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Contact: Terry Hill or Amy Bannon, 202-628-8000
Veterans: 200 Franchise Companies Want
YOU!
(WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2006) - After leaving the Navy and
having successful business careers, Joseph Dondero and John Mann
walked away from their regular paychecks in search of a venture that
could make money while making a difference. That's when they created
Rolly Pollies, a children's gym franchise that offers classes in
gym, creative arts and music as well as summer camps and birthday
parties.
Naturally, the first place the U.S. Naval Academy graduates
looked for highly-motivated, well-disciplined people to help expand
their entrepreneurial venture was among fellow veterans. Luckily for
them, the International Franchise Association had already laid the
groundwork for veterans who want to acquire franchised small
businesses through its Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative,
known as VetFran. Rolly Pollies' founders saw the perfect
match-veterans helping veterans-and became the 200th franchise
system to join the program.
VetFran receives no government funding. It is a simple
but effective concept, IFA President Matthew Shay explained. To
participate, companies must offer veterans a "best deal" financial
incentive to buy one of their franchises. Rolly Pollies offers
veterans a 15 percent discount off the franchise fee of $35,000.
To date, nearly 500 veterans in 45 states have taken advantage of
this program; more than 120 are in various stages of negotiation. A
list of participating companies is available on the association's
Web site, http://click.exacttarget.com/?ffcb10-fe5b1276756c047a7713-fe281573746c0c78711776-ff3115727260,
under "Franchising for Veterans."
"The VetFran program is the franchising sector's way of honoring
veterans for their service, while at the same time attracting
excellent candidates," said the president of the trade association
representing the franchising sector. "Veterans are highly-desirable
franchisee candidates because their military training instills in
them a strong sense of discipline, an ability to lead within a
structured system, and an unwavering belief in core values, which
carries over well to the franchise business."
Already, potential franchisees are benefiting from the Rolly
Pollies' alliance with VetFran. "We have a potential franchisee who
is about to sign any day now and he will be our first franchisee
brought on through the VetFran program," explained Mann. "We think
this program is important, and the ultimate way to make money while
making a difference."
Dondero and Mann sold two of their four franchises to veterans, a
Navy seal in Raleigh and a marine in Tampa, prior to joining
VetFran, but offered a discount to recognize their past service.
VetFran has been recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
as a Support Sector Champion for expanding business opportunities
for veterans.
IFA is the world's oldest and largest trade group representing
the franchising sector. Its membership includes more than 1,000
franchisors, 8,000 franchisees and 400 suppliers.
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Ed. Note:
To obtain a current list of
participating companies and the locations of franchises acquired
through the VetFran program, call IFA Media Relations at
202-628-8000 or email abannon@franchise.org.
To view the list of participating companies, click
here.
JPEG of Rolly Pollies founders John Mann, left, and Joseph
Dondero:
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