the FDD and the FA to your franchise attorney at the same time. I also recommend seeking out a good broker to assist with your franchise search.”

LITIGATION BANKRUPTCY INITIAL FEES ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FRANCHISEE’S OBLIGATIONS FINANCING FRANCHISOR’S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING TERRITORY TRADEMARKS PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISED BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION PUBLIC FIGURES FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS (THIS SECTION IS OPTIONAL) OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTRACTS RECEIPT This is your first look at the unvarnished view of the franchisor minus all the marketing hype. This is the good, the bad and the legal of the franchise; its past, present and what you will be obligated in the future. It is written by the franchisors attorneys so expect it to be slanted to protect the interests of the franchisor.

Having it reviewed by a franchisee attorney is highly recommended to protect your best interest. I specifically recommend a franchisee attorney because they review these documents all the time and it is more cost effective to work with an attorney that is familiar with the language and format of these documents than one who is not and charges an hourly fee. With the cost of an FDD review ranging between $1,500 and $2,000, it can get very expensive if you take every FDD you’re considering to an attorney. Should you decide to go to an attorney that is not versed in franchising you should expect a longer turn around time and may possibly cost you more.

Before you run off to the attorney, I highly recommend you do your own initial review. I have developed a process that helps my clients to get through the FDD in an efficient and practical way.

First, when you receive the FDD you will be required to sign a receipt. The receipt starts a 14 day clock which franchisors are not legal able to execute a Franchise Agreement until that period has elapsed.

You should read the entire FDD, however to make the most efficient use of time, here is our suggested order when reviewing the FDD. This order prioritizes the information in a way that enables you to quickly determine if they want to move forward with the franchise opportunity.

Start with these sections: Items 5, 6 and 7 Initial fees, other fees and initial investment Item 5 is an overview of the initial fees required to open your franchise. Until the recession, most franchise fees were not negotiable; however, in the last three years, some franchisors have offered discounted fees that should be disclosed here. If you

Richard Ashe

see initial fees listed as a range, ask if you qualify for a lower fee.

Item 6 is a chart of other fees, including royalty and advertising fees, which you will be required to pay on an ongoing basis. Be aware that not all fees are listed here, including the cost of products and inventory.

Item 7 lays out the fees and expenses required to open and operate your franchise for the first three months.

Businesses get into trouble when they are undercapitalized. Do not assume that the working capital listed in Item 7 is sufficient to sustain your business until you start making money. This is why validation calls with other franchisees to learn how long it took them to break even are very important. Go over these items with an accountant before signing a franchise agreement.

Item 11 - Franchisors Assistance This item outlines the content and scope of the franchisor’s support services. It should include disclosures about cash registers and related information involving the use of extremely sensitive franchisee data to which the franchisor has access.

Be careful of qualifying words, such as “at our discretion” or “as needed,” and know that you cannot count on receiving those services. Look to see how much of your required advertising fees actually get spent on advertising and how much mainly benefit the franchisor. If franchisees are not involved in managing the national marketing fund it can be a major red flag for investors.

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V e t er a ns i n Fr a nchisi ng

Richa rd Ashe, President, Vetera n Fra nchise Center s LLC

Item 19 - Financial Performance Representations (This section is not mandatory and is not always included) Although this is one of the most important pieces of the FDD, only 30 to 40 percent of franchisors provide information on how much their current franchisees are earning; the others must state that they choose not to make such a claim. Watch out for earnings claims based on corporate stores, because they pay no royalties and may have different costs than the franchise.

Items 22 and 23 - Contracts and Receipts These items include the contracts you will be required to sign and the receipt you must sign when you receive the FDD. It is critical that you read and understand the contracts and keep copies of all documents (including the receipt); you’ll need them if you ever wish to bring an action against the franchisor.

Exhibit - State Specific Addendum Some States require registration and approval of Franchise Documents prior to selling in the state or from the state and may have additional legal or disclosure requirements. Ensure the franchisor is properly registered.

If you’re agreeable with these sections of the FDD move on to:

Item 3 - Litigation Item 4 - Bankruptcy Item 10 - Financing Arrangements Item 12 - Territory Item 21 - Financial Statements Exhibits - List of Franchisees - at this point the prospective buyer should select a number of franchisees they would like to speak with and notify the franchisor for permission to call to validate the business.

Now that you’ve bounced around from section to section, it’s time to grab a cup of your favorite non-alcoholic libation, a yellow and red highlighter and read the entire FDD from cover to cover. As you read highlight your deal breakers in red and questions or items that need clarification in yellow.

Now that you have completed your due diligence it’s time to review the FDD with the franchisor.

Should you resolve any and all questions regarding the FDD and have decided to move forward the final major legal document is the Franchise Agreement (FA).

The franchise agreement is a document that is signed by both parties upon completion of the decision to do business together. This is the final step to review

before making a final determination as to whether or not to become a franchisee.

The FA outlines the franchisor’s terms and conditions specifically for the franchisee.

These terms may include territory, size and restrictions. The franchise agreement also clearly outlines the obligations of the franchisor and the obligations of the franchisee. The franchise agreement is signed at the time an individual has made the final decision to buy the franchise.

I recommend waiting and taking both the FDD and the FA to your franchise attorney at the same time. I also recommend seeking out a good broker to assist with your franchise search.

If you want more info on FDD’s and FA’s please visit: www.ftc.gov/bcp/franchise/faq1.shtm Richard Ashe served in the Marine Corps from 1976 to 1983 in the infantry and then as part of a joint Marine, Navy, and Air Force top-secret intelligence project. After serving in the Marines, he worked as an electronics technician for a communications company. Over the next 30 years, he worked his way through the civilian ranks to the position of vice president of global marketing for an international software company and received his degree in marketing.

During his civilian career, Ashe has worked for and helped companies such as Xerox, Compaq, and HewlettPackard expand or start new businesses.

He also participated in four software startups and started two businesses on his own – a computer training firm, ComputerTutor, and a networkconsulting firm, LANDesign. Ashe is a Certified Franchise Consultant and a member of the Texas Veterans Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the VetFran committee.

For More Information: Phone: Email:

Web:

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713-849-9642 rich@ VeteranFranchiseCenters.com veteranfranchisecenters.com

M i l i ta r y V e t e r a n Ea r n s O w n F r a n c h i s e :

Operation American Dream

After a six-month search, representatives from Signal 88 Security and a panel of military veterans have chosen Gregory Murphy of Salt Lake City, Utah, as the winner of Operation American Dream: From Battlefield to Boss.

“I’ve thought about this for some time now,” says Murphy. “Being named a finalist early in the contest gave me a chance to plan my next step, should I be the winner. I’m currently putting a team together to help me open a Signal 88 franchise, and I’m feeling both happy and surprised.”

Murphy, a United States Army veteran, will be awarded either $5,000 to start his own business or $10,000 to open his own Signal 88 Security franchise.

“Signal 88 Security is a top employer of military veterans,” said Reed Nyffeler, CEO and co-founder of Signal 88 Security.

“We were named on the G.I. Jobs list in 2012 among the top 10 percent of the nation’s franchises that are doing the most to recruit military veterans. Providing another deserving veteran with a chance to own his own business was a great opportunity for us to give back.”

Since January, military veterans with entrepreneurial dreams competed for start-up money to open a business through Signal 88 Security’s nationwide contest.

Each entrant submitted a 500-word essay describing a desire to open his or her own business. Following monthly online voting periods, the public narrowed the field to five finalists. Each finalist received a $500 cash prize and advanced to a final selection process. Selection criteria included an evaluation of each finalist’s essay and video entry, plus a Q&A from a panel of judges that included military veterans and representatives from Signal 88 Security.

According to statistics from the Small Business Association Office of Advocacy, veterans are at least 45 percent more likely to take the plunge into entrepreneurship than people with no active-duty military experience.

In 2007 data from the U.S. Census Bureau – the most recent statistics available on the subject – veterans owned 2.4 million businesses, or nine percent of all businesses nationwide, generating $1.2 trillion in receipts and employing nearly 5.8 million people.

“Veterans possess many of the traits needed in entrepreneurism,” said Nyffeler.

“Their leadership, teamwork and problemsolving skills are second-to-none in my experience and Greg Murphy is no exception. Signal 88 Security is looking forward to his future success.”

Signal 88 Security is a private security company with more than 100 franchise offices across more than 30 states, offering customized solutions for residential and commercial properties.

For more information about Signal 88 Security and its franchises, visit www.signal88.com/franchising/home. aspx.

Gregory Murphy joined the United States Army in 1985. After completing 22 years of active duty and 14 years of service with the Army Active Guard & Reserves, he is currently in the process of retiring.

Murphy is married and has seven children.

His oldest daughter recently returned from serving in Afghanistan.

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Dorothy A r ndt, President, gif tavet.org

Empowerment through Collaboration “Veterans seem to be able to allocate these traits as if they were somehow connected to basic business resources like, capital, labor and technology.” but not limited to; veterans, volunteers, contributors, donors, investors and the professional community including; trade associations, organization case managers, social workers, and non-profits.

The organizations and individuals that work with us recognize that, above all else, we value experience. Giftavet.org is a place for people to honor veterans and join forces to inspire change.

My Brother the Hero

Giftavet.org is a destination where veterans and those who respect and honor their service go to connect, share, support and collaborate to create memorable experiences.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, giftavet.org, is a Veteran Direct company.

Helping veterans since March 2012, the company strives to bring together those who share the same beliefs including

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My brother, John Alopogianis, inspired me to become the founder of an organization that works with our nations veterans. He is a USMC veteran with service-connected disabilities. John and his fellow soldiers are the spark that fuels the team at giftavet.org.

John always dreamed of serving his country. Watching him pursue and live this dream has been one of life’s most amazing experiences. He was the kid that played “Army Man” and he became the man who sacrificed civilian life and status to serve and protect us, while affording us the liberty and freedom to pursue our dreams as Americans. First there was boot camp.

He told stories about the tremendous sacrifices some of our soldiers made during training. These stories reinforced that the military was preparing John to

overcome the trials and challenges of Combat as a Marine.

Returning home after his first tour of duty, John told fewer stories about serving and was anxious to begin his second tour of duty. John’s desire to return to his fellow soldiers exemplified a sense of pride combined with humility that only a real hero embodies. With every breath, my brother was a man of honor, loyalty and commitment.

Watching John deal with life’s challenges after his second and final tour of duty in the USMC makes me proud of him in a manner that cannot be described by words alone. He is a combat veteran in his junior year of college, with a wife and a child.

His service-connected disabilities are a direct result of him giving his heart and soul to the United States Marine Corp, and his country. These injuries dismantled his vision of a career in the military, but they have not prevented him from building an honorable civilian life. He is actively engaged in treating his PTSD and physical impairments. His latest battle comes from the loss of his job in the Work Study Program, due to a congressional delay in funding for this program. John is meeting this challenge by selling his plasma and searching for a job that allows him to continue his studies and be present for his family.

Giftavet.org aims to ensure that one day it will not be necessary for our veterans to sell the blood that they did not leave on the battlefield to survive as a civilian.

How We Collaborate Our research and development has been ongoing for the past 15 months and includes events with the franchising community, the airport, grocery stores, health fairs and shopping malls. We interact on a daily basis with contributors, including veterans, volunteers, donors and professionals. To date, over 15,000 collaborators have participated in the development of giftavet.org. Our events embody an open environment, meaning transparency, sharing and collaboration to initiate connections between these segments of the community. Through these connections resources are shared and maximized. In most instances the veteran is the inspiration responsible for empowering the community.

Simply put, here is how it works.

Veterans will create their campaign, and donors decide which campaigns they wish to support. Volunteers, donors and professionals place a high value on direct participation with the veteran and his project. Projects have included, but are not limited to; employment, business ownership, housing, transportation, education and health care. The veteran creates opportunity for everyone involved, presenting a perspective that reflects the opposite viewpoint of charity. Most charities engage in telemarketing and direct mail campaigns to spread awareness of some type of need in the community.

Events are held in addition to these activities. These methods are independent of each other providing forms of assistance inspired mostly by need. Giftavet.org connects people and organizations to foster collaboration with the veteran creating a “High Value Experience”.

Initially these interactions happened face to face in Santa Clara County, California.

Now through giftavet.org we can reach every county in America. We are connecting communities through the use of technology, turning social media into a means of service and production through the combination of virtual volunteering, crowd sourcing, crowd-funding, sharing of experiences and information all in a transparent environment.

The Veteran and Franchising Today there are over 60,000 veteran owned franchises and other industry support organizations, including franchisors, suppliers, vendors, business brokers, finance companies, consultants and marketing companies. According to the US Census, nine percent of US businesses are veteran owned and they employ six million people while contributing over $1.2 trillion to the GDP. The word Franchise comes from the Anglo-french origin franc, defined as liberty, freedom and to make or be free.

Military is a word that implies discipline, confidence and dignity. We believe that our process at giftavet.org combines these characteristics when supporting our “Armed Forces Veterans.” Today’s world is one that values experience above all else.

Veterans are experienced risk takers that are trained to follow orders and systems, in turn making them the ideal franchisee.

Trained to look out for one another on base, these practices can then be taken into the workforce to both customers, employers sand co-workers.

Companies in just about every segment of the franchising industry have approached giftavet.org, hoping to engage in partnerships that will benefit our nations veterans. The massive success achieved by our veterans in the franchising industry is due to the collaboration of individuals and companies already engaged in the industry. We hope to be an agent of growth by providing a platform for advertising, marketing, recruitment and team building for every company in the franchising industry.

The veteran has been trained to work with others towards a higher purpose.

This industry [franchising] values skills

that are supported by leadership qualities, integrity and humility. Veterans seem to be able to allocate these traits as if they were somehow connected to basic business resources like, capital, labor and technology. Our research indicates the personal qualities addressed above are the core shared values that empower the franchising industry to reach out to our nations veterans and make the necessary connections to create and maximize experiences for an entire industry, which in turn does its duty in supporting an entire nation. (There are 23.5 million Veterans according to the US Census).

Giftavet.org offers an open platform for all participants in the franchising community, all veterans and those who support veterans. The franchise community provides a welcoming environment for veterans and their support teams. In other words, veterans and franchising industry members speak the same language, are on the same page and often are in the same boat rowing in the same direction.

A native of Chicago, IL, Ms. Arndt resides in Santa Clara, CA. Using her leadership and technology skills, she brings a solution to provide stability to veterans during their transition from a military world to a rewarding civilian world. She has four children.

Web:

www.giftavet.org

The mission, place our veterans first through collaboration with our nations heroes Franchising USA

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M onti M a r ster s, President of Totall y Accessible H omes

Totally Accessible Homes In the late 1990’s our family’s lives changed forever. We had been living in Alaska for over 15 years when our Mom, riding her new snow mobile, hit a small snow covered rock while racing Dad. This accident left our Mom paralyzed from the waist down. We found out first hand how something like this affects the entire family. services needed to make our customers’ homes Totally Accessible. We offer a one-stop shop for in home consultations, product supply, product installation, home remodeling and new innovative products designed by our own R&D department.

As a family of carpenters, welders and machinists, we built and installed our first in home elevator, and before Mom came home from the hospital we had duplicated every piece of equipment at the physical therapist office to help her on the road to recovery.

Unfortunately Mom never did gain the use of her legs and to this day she is confined to her wheelchair. Like most families, we did not realize until she was home and trying to move around the house how many changes really needed to be made.

She damaged the rotator cuffs in her shoulders, due in part to fighting the wheel chair on the carpet in the living room. We

Franchising USA

damaged several door jambs as we did not realized that just because a wheel chair will fit through the door, does not mean it will always roll exactly in the center of the opening.

Having a handicapped family member has made it painfully apparent to our family that the accessibility market is a much under-served market in America. We have learned through years of trial and error, through self-education, through seminars and through experience what is needed in the accessibility community. One of the things we have learned is that everybody in a handicap situation does not need the same solution. The needs are as varied as the individuals involved.

So we started a business to help fill the needs. Totally Accessible Homes is the instrument we use to provide all the

As a Vietnam era Veteran, our Mom has been able to take advantage of the VA spinal injury center in Seattle, Washington.

However the VA cannot do everything that needs to be done. The military runs over five generations deep in our family, served with both men and women. We have served in the air, on the land and on the sea. One of the owners is a Korean War vet, and another served in the Persian Gulf. Both veteran owners have served in combat units, we understand the needs of veterans and we want to help whenever we can.

Right now jobs in America are hard to get. Veterans sometimes have a harder time getting jobs than the men and women who stayed behind and developed their professional networks and social circles.

Because of this we have partnered with VetFran, and offer special pricing to Veterans to make sure those interested can have a shot at business ownership. As with any franchise, we offer training and support to help the new business owner succeed in their business. We believe the best way to help the most amount of veterans will be to get more veterans involved in our business.

To show our commitment to the veterans that have protected our country, we are offering to give

“I would challenge any veteran that might be looking for a business opportunity to look for a business where they can help make a difference in other people’s lives, and make a good living doing it.”

away a free franchise to a veteran in September.

Veterans can sign up at www.tahpromo.com.

Totally Accessible Homes is a new and innovative company, with a patent pending business model, that has been designed from the ground up to specifically service the handicap and senior citizen community. We have designed, built and installed products for accessible homes for over 12 years. Our goal is to provide unparalleled service and product to the elderly, the handicap and the mobility challenged community.

All of our owners and service technicians receive training and certificate renewals for all items that we sell, as well as most accessible related items that are on the market. We are all trained to install elevators, stair climber, wheel chair lifts, home remodeling for special needs and much more.

We offer not only products for sale through our Internet site, but installation services. We are our own contractors, with all of our contractors certified especially for aging in place remodeling, plus an

additional training course that picks up where the certifications leave off. We then have our own certified installers install the product. Because we sell, remodel and install ourselves there is much less chance of rework and extra cost that is associated in dealing with several companies to complete one project.

One of the greatest challenges we face is educating the public as to what is available to them. For example, drop down cabinets.

These have been on the market for several years, they come from Europe and they are expensive. But 99 percent of the people I talk to did not know such a thing existed.

We have developed our own line of Made in America drop down cabinets that have been well received.

Everybody knows about ramps and elevators, but many people do not realize that we can install a ceiling track system in their home so that family members does not have to strain themselves transferring a person from the bed to the bathtub, or anywhere else they may want to go. How many handicap people do you know that have given up working in flower gardens because they cannot reach the ground?

I like to work with veteran business owners in this business because in the military we were taught to overcome obstacles and to push through. We can now help our fellow veterans, other handicap people, and even elderly people

that want to stay in their homes longer to push through. We have the opportunity to provide the means for them to reach their goals.

I would challenge any veteran that might be looking for a business opportunity to look for a business where they can help make a difference in other people’s lives, and make a good living doing it. I am very fortunate in that I have always had the luxury of enjoying what I do for a living.

Because I enjoy what I do, and because I get the chance to help other people, it never feels like I am going to work.

I believe that we never have to quit serving the people of our country.

Monti Marsters, President Totally Accessible Homes Monti Marsters served three deployments on board the USS Midway providing support to Middle East operations. After leaving the service he has spent years developing new product for handicap community as well as in the both the residential and the commercial industries. He understands the needs of service men and women as well as the needs of people with accessibility restrictions.

For more information: www.totallyaccessiblehomes.com www.tahpromo.com.

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