Creating Opportunities For Veterans: Franchising May be The Answer
By Michele M. Fusco, Senior Vice President of Medical Business Operations, Amplifon and Sonus
Everyday, the brave men and women of our armed forces risk their lives for people they don’t know. When they return home, they deserve our honor, respect, and any assistance we can provide. From an economic perspective, a career in the military may lack some of the rewards of other career paths, and when it's time to put the uniform away and move on to the next phase of life, career choices may not always be available. However, the franchise model has emerged as a way to forge new career paths and create jobs for veterans.
As a company that focuses on the franchise business model, Sonus and its parent company Amplifon recognize the significant potential created by franchising for veterans. This comes at a time when the veteran unemployment rate is higher than that of civilians, and the unemployment rate for veterans between the ages of 19 and 24 is 22% - nearly double the overall statistic for veterans.
Despite efforts from the government to encourage veteran hiring in the private sector, incentives - including significant tax credits - have failed to generate the desired results. Why is this? The private sector often looks at education and experience as the bottom line for hiring. Veterans, particularly those without bachelor’s degrees, may get overlooked because of this.
The ironic thing is that veterans come with many skills ideal for the workforce. Veterans of all ranks have an inherent respect for structure and discipline - two key cornerstones for model employees. Similarly, veterans of all ranks understand processes and training related to specific tasks. Officers and more-experienced veterans come with natural leadership and management skills, as well as the ability to adapt to changing situations and build and manage teams.
What options exist for veterans? Their ability to fulfill job-market needs isn’t the issue, but connecting the dots between skill set and opportunity remains a problem. VetFran is a unique initiative by the International Franchise Association (IFA) that is focused on getting veterans into the workforce with franchise businesses through financial incentives, training and mentoring. Since the program’s inception in 1991, VetFran has seen more than 2,100 veterans become franchise business owners.
Franchising provides an opportunity for veterans to utilize many of the skills gained during their service. About 15% of franchise businesses - one in seven - are owned and operated by veterans according to a study by the IFA. There’s a reason why this is a good fit; franchises come with a built-in support structure that encourages a combination of teamwork, self-reliance, creative thinking, and proven systems. This structured environment allows veterans to easily step into a new field, knowing that they will have training, mentoring, structured business systems, and support. This assistance allows them to focus on their leadership, work ethic, learning, and team development.
While many people associate franchises with fast food (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Subway, etc.), many opportunities exist outside of the restaurant industry. For example, VetFran participants include AlphaGraphics (leading local providers of print and visual communication), Big O Tires (auto/tire repair), Camp Bow Wow (dog care and boarding), and UPS Stores (logistics and shipping). The amount of franchise options allows veterans of all backgrounds to explore their interests and education while tapping into their military training.
Sonus is a franchisor in the medical industry, bringing world-class audiologists to local markets. For veterans interested in private medical practice - such as a combat medic that has moved on to a specialized education in audiology - a Sonus franchise can provide the best of both worlds.
By using the franchise model, Sonus ensures support, structure, and training - all key traits that work with a military background - and by staying within the medical field, Sonus allows veterans with a medical background to harness their specific skills and abilities, giving them the best opportunity to succeed while pushing forward toward a career in private practice.
Every day, we are all granted the opportunity to give back to the men and women who have sacrificed for our country. For those involved with franchising, it is our responsibility to let veterans know about the programs, training, and initiatives available for them, to give them the most options for life after the call of duty.
After all they have given us, it’s the least we can do.
