Franchising USA - Veteran's Supplement - August 2014

august 2014

Veterans in Franchising www.franchisingusamagazine.com

Liberty Tax

Creating success for Franchisees

6 Takeaways For Stay at Home CEOs can

Soldier’s Heart Help the Franchise Industry?

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To work independently To your workown independently To set work schedule To work independently To set your own work you schedule To work at something enjoy To set your own work schedule To To work at something you enjoy control your own salary To To work at something you enjoy control your own salary To control your own salary

Want To Be Your Want To Be Your Want Be Your OwnToBoss…

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Veterans make great franchise Veterans make greattraining franchise owners!

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V eterans in F ranchisin g S upplement au g ust 2 0 1 4 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 Cover Story

Expert Advice

56 Liberty Tax Offers Financial Security

and Time to Enjoy It

58 Can Soldier’s Heart Help

the Franchise Industry Jim Mingey, Veteran Business Services

Profiles 60 CD One Price Cleaners

Franchisor in Depth

62 7-Eleven

66 Creative Colors International

64 By Renae Christine

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COVER STORY

So, six years ago, after 19 years at the automotive dealership, Scott left to join Nicole in running their four Liberty Tax outlets and doing what they love doing in the off-tax season. A few years ago, that meant driving all over the country and watching their son compete in motocross racing, something most parents just can’t do with their regular work gigs.

“The quality of life in our type of business is just unbeatable,” Nicole said during a recent interview from her home in Rapid City, SD where the couple owns three Liberty Tax franchises. They own another one in Gillette, WY.

In the beginning Although now the couple owns and runs four Liberty Tax outlets, doing over 6,000 tax returns per year and employing just over 100 people in the busy season, prior to Scott joining her, Nicole purchased her first Liberty Tax franchise in 2003. And prior to that, she worked as a Certified Practicing Accountant, first for a business from 1994 - 2000 and then on her own from home for a couple of years.

Liberty Tax offers financial security and time to enjoy it If there were four words that Nicole Ossenfort would use to get people to buy a Liberty Tax franchise, it would probably be what she finds most appealing about owning one: “Eight months of vacation.”

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With tax season only going from January to April, operating a Liberty Tax franchise has afforded Ossenfort and her husband Scott Ossenfort the one thing even better than financial security: time to do the things they love.

In fact, Nicole says, she used to tease Scott that his old job as a retail manager for an automotive dealership used to interfere with her lifestyle because while she had the aforementioned eight months of vacation time, Scott only had three weeks.

While working out of her home she was mostly bookkeeping, but then tax season rolled around and the majority of Nicole’s clients just assumed she’d be doing their taxes, too. So, she did them and that’s when she learned that tax season was highly lucrative for someone with her skill set.

“I just had to figure out how to do the maximum amount of tax returns in the most efficient manner,” she explained.

Because Nicole had grown up around

parents who regularly talked business at the dinner table, she’s always had an entrepreneurial streak in her. So, knowing that taxes were good business, the next step was finding a franchise that she liked and Liberty Tax fit just right.

“If the great culture isn’t enough to get you to inquire about Liberty Tax, perhaps those eight months of vacation just might.”

“I went looking for a franchise business model, knowing that entrepreneurship was in my future,” Nicole said. “I also knew that the franchise business model was my model of choice.”

Once she and Scott had done their research on the then-young company, they flew out to Virginia Beach, VA for a discovery day and were impressed with Liberty Tax’s leader, CEO John Hewitt, and how he ran things.

They also met with the company’s head of marketing, head of technology and several other people, including other franchisees.

“We were just really impressed with what we saw,” she recalled.

Nicole said the factors behind her decision to go with Liberty Tax were the leadership; the superb team at the company; the company’s core beliefs, which matched up with Scott’s and her own; and the clear vision the company had for its future.

The process Nicole described the franchising process at Liberty Tax as extremely streamlined.

She first went for a five-day Effective Operations Training course, where new franchisees learn how to set up and run a successful tax business, which includes choosing the right location.

Nicole said the company helps you narrow your choices down to a few good locations and then someone from Liberty will give you an honest opinion about which location they believe is best. Liberty representatives also offer assistance for lease negotiations.

“I felt fully prepared for that first tax season that got us up and running,” she said.

Support is ongoing, too. In the tax offseason, she said, Liberty Tax has Liberty College, where people can upgrade their skills. It’s called Liberty College because

it actually runs somewhat like a college.

Franchisees can choose from several courses available and only take the ones they feel they would benefit from the most.

You figure out which area your business needs to improve and then you choose those corresponding classes.

The courses include leadership, marketing, guerrilla marketing, financial management and many more. And franchise owners can take courses via the internet if they can’t make it to one of Liberty Tax’s many training seminars across the country. Plus, they can use the web-based courses to help train their own staff.

Nicole has even been privy to the special training Liberty Tax offers to its Top Guns - the biggest producing franchises in the country - and the Elite 18, the top 18 producing franchisees in the country.

Way of life Nicole said Liberty Tax offers a great opportunity not only financially, but in terms of a way of life. However, she noted, you have to follow the Liberty Tax formula and you have to be committed to stellar customer service.

As competitive as Liberty Tax franchisees can be - even with each other, Nicole said, the culture at the company is one of family and support for fellow franchisees.

“The culture is like none other I’ve ever experienced,” she said.

And, if the great culture isn’t enough to get you to inquire about Liberty Tax, perhaps those eight months of vacation just might.

For more information: www.libertytaxfranchise.com 877-285-4237

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Jim Mingey, Veterans Business Services

Can Soldier’s He franchise i

Lately the franchise industry has created some momentum with transitioning military into franchise opportunities.

Pretty much everyone seems to think that the discipline and commitments to mission in the military will convert easily into success in the business world.

There’s also a lot of focus in the media lately on how a great percentage of transitioning service members are afflicted with PTSD and ‘all that entails’. PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can elicit silent responses of fear, pity and other unfounded conclusions from the general public. Traumatic Stress has of course been with society from the dawn of civilization and can crush the spirit out of any affected person. Everyone can and should empathize with the pain of this trauma but no one should generalize about how anyone’s condition could negatively affect a person, and especially how service men and women with Soldier’s Heart might perform in the franchise arena.

I prefer to call PTSD “Soldier’s Heart” as it was referred to after the Civil War. Back then there were no estimates of those affected and most likely just silence as to whether a returning soldier with Soldier’s Heart could run a successful business.

Back then, and probably in most cases now, Soldier’s Heart just always loomed as permanent sadness and most just carried the burden while they dealt with the everyday pressures (both successes and failures) of life.

We live in an “acronym” labeled society where individuals with various short and long term conditions are unfortunately not judged by the sum of their parts. Soldier’s Heart can of course be debilitating at its

eart help the industry?

Jim Mingey

family business assistance and networking advantages which can mitigate risks for Veterans and Franchisors as well.

Veterans with Soldier’s Heart couldn’t control what happened to them, but they can and do control their attitudes now and can master change rather than let change master them. So if they can meet basic financial and other franchise system requirements, they just may have a secret weapon for success.

worst but as an asset if one considers the strength it takes to manage that condition.

In my own family, a WW II combat veteran bore the burden of Soldier’s Heart alone but was strong enough to build a successful business which helped educate 11 children. One of the unseen strengths of the Greatest Generation was how they carried there Soldiers Hearts with dignity and always strived to complete their missions in life, especially their commitments to family and business. Our latest heroes will do the same. They have borne the battle in war and can easily manage the competitive challenges of a franchise opportunity.

One of the most important things

franchisors evaluate when considering a franchise candidate is whether the person has the support of their families.

If a Veteran has the determination and creativity to grow, change and deal with difficult problems then that Veteran probably has the strength to handle typical adversity presented when implementing a new franchise. The Veteran network and support systems available today for Veterans with disabilities are unparalleled and greatly extend multiple business mentoring opportunities. Programs like the SBA’s Boots to Business Reboot and the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), VETtoCEO offer both individual and

And speaking of secret weapons, most with Soldier’s Heart would be eligible for VA financial support to acquire or develop a franchise concept. Veterans can apply for eligibility status for Chapter 31 benefits online. Once confirmed they then develop their self-employment plan which can anywhere from $10,000 to even $100, 000 for those deemed have Category I status. If self-employment is deemed the most appropriate career goal, then VRE financial support can go a long way showing banks and other investors that the Veteran has extra “skin the game”.

However the Chapter 31 process can be arduous and time consuming at VA so patience is an essential quality needed.

However if you’ve got a Soldier’s Heart crisis or see one that needs immediate attention, call 1-800-273-8255 24/7. If, like most Veterans, you’re already managing with your Soldier’s Heart and need to move forward to examine an opportrunity, just contact me.

For more information contact Jim at: 202-349-0860 or jmingey@veteransbusinessservices.us

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CD O ne Pr ice Clea ner s

Dry Cleaners’ Heroes of the Neighborhood Program Gives Back to Military and Families Receiving Medical Care at Military and VA Medical Centers If a picture is worth a thousand words, the CD One Price Cleaner’s Flag Mosaic Project honoring active and veteran military could fill library upon library.

In honor of active and veteran service men and women who have bravely served, suburban Chicago-based dry cleaning franchisor CD One Price Cleaners is partnering with Fisher House Foundation.

The Fisher House program provides a “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.

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The homes provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during a medical crisis. The “Heroes of the Neighborhood” program is a collaboration between CD One Price Cleaners and its valued customers to raise support and awareness for Fisher House Foundation and two of its houses in Chicago and Minneapolis, by creating a customized photographic Flag Mosaic as a visual thank you to all U.S. military and their families.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Fisher House Foundation, an inspiring organization that creates a home for military families who are undergoing serious medical treatments and therapy,” said John Morocco, vice president of CD One Price Cleaners. “As we move through the summer months and toward Veteran’s

Day, our company is creating a way to actively give back to U.S. military families in need and encouraging our generous customers to do the very same.”

From June 15 through October 1, CD One Price Cleaners across Chicagoland and Minneapolis are inviting individuals to donate $5 to Fisher House Foundation and upload a photo of their favorite active or veteran U.S. military soldier.

All appropriate military photos will be accepted. Photos of military personnel will be posted to a special website containing real-time interactive streaming.

The pictures will ideally span a century (from WWI to the present) and serve as a collective tribute to all U.S. military who have served America. The flag mosaic can support up to 9,000 photos.

ABOUT FISHER HOUSE Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.

These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital it serves.

Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths.

Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room.

Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee.

Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $235 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.

For more information visit: www.fisherhouse.org.

Every photo submitted will help construct two 4-by-6-foot American Flag Mosaics that will be presented to Fisher House locations in Hines, Ill., and Minneapolis.

Minn. All collected funds and the mosaic flags will be presented at a very special ceremony at both locations on or around Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, 2014.

Anyone interested in donating to CD One Price Cleaners’ Flag Mosaic Project is encouraged to visit www.cdonepricecleaners.com.

ABOUT CD ONE PRICE CLEANERS CD One Price Cleaners is based in suburban Chicago. Founded in 2001, the company operates 31 franchise and corporate-owned locations in Chicago and Minneapolis. Since opening its first store in Lincolnwood, Ill. in 2001, the company has offered consumers a one-price policy for all men’s and women’s garments and a same-day service policy (in by 10am and out by 5pm) at no extra charge. Follow CD One Price Cleaners on Facebook or visit www.cdonepricecleaners.com

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7-Eleven

®

7-Eleven Increases Franchise Recruiting Incentive With more servicemen and women leaving the military and seeking careers, 7-Eleven, Inc. expands its franchisefee discount for qualified veterans separated within the last five years.

This enhanced program comes as the company observes its 50th year franchising 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. Charles Williams got his first store in Copperas Cove, Texas, using 7-Eleven’s earlier discount program. Now, he and his wife, Theresa will franchise a second store this September in Killeen.

Recognized as “military friendly” by multiple veterans’ organizations and publications, 7-Eleven, Inc. is serious about growing its franchisee ranks with qualified military veterans. The world’s largest convenience retailer has increased its franchising-fee discount to 20 percent capped at $50,000 as an added incentive for qualified veterans who have left the service in the last five years.

7-Eleven will continue to offer a 10 percent franchise fee discount to all other military veterans who meet the company’s franchisee qualifications. The company first instituted the incentive for retired and separated veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2009 to help them achieve the American dream of owning one’s own business.

“More than 100,000 veterans are expected to retire this year,” said Greg Franks, 7-Eleven vice president of franchise systems, “And we believe 7-Eleven offers

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Charles and Theresa Williams

an excellent opportunity for those who dream of owning their own business.

Experience has shown us that veterans have the leadership traits, work ethic and organization skills to succeed in our business.”

2014 marks 7-Eleven’s 50th year of franchising. Its first franchises were part of a 1964 acquisition (of 126 Speedee Mart stores) when 7-Eleven entered the California market. Before then, all of its stores were company-operated. Today, 80 percent of 7-Eleven, Inc.’s U.S. stores are franchised.

7-Eleven has stores for franchising in 30 mainland states. An interactive map on their webiste indicates where they are located.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, military personnel who served on active duty anytime since September 2001 can face greater employment challenges than civilians and older veterans. With a growing number of veterans facing a difficult job market, veteran entrepreneurship offers an

opportunity to start a successful business in which retired and honorably discharged service personnel can use their skills to control their financial destiny.

7-Eleven has been recognized as a military-friendly company for its veteran hiring practices, military veterans’ franchise program and a charitable mission to support military families.

Military veterans serve in every level of the company from top management to field staff to store associates. The retailer also has supported military-assistance organizations including Hire Heroes USA, the USO, Reserve Aid, Warrior Gateway and Operation Mend.

Named one of the Top 100 MilitaryFriendly Employers on a list published annually by G.I Jobs magazine, 7-Eleven was the only food retailer included and, among all retailers on the list, ranked third. Business publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur rank 7-Eleven among the top franchise opportunities.

For more information: www.franchise.7-eleven.com

Are you ready to take control of your own destiny, fulfill that dream and have a better quality of life with financial security? Consider owning a franchise.

A franchise allows you to be in business for yourself but not by yourself, with a proven business system that gives you endless support and branding.

At the West Coast Franchise Expo: • See 200+ leading franchises • Attend 40 educational seminars • Get answers to all your franchising questions

Register today, it’s Free!

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B y Renae Chr istine

6 Takeaways for Stay-at-Home CEO’s

Veteran Entrepreneur Shares Tips for Balancing Business and Family “Don’t answer the phone if you’re not ready to speak; if it’s important, the caller will leave a message.”

Being young and inexperienced can be intimidating for stay-athome entrepreneurs, but it doesn’t mean you’re making mistakes, says veteran businesswoman Renae Christine.

Fresh out of college at 23, she thought she’d done something wrong when the wholesaler for her stationery company assigned her a personal representative.

“In reality I was doing so much business with them that they wanted to ensure my satisfaction,” says Christine, a serial entrepreneur who has created dozens of successful home-based businesses for herself and others. She shares practical how-to advice in her new book, “Home Business Startup Bible,” (http://richmombusiness.com/).

She was the busy mother of a 2-year-old and she’d just returned home – to the mess left in the wake of last-minute packing – when the rep showed up, she says.

“I was mortified when he walked into my

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home/business and he was shocked, but the experience marked my first success as an official business,” she says. “It was actually the beginning of a great relationship.”

“You have to think of your new business as if you are your own boss. Would you ask your boss for a day off so you can sell cupcakes?”

Though it turned out well, Christine says her first years in business would have been much happier if she hadn’t had to deal with her own painful feelings of selfdoubt, embarrassment, guilt, etc.

“The good news is – no stay-at-home entrepreneur needs to feel that way,” she says.

She offers these tips for maintaining professionalism in business without sacrificing – or feeling guilty about – family.

1

Don’t apologize for your kids

We need to stop apologizing for our kids’ squawks and energy while we’re on the phone or in meetings.

Kids are kids and to them, Mommy is Mommy and their home is their home 24/7. If anything, we can all learn from our children and lighten up during business chats.

2

Don’t pick up the phone when you’re not ready

I used to think I had to say yes to everyone, including the telephone whenever it rang. Don’t answer the phone if you’re not ready to speak; if it’s important, the caller will leave a message. Consider an online chat system for your website; I use a free one via craftysyntax.com.

3

Add a disclosure message to your callanswering service

My disclosure indicates the quickest way to reach me, which is chat or email.

Email is quickly becoming everyone’s preferred method of communication anyway, and this way, we all have

a digital trail that will help us stay organized.

4

Say no and don’t apologize for it You can say no to lots of things,

like PTA meetings and extra bake sales

for your kids’ school. When you say yes to those things, you are saying no to

your business. You have to think of your new business as if you are your own

boss. Would you ask your boss for a day off so you can sell cupcakes? Probably not.

5

Pick a neutral location If you need to have business meetings in person, I suggest

choosing a neutral place like a coffee

shop. Don’t allow them to come to your home and, if you can avoid it, don’t go

to their office. If you’re negotiating, this can give them a home-field advantage.

6

Just say it

I continue to attend trade shows.

When I tell companies that I work from home, they might give me an indifferent attitude and hastily move on to chat up a brick-and-mortar owner.

I simply take my business elsewhere; I know the value of my business, and so will another vendor.

About Renae Christine Renae Christine is the owner of By Renae Christine, a company that has launched several successful businesses and has helped launch dozens more for others.

A journalist, she’s known for her popular YouTube videos (search Rich Mom Business channel), which use humor and pragmatism to advise others who want to launch home-based businesses.

She recently published “Home Business Startup Bible,” (www.richmombusiness. com), a comprehensive how-to guide.

Christine is also the founder of the Rich Mom Business University and has come into popular demand as a speaker.

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Creative C olor s I nter national

Creative Colors International

Assist Deserving Veterans According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently more than 130,000 unemployed post 9/11 veterans across the U.S. To assist these deserving veterans in developing job skills and finding rewarding careers, the management team and I decided to launch a new campaign through our franchise Creative Colors International (CCI) – the industry leader in on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, protection and dyeing of leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic and carpeting. In collaboration with USA Cares – a charity that provides financial and advocacy assistance to post 9/11 active duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families – the campaign aims to provide honorably discharged military

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“This two-part program is our small way of giving back to the veteran community as we expand throughout the nation.” veterans the opportunity to become CCI technicians and to also award one qualified military veteran a free franchise.

It is an honor to be able to provide job opportunities to deserving military veterans as a reward for their service and dedication to our country. With nearly ten percent of CCI franchisees coming from a military background, we understand firsthand the value veterans bring as franchisees thanks to the strong personal and professional attributes acquired during their time of service.

We’ve found that military veterans’ personal and professional qualities align perfectly with franchising due to their results-driven nature, discipline to follow

a proven system for success and desire to help others, which are all important traits we look for in our technicians and franchisees. Many military veterans have found success investing in a franchise through CCI as they thrive in an environment where they’re able to serve others, and this two-part program is our small way of giving back to the veteran community as we expand throughout the nation.

The following is a testimonial by Jose del Llano, a military veteran and franchise owner/technician of CCI of Orlando, Fla.: “Coming out of the military, I was looking for a career that would allow me the chance to utilize the leadership and

About USA Cares USA Cares is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that helps post 9/11 military families bear the burdens of service with financial and advocacy support.

Its mission: To help with basic needs during financial crisis, to assist combat injured Veterans and their families and to prevent private military home foreclosures and evictions. interpersonal skills I acquired during my service. CCI offered a strong support system where I could learn by following people who had already succeeded. If you are skilled in communication and self-discipline, and have the passion to do whatever it takes to flourish, joining CCI will allow you to discover your full potential and find success in a lucrative, multifaceted industry.”

Starting Monday, July 7, 2014 through Friday, August 15, 2014, we encourage honorably discharged, post 9/11 veterans nationwide to apply to become full-time CCI technicians as a means to start their new careers by joining forces with successful existing franchise owners.

Each trainee will need to first complete a two-week Certified Technician Training Program at CCI headquarters in Mokena, Ill., in which USA Cares will cover travel expenses. Training will begin on September 2, 2014 and end on September 12, 2014. Additionally, CCI’s nationwide network of franchisees has agreed to donate 5 percent of total profits made on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 as part of the campaign.

During CCI’s Certified Technician Program, veterans will learn the key tasks and responsibilities of a technician, including how to repair, restore and recolor tears, burns, rips and cuts in all types of leather, vinyl, fabric and plastic materials that can be found in the furniture, automotive and commercial markets. CCI technicians are responsible for providing these services on a mobile basis while developing and maintaining customer accounts, preparing customer invoices and providing weekly reports to the company, as well as distributing marketing literature

and explaining the value of CCI’s services/ products to customers. For veterans who attend training and are interested in becoming technicians, if there are no existing franchises nearby, USA Cares will kindly help relocate the veterans to the nearest CCI franchise. For a list of regions where CCI is currently located, visit http:// www.wecanfixthat.com/locations/.

Following training, CCI will launch the second part of our veteran employment initiative with a franchise giveaway contest. All newly trained veteran technicians who are interested in becoming franchise owners will be given the opportunity to apply for a free franchise territory, and the winner will be chosen based on professional, personal and financial qualifications, as well as interviews. We felt it was important to launch a two-part program rather than solely offer training or the franchise giveaway contest so we’re able to provide job opportunities for as many veterans as possible. With CCI being a mobile business, it’s also much more reasonable than many other franchise concepts in terms of financial upkeep and operations which will put the resulting veteran technicians and franchisee in an ideal position for success.

The RSVP deadline for honorably discharged, post 9/11 military veterans nationwide to sign up for CCI’s Certified Technician Program is Friday, August 15, 2014. While USA Cares will be providing travel expenses for veterans to attend the two-week training, all applicants will be responsible for covering their own lodging, food and any other miscellaneous costs during training

USA Cares has responded to over 50,000 requests for assistance with over $11 million in indirect-support grants. Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares web site, www.usacares.org or by calling (800) 773-0387.

About the Author Mark J. Bollman has been the President and Director of Creative Colors International since May of 2000. He started out as a service technician for J&J’s Creative Colors in 1990. Following, he served as a Field Consultant from September of 1991 to November of 1992.

From there, he was promoted to Director of Operations until January of 1995, and then further raised to Senior Vice President from 1995 to 2000.

About Creative Colors International Launched in 1991, the Creative Colors International (CCI) franchise system was created through its affiliate, J&J’s Creative Colors, the original industry leader in refurbishment techniques and systems.

J&J’s Creative Colors was founded in 1980

by Jim and JoAnn Foster. Today, both companies continue to be family-owned and operated by the second generation Foster family. Catering to the abundance of upholstered items in every home, business and vehicle, CCI is the ultimate in on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, protection, and dyeing of leather, vinyl, plastic and fabric.

For more information visit www.wecanfixthat.com.

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