Veterans in Franchising August 2020

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Veterans in Franchising august 2020

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

Spotlight on JDog Junk Removal & Hauling franchisee

Bryan Lindley

Blending Navy Experiences to Boost Success in Franchising

Four Tips for Veterans

Opening a New Franchise Franchising USA

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profile: JDog Junk Removal & Hauling

Spotlight on JDog Junk Removal & Hauling franchisee Bryan Lindley:

Setting the standard for franchise success What it takes to be a model franchisee Bryan Lindley opened his JDog Junk Removal & Hauling franchise in 2015 in Central Rhode Island with one employee (his daughter Jesse), one truck, one trailer, and big dreams.

His goals: Never get a negative review, and put the competition out of business. In the five years since, he’s accomplished that and so much more.

Respect. Integrity. Trust.

For JDog Brands, these three words are more than a company motto. They’re the very foundation of our organization. The basic tenets that guide our business model and motivate our franchisees across the country.

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And so each year, we look for franchisees who have gone above and beyond in conducting themselves with Respect, Integrity, and Trust, and select one to receive the JDog of the Year award. We look for franchisees who have kept a positive demeanor in the face of hardship, exhibited outstanding work ethic and passion, and exceeded expectations in helping their fellow franchise owners.

This year, we were honored to present the award to Bryan Lindley, a 10-year Air Force Veteran and JDog Junk Removal & Hauling owner who exemplifies the attributes of a model franchisee and fully embodies what it is to be a JDog.

In early 2020, after adding to his fleet (gaining two trucks and two trailers), increasing his workforce (to three Veterans and two military family members; his daughter continues to grow the business with him), and building a reputation for service (as of this writing, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Rhode Island has yet to receive anything less than a 5-star review), Bryan decided to expand. He purchased two additional territories in Rhode Island, becoming the first JDog franchisee to take ownership of an entire state.

Things were looking good. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, sending the economy into a tailspin and crippling many small businesses.

But as a Veteran, Bryan was trained to rise in the face of adversity. With perseverance, a commitment to Veteran values, and a whole lot of grit, Bryan has been able to keep his entire workforce employed and maintain relationships with the communities he serves.

And while the coronavirus will continue to

influence economies and communities for months to come, or any number of other challenges may arise in the future, Bryan is well positioned to succeed.

A recipe for success What sets successful franchise owners like Bryan apart? Here are a few attributes that any franchise owner can rely on to control their destiny and create their own success.

• Risk tolerance. Starting a business, becoming your own boss, and taking responsibility for employees requires courage. You need to be willing to make yourself vulnerable. It’s what Bryan did when he left the Air Force after 10 years to join the tech industry, and what he did again 20 years later when he left that field to become a junk removal specialist and JDog franchisee.

Successful business owners don’t run from risk. They analyze and plan for it.

• Adaptability. In the military, servicemen and servicewomen are trained to assess a situation and act quickly under pressure. Business owners can draw on that same focus and discipline to react to environmental pressures, threats, or other changes.

For instance, the uncertainty, disorder, and rapid pace of change during those early weeks of the pandemic could easily have paralyzed business owners.

Instead, we saw franchisees innovating to offer curbside junk pickups, nocontact payments, and even new services to respond to customer demand and help keep communities safe. The most successful franchisees were the ones who kept a cool head and took the changes in stride.

• Modesty. In the face of his franchise’s growth and success, and even in winning the JDog of the Year award, Bryan has remained humble. He’s always expressed a willingness to learn from others, and a true appreciation for the people -- employees, Veterans, customers, and fellow franchise owners -- he’s encountered along the way.

Remembering those who helped you get to where you are will make you a better leader and owner.

“In early 2020, after adding to his fleet (gaining two trucks and two trailers), increasing his workforce (to three Veterans and two military family members; his daughter continues to grow the business with him), and building a reputation for service.”

• Loyalty. One of the things that drew Bryan to JDog was our focus on Veteran employment and camaraderie.

He’d grown up in a military family, and was missing the lifestyle. He had -- and continues to have -- a deep respect for Veterans and wanted to create jobs for the younger generations leaving the service. This spring, when thousands of Americans were laid off because of COVID-19, Bryan reinforced his commitment to his employees and was able to keep all of them on the payroll.

He runs his business in a way that lets his employees know they are valued, and his efforts have given opportunity to multiple Veterans over the years Bryan embodies these attributes, and has been a steady force in the JDog family

since he joined five years ago. They’ve helped earn him an award, but more importantly, they’ve made him a successful franchise owner.

While there are admittedly still a few junk removal competitors in Rhode Island, Bryan notes that over the years, he’s seen less of their trucks on the road and more of them parked, inactive, at their facility. On top of the growth and everything else he’s achieved, I’d say that’s a win.

Tracy Flanagan is the senior vice president and co-founder of JDog Brands, the umbrella for an array of home and commercial services franchise organizations owned and operated by Veterans and Military family members. www.jdogbrands.com

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expert advice: Bryan Kingsley | Owner | Image360 of Lewis Center, OH

Four Tips for Veterans Opening a New Franchise I handle operations for my franchise business, so my focus when counseling other small business owners, especially veterans, tends to focus on the logistics.

Lots of the advice I have for new business owners can apply to all entrepreneurs, but veterans in particular may experience additional challenges as they transition

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to civilians. It’s especially important for veterans to have clear expectations of the franchise process, so they can launch with momentum and establish themselves in their communities.

I served in the Air Force from 1997 to 2001, and when my wife Veronica and I recently opened our Image360 center in Lewis Center, Ohio, I discovered many of the skills I learned in the military were useful when launching a small business.

One of them was planning, doing my best foresee complications, and anticipate challenges as we worked to open our franchise location.

With that experience in mind, below are some things I think all new franchisees should keep in mind when opening a

franchise business, especially veterans:

1

The SBA process may take longer than you expect

In the Air Force we pride ourselves in

working smarter, not harder. However,

when it came to the SBA loan process, there was no replacement for grinding it out. In our case, obtaining the SBA

loan was a marathon that we had to push

through. This was a challenging ordeal as

hunting for the perfect property for your business is not to be rushed. We worked hard with both the Image360 corporate team and our local networks to find the right facility, and while at times it made us throw our hands in the air, it ended with us finding the perfect location for our business.

Bryan Kingsley

our purchase of the franchise, the lease for our location, the timing of the builder, and finally the date we wanted to open our doors was all on the line. It even got to the point where we were not sure if the funds would come in time and our plans were at risk. It was a challenge and something I make sure all new franchisees I meet are aware of is a possibility.

Similar to the SBA process, take your anticipated timeline for finding and signing for a location, and try to make an alternate plan for what will happen if the lease signing is delayed. How might you need to adjust other components of your opening plan? Take the time to plan for a worst-case scenario. Even if your location-scouting process ends up going off without a hitch, it’s never wasted time to plan for the alternative.

3

Use your networks wherever you can

Finding and settling on the right location takes a long time

All new franchisees, but especially veterans who may be familiarizing themselves with the local business community for the first time, should lean on the people they know to make their new business launch as effective as possible. Chambers of commerce, local BNI groups and other community business organizations are all essential for building local buzz and awareness for your new business.

Much like the SBA process, if your franchise is a brick-and-mortar concept,

As a veteran, even if you haven’t leaned on them before, now is also the time to

If you can anticipate and plan for a potential delay caused by the SBA process, you may be able to build a little padding into your opening timeline. With a little worst-case planning, you can potentially save yourself a major headache.

2

take advantage of any local veterans networks in your community. See what kind of resources or word-of-mouth support they might offer entrepreneurs.

Many veterans are also business leaders in their communities (as you will soon be too!) and make a point of supporting other veteran-owned organizations. Tap into those networks to give your new business a leg up.

4

You should expect to be extroverted

To effectively launch a franchise, you have to be sales-focused. If you do not think you can do sales, you will have to reconcile that in your head, because selling is a major part of running nearly any successful franchise. A business needs someone who can sell and someone who can produce and, as a franchisee, both those people may be you, especially early on when you won’t have a huge staff.

In my case, I’ve been lucky enough to lean on my wife’s skills for marketing and sales, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had to learn to push myself to be more outgoing and personable with customers than I ever thought possible. Over time, you will develop those extroverted muscles, to the ongoing benefit of your business.

Even with the tips above in mind, opening is a hectic time for any new franchisee, no matter your background. You may be working long hours and doing what needs to be done. Eventually you will find efficiencies as you grow your new business, but in the beginning, it will take energy and commitment to see it forward.

Owning any small business is not for the faint of heart, but it’s also what makes franchising such a good fit for so many veterans. We’re able to overcome challenges to do what needs to be done, and your background as a veteran will likely help you better plan ahead and smooth out a path for a successful launch of your new franchise business.

To learn more about products and services offered at Image360, visit www.image360lewiscenter.com or call 614-438-7446.

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profile: America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP)

Blending Navy Experiences to Boost Success in Franchising St. Lucie, Florida as a new place to call home. There, both himself and his wife, Mary, started their business with America’s Swimming Pool Company after stumbling upon the brand through the VetFran program. Through ASP’s nationally recognized pool service training program, they became Certified Pool Operators and learned everything they need to know to grow their business.

As a Navy veteran, Brandon Grigsby yearned to find a new career that provided flexibility for a work-life balance.

Becoming his own boss was an easy transition, as he works under a brand that fits his lifestyle and allows him to weave in skill sets that he adopted from his time serving in the United States Navy.

Carrying over his training has positively impacted his success as he recently acquired a new career path as an owner and operator of an America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP) franchise.

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From Serving to Swimming Pools Grigsby recently retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer from the United States Navy after serving 23 years. During that time, he had earned a Humanitarian Aid Medal and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and continues to focus on community and giving back. With 23 years in the books and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Colombia Southern University and an Associate Degree in Computer Science from Grantham University, Brandon was eager to seek out his next career venture. As it came time to plant roots to grow his family and a business, Grigsby and his wife chose Port

The Navy’s key to professional growth is to push you outside of your comfort zone until you develop the skills and experience that make you comfortable, then step up to the next level and repeat. Brandon was ready for just that as he transitioned to the pool service industry. Calling the shots became appealing even with long hours invested in getting his business up and running, but being his own boss meant granting himself permission to take an afternoon off and get ice cream with his wife and daughter.

Incorporating Naval Experience or Skills into Franchising Purchased in 2016 with expectation to retire from the Navy, the Grigsby’s owned their very own ASP location. After seeking out a promotion for seven years, the offer to move up in the ranks from Chief Petty Officer (E-7) to E-8 was presented and was an opportunity he could not pass up. Working out a plan with America’s Swimming Pool Company to hold the contract made both dreams possible.

Brandon and Mary opened their doors to service the Port St. Lucie community with their location in February of 2020.

Something that drew Grigsby to own an ASP franchise was the 99% success

“Franchising allows leadership roles to emerge while teaming up with the brand for structure and support. This allows for the franchisee and brand to lean on each other to grow a successful pool service location.”

rate. With a high-income potential and low startup costs, America’s Swimming Pool Company was the only option he considered. Some might say it is the Veteran in him, but he would rather be up and active than stationed behind a cubicle all day. It is a job he felt gave him the responsibility to lead employees, but still have a strong company that could support him.

Keeping an on-the-go lifestyle is not the only parallel between the Navy and franchising with ASP. Focusing on the team mentality of building out a family rather than a business made franchising with ASP seem familiar. Franchising allows leadership roles to emerge while teaming up with the brand for structure and support. This allows for the franchisee

and brand to lean on each other to grow a successful pool service location. Similar to achieving any goal, it takes time and training to succeed. Starting off with ASP, Brandon took a liking to the in-depth pool school training that prepared him and his wife to get the ball rolling as they took action on their next career. Brandon recognized the potential with ASP back in 2016 when purchasing his location and continues to be impressed by their ongoing efforts to support franchisees. He believes the corporate staff has been such a great asset to the success of his business. The three years after purchasing the location was beneficial, as ASP incorporated new tools that assisted franchisees even further.

Still in the beginning months of their location opening, Grigsby is looking to the future as he plans to grow the business

and seeks out plenty of room for expansion both north and south of his current location.

As one career door closed, another opened, and Brandon found a new passion - pools.

The opportunity not only provides a fast lifestyle, which enticed Brandon to the industry, but also allows him to be his own boss and allocate time to grow his family. While the Port St. Lucie location has only been open for a short period of time, Brandon was already able to bring in impressive revenue and hire his first employee. He knew America’s Swimming Pool Company was the right choice for him when he picked up the phone and received fantastic support in every aspect from the business. www.asppoolco.com

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Leadership.

Teamwork.

Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org

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