Vets Franchising USA 5#5 March 2017

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Veterans in Franchising march 2017

www.franchisingusamagazine.com

Franchise Restores

Ohio Man’s Work/Life Balance

Army Colonel Applies Military Leadership Experience to

Doggy Daycare Business Why Veterans are Attracted to

DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen Franchising USA

SAME DRIVE. DIFFERENT BATTLEFIELD. TAKE THE NEXT STEP > VETFRAN.COM OFFERING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TRAINING & MENTORSHIP Veterans interested in franchising can take their skills learned in the military to successfully own and develop small businesses. Learn more and support veterans in franchising at www.vetfran.com.

• 650 franchise companies participating • 151,000 veterans and their spouses found careers in the franchise industry • 5,100 veteran franchise owners

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V eterans in F ranchisin g S u pplement march 2 0 1 7 Our Veterans in Franchising special supplement has become a regular feature of Franchising USA. To share your story in the next issue, please contact Vikki Bradbury, Publisher Phone: 778 426 2446 Email: vikki@cgbpublishing.com

Contents Profiles 44 DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen

Franchisee in Action 42 Restoration 1 46 Camp Bow Wow

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V e t er ans in Fr anch ising

Restoration 1

Franchise Restores Ohio Man’s Work/Life Balance One Ohio man has made the switch from tedious to tremendous with the help of North America’s fastest growing building restoration franchise.

Introduced to Restoration 1 by a franchise broker, Ken Sellers purchased his franchise in Cincinnati in January of 2016.

Now, just over a year later, there’s no doubt it’s been the best decision he’s made in his professional life.

After spending 16 years in corporate America, the last few as Vice President of National Account Sales for one of the largest manufactures of professional cleaning equipment in the world, Sellers knew he was ready for something new.

“For me, I needed a life change,” Sellers said. “I was traveling constantly, away from my family, sitting in way too many

“Basically, anything and everything I needed to know and get to start and run my business was covered in the ramp up process by Restoration 1.” - Ken Sellers Franchising USA

“This is probably the best benefit to owning a franchise. My work/ life balance has greatly improved. I am home virtually every night.

And I haven’t missed one of my kids sporting events since I made the change.” - Ken Sellers

useless meetings, presenting endless PowerPoints, and reviewing mind numbing spreadsheets. There had to be a better way.”

That better way turned out to be franchise ownership with Restoration 1.

Headquartered in Waco, TX, Restoration 1 offers emergency restoration services for water, mold, fire and smoke damage for home and business.

An army veteran of four years with the Calvary, Sellers said he was attracted to franchise ownership over starting a business from scratch by the ability to be handed a “playbook” for success.

The franchise has also been incredibly supportive in helping him get started as quickly as possible.

Although he compared getting the franchise off the ground to “drinking from a fire hose,” due to the amount of learning involved, Sellers also acknowledged that Restoration 1 walked him through the entire process from the time he purchased his franchise right up until the doors

opened.

“Restoration 1 instructed me on what certifications I needed to obtain, provided me with the necessary training, instructed me on what equipment was needed, business insurance requirements, etc,” he said. “Basically, anything and everything I needed to know and get to start and run my business was covered in the ramp up process by Restoration 1.”

Getting Schooled The training Restoration 1 gave Sellers included both class room and in the field hands-on training that covered everything from how to market the business, sell the services, perform the actual restorations, bill clients, process accounts receivables and everything else a business owner would need to know.

Sellers also had high praise for the ongoing support Restoration 1 provides to him, noting that anytime he has a question or needs help, all he has to do is call the franchise to talk with someone.

Plus, the Restoration 1 family of franchisees is extremely accommodating.

“I also get support from other Restoration 1 franchise owners too, which is very helpful,” Sellers said. “It’s great to be able to call other owners and ask them what’s working or not working for them, or troubleshooting through unique situations.”

Sellers said anyone who is thinking about getting on board with Restoration 1 should absolutely do it, especially if they’re looking to get out of the corporate rat race.

“This is probably the best benefit to owning a franchise,” Sellers said. “My work/life balance has greatly improved.

I am home virtually every night. And I haven’t missed one of my kids sporting events since I made the change.”

A franchise that is able to restore work/life balance to normal would be a good fit for anyone who thinks theirs has gotten a little unbalanced. www.restoration1franchise.com

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D rea m M a ker™ Bath a nd K itchen

Why Veterans are Attracted to

It’s no secret that DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen has a soft spot for our military and that we are an ideal franchise for veterans. But why is that?

The experience veterans gain during their service translates extremely well to franchise ownership. Being a franchise owner requires focus, dedication and passionate execution of the franchise system, as well as perseverance and the ability to motivate and lead a team. These

are all the same qualities that lead to success in the military.

DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen has

and qualities of the men and women from

We work hard at creating a culture that speaks to veterans’ intrinsic drive to serve, appeals to their operational comfort zones and leverages their special training.

by Franchising.com about what qualities

We accomplish these things by doing the following:

grown swiftly to have locations in many

states, in part by leveraging the strengths our armed forces. In fact, when surveyed service members bring to the private

sector, veterans cited their strong work ethic, leadership skills and the ability to operate under pressure as part of a cohesive team.

These are the same hallmarks of a

successful DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen franchise owner.

Don Dwyer Sr., the father of DreamMaker™ Bath & Kitchen President and Chief Stewarding Officer Doug Dwyer, founded the IFA’s VetFran program. It is one of his many enduring legacies.

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Creating a culture where veterans feel at ease

1. Much the same way veterans are trained to be part of something bigger than themselves, DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen operates from a Code of Values™ which, in turn, generates a sense of purpose that goes beyond simply making a profit and truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

“DreamMaker’s corporate philosophy emphasizes honesty and community service,” says Nate Coombs, a DreamMaker™ franchisee and a former officer in U.S. Air Force. “All franchise owners and staff sign the company’s Code of Values. It’s not about our bottom line or seeing how quickly we can get a contract signed; it’s about making sure our clients are happy.”

Coombs credits the military for preparing him to lead his business. “I am proud to have served as an officer in the Air Force as a Missile Combat Crew Member. As an officer I had the

DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen franchise owner Nate Coombs served as an officer in the Air Force and was a Missile Combat Crew Member

opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills that I have carried with me into this career. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the military, serve my country and learn lifelong skills.”

2. DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen created and maintains a proven system that enables our franchisees to win. Our military is one of the most systematized organizations on the planet, replete with detailed rules, regulations and guidelines for every job. We mirror this structure by making sure that every aspect of our business follows a standard operating procedure. We believe in the adage, “People don’t fail; systems do.”

3. We foster a culture of trust and accountability. We feel that the most important ingredient in becoming a healthy organization is creating a

“I am proud to have served as an officer in the Air Force as a Missile Combat Crew Member. As an officer I had the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills that I have carried with me into this career.” - Nate Coombs cohesive leadership team at all levels of the company. We strive to make sure that every employee has a personal sense of ownership, responsibility and pride in the company’s success.

Our purpose-driven culture makes us an ideal franchise for veterans and ripe for growth DreamMaker™ Bath and Kitchen has seen great results since incorporating the above traits into our business and has attracted skilled veterans and leaders.

We have found that veterans make exceptional franchisees on par with entrepreneurial A-players. They are trustworthy, high-achieving and

independent, with the ability to make solid decisions in tough situations. They take responsibility and ownership of their business while empowering others to do the same.

DreamMaker™ is working to make lives better for veterans, whether they need help remodeling or are looking for a new career. The company is part of the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program, which provides discounts to veterans starting a business.

In fact, the VetFran program was founded by Don Dwyer Sr., the father of DreamMaker™ President and Chief Stewarding Officer Doug Dwyer. dreammakerfranchise.com

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Ca mp B ow Wow

Army Colonel Appli Military Leadership Expe to Doggy Daycare Busi It’s been nearly 11 years since Army Colonel Frank Wetegrove and his wife Tamara decided to embark on a new adventure.

In 2007, they opened their first Camp Bow Wow location in San

Antonio with the dream of being their own boss and providing a much-needed service in the community to dogs like theirs who needed quality care.

It was a big change for Wetegrove who has been either active

duty or a reservist in the Army since 1985. But, he and Tamara

were looking to own their own business, build a legacy for their five children and do something as meaningful as serving in the

military. They were both excited to find Camp Bow Wow, now the largest pet care franchise in the U.S., at a time when doggy

daycare and boarding was a pretty new concept, particularly in

San Antonio. They loved how unique it was at the time and could offer a service that many canine owners desperately needed.

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“Do your homework. Look at the opportunities. You may pay a little more for a franchise, but you are getting a turnkey solution. If we hadn’t been with Camp Bow Wow, we wouldn’t be where we are today.” - Frank Wetegrove

ies erience iness Wetegrove credits his military experience for both inspiring him and enabling him to pursue business ownership. He has had a broad and varied career in the military and as a “civilian.” He has served as both enlisted and as an officer in the Army. He’s done everything from transportation, supply and logistics to military intelligence - even serving as a commander of five separate and distinct units. He’s also a graduate of two of the most distinguished military schools, the U.S. Army War College and Joint and Combined Warfighting School. Currently, he is still an active Army Reservist, serving as a Senior Intelligence Officer in the 311th Signal Command in Hawaii. He travels to Hawaii several times a year to complete his duty requirements.

He joined the military, as many do, to pay for college. Since college, he has worked

as an insurance agent, a network engineer, a middle school teacher, a sales engineer, an Air Force government servant and even in the family’s produce business as an onion farmer. He spent the bulk of his civilian career as a government contractor in IT and in the intelligence community.

He even worked at the Pentagon at one point, upgrading their network infrastructure.

Up until 2015, Camp Bow Wow wasn’t his primary focus. Tamara ran their three Camps. But, when they added a fourth location that year, that’s when Frank decided to focus 100 percent on their Camp Bow Wow businesses. Today, the Wetegrove’s own three Camps in the San Antonio area and one in Austin with plans to open one more in each city over the next two years. They are considered Camp Bow Wow’s largest franchisee.

Search for a franchise business opportunity When they began their search for a business opportunity, they never imagined themselves in the doggy daycare and boarding business nor did they think they’d ever be this successful.

“We evaluated a variety of franchise brands and looked at everything from fast food to oil changes and car washes,” said Wetegrove. “We knew we wanted to do our own thing and select something we could initially run as a side business, but then slow down. In the end, we also decided we wanted to select a franchise that was meaningful to us.”

While they were evaluating different concepts, Tamara was on AOL one day and stumbled upon a story about an entrepreneur who started a franchise involving day care for dogs. She

immediately called Frank, who was working for the Army in Washington, D.C. They had a great love for dogs and no one in the area offered a service like this. As consumers, they often traveled and didn’t have a reliable place to leave their dog.

The decision was made. They decided to open a Camp Bow Wow in San Antonio.

“There really weren’t any competitors at that time – Camp Bow Wow was a pioneer in the space,” said Wetegrove. “Heidi Ganahl (the founder) was impressive and we were pleased that it started as a small, family business. We also liked what other owners had to say – they were all very passionate about their business and had a love for animals.”

As many veterans do, they liked the idea of a franchise. It offered many advantages over starting your own business from scratch.

“We wanted to minimize the risk and exposure, as well as the chance of failure,” said Wetegrove. “A franchise offers that.

They’ve spent an enormous amount of time and effort figuring out the formula.

All we have to do is come in and focus on executing the formula and delivering great service to our customers.”

So, what started as a “side business” has steadily grown beyond their initial expectations. Now, they really do have a family business to pass down to their children and provide an alternative to “working for the man,” so to speak.

“We never imagined we would continue to grow like we’ve done. You get motivated to expand – maybe even a little overconfident. But, it’s changed my life,” added Wetegrove. “Having four locations compounds the complexity of running a business, but it also gives you the

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Ca mp B ow Wow

“If you find something you can enjoy doing, the military experience will help you succeed.”

- Frank Wetegrove

resources to do more. Having managers you can rely upon to help shoulder the burden makes a huge difference, as well.”

Translating military skills into business Having commanded several military units has definitely given Wetegrove a leg up in the business world. Running four locations is not unlike leading a military organization with its tiered management structure. Wetegrove likens having Camp Managers to having Platoon Leaders in the Army. His Area Director is not unlike a second in command, who communicates with his Camp Managers. He says it’s very similar to how the Chain of Command works in the military and streamlines communication.

He also says that franchises are similar to the military in that they have very clear policies and manuals to follow. He has even adapted other management tools the Army uses to create a productive work

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environment. The military conducts regular professional counseling and annual reviews, which he uses in his business.

“Providing feedback to employees and helping them set goals is something I’m committed to doing. It not only holds them accountable, but it sets up clear expectations and provides a very clear path to success,” he added. “I think this is greatly appreciated and employees don’t think of me as being too rigid, but instead someone who is fair and provides structure, as well as invests in mentoring all employees.”

Wetegrove encourages other veterans to consider Camp Bow Wow. He advises them to go visit a location and take their dogs to see how they experience it. He also says to talk to franchisees and learn what they can from them. In addition, he says to look at reviews of Camps and check out the competitors in the same way to determine the value.

“Do your homework. Look at the

opportunities. You may pay a little more for a franchise, but you are getting a turnkey solution,” he said. “If we hadn’t been with Camp Bow Wow, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It allowed us to scale more quickly and things are already vetted, so that you can be successful.

We can focus on delivering a superior Camp experience and not all the other administrative stuff.”

According to Wetegrove, the military, whether you are a Colonel or a Sergeant, gives you the breadth of leadership experience you just can’t get anywhere else. In the military, you are asked daily to lead a mission, to manage an initiative or to mentor a soldier. You are put in a role to react to situations at all levels.

“All of this can be applied to running a business,” he added. “If you find something you can enjoy doing, the military experience will help you succeed.” campbowwowfranchise.com

Honoring Those Who Serve Through Our Special Veterans Franchise Program

INDEPENDENT • FLEXIBLE • PROVEN • GROWING • EFFICIENT • SUPPORTIVE

Grease Monkey International is proud to offer qualified military veterans a $10,000 discount on their initial Franchisee Fee! Veteran Member Incentives • Franchise License Fee discount • 50% Quarterly Royalty Rebate for the first 4 quarters after opening • 25% Quarterly Royalty Rebate for the second 4 quarters • 10% Quarterly Royalty Rebate ongoing compliance program Franchise Opportunities X Single Units X Multi Units X Territories

With over 39 years of proven success, Grease Monkey® has become one of the largest franchisors of automotive fast lube centers, with over 300 centers operating in the United States, China and Latin America.

You’re In Business For Yourself, Not By Yourself!

The Grease Monkey® System guides franchisees in all aspects of running a profitable automotive maintenance business through unparalleled support: • Site Selection & Negotiation • Third-Party Financing • Training (Initial, Ongoing and In-Store Employee Certification) • Marketing & Advertising • Business Management and Accounting • National Account Purchasing

For more information, visit: GreaseMonkeyFranchise.com CONTACT: Jeff King, Director of Franchise Development Phone: 800-364-0352 • Email: jking@greasemonkeyintl.com OR, Lori Schneider, Franchise Development Specialist Phone: 720-454-4412 • Email: loris@greasemonkeyintl.com