Franchising Offers Viable Career Opportunity for Today's Military Veterans

SOUTHBURY, CT--(Marketwired - Jul 22, 2013) - As military veterans transition to civilian life, they face a tight employment market with a saturation of willing candidates. To help military veterans take control of their professional career and future, The Entrepreneur's Source, the nation's leading career and franchise business coaching network, shares why franchising is a viable option for today's veterans looking for a sufficient way to achieve their desired Income, Lifestyle, Wealth and Equity goals.

"As they return stateside, our service men and women should ride the crest of the economic recovery by taking advantage of franchise business opportunities," said Terry Powell, CEO and founder of The Entrepreneur's Source. "Franchise ownership provides an established, proven business model, ongoing training and support and an ideal structure for returning veterans to smoothly transition back into civilian life and the working world."

Due to their training and discipline, countless military veterans have found franchised businesses to be a perfect fit for their skills. In fact, one out of every seven franchise businesses are owned and operated by veterans of the U.S. military, according to a recent study from the International Franchise Association (IFA). To put this into perspective, there are more than 66,000 veteran-owned franchise businesses in the United States, which provide jobs directly for 815,000 Americans and generate more than $41 billion in GDP. In fact, since November 2011, when the IFA launched its Operation Enduring Opportunity program, more than 64,000 veterans started careers in franchising, including 4,300-plus new franchise business owners. 

"With prescribed operating systems, franchises are a natural fit for military veterans who are trained to follow standard operating procedures," Powell added. "Besides being coachable and comfortable in a structured environment, veterans offer the ability to make decisions. All franchisors seek these qualities in franchise candidates, making veterans an ideal choice."

To attract qualified veteran candidates, many franchises offer incentives, such as reduced investment fees, through the VetFran program, an initiative led by the IFA to help veterans transition from the military to the business world. Special financing options are also available to military veterans interested in getting started in small business ownership, such as the Patriot Express program offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This loan program streamlines and expedites loans, and includes additional assistance from the SBA and its partners in obtaining financing.

With the vast amount of information and resources available, The Entrepreneur's Source is hosting its Start a Business Weekend virtual franchise expo, July 25-27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT, to help prospective entrepreneurs cut through the clutter and identify opportunities that will help them reach their goals. The virtual expo allows attendees to "walk" into a digital Exhibit Hall and visit the "booths" of more than 90 of the nation's hottest franchise concepts. Participants can chat with representatives about a variety of different franchise brands, learn how to finance their new business, attend keynote presentations, and download informational resources and discover specific opportunities throughout the nation. Business coaches from The Entrepreneur's Source will be available to help aspiring entrepreneurs discover business opportunities that meet their personal goals, needs and expectations. Registration is free at www.StartABusinessWeekend.com.

For more information about The Entrepreneur's Source, visit http://www.EntrepreneursSource.com/.

About The Entrepreneur's Source
The Entrepreneur's Source is North America's leading career and franchise Business Coaching Company dedicated to the entrepreneur, with more than 230 offices in the United States, Canada, and the UK. Dominating the $1.5 billion dollar Business Coaching/Consulting franchise market in North America, the company offers a full range of services to individuals seeking alternate career options and to franchise businesses looking to increase performance. For more information about The Entrepreneur's Source, please visit http://www.EntrepreneursSource.com/.

The Entrepreneur's Source is a trademark of TES Franchising, LLC. All rights reserved.