#vetfran

FASTSIGNS®, the leader in signs, graphics, and visual communications, has been named one of Entrepreneur magazine’s Top Franchises for Veterans, ranking #5 out of 150 in 2025. This marks eight years in a row the brand has earned recognition for supporting veterans in business ownership.

Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging, and FASTSIGNS is committed to helping veterans and first responders succeed through franchise opportunities. As part of VetFran, FASTSIGNS offers 50% off the initial franchise fee and reduced royalties during the first year.

“Our veterans' dedication, leadership, and commitment strengthen our entire network,” says Mark Jameson, Chief Development Officer at Propelled Brands.

I know, I know, I've been quiet.  Fact is, I have been working on giving back.  Sometimes I feel a little helpless when it comes to the big causes.  Well, NO MORE.  THIS little cleaner is off to make a BIIIIG difference.  It all starts with me, right?

We all know I am proud to be a green cleaner.  But there are bigger goals I have.  For one, I am so proud to support our troops and deployed servicemembers as well as their families.  That's why I am a member of Vetfran which helps vets establish their own businesses after their military service.

I saw my coworker running around sending care packages like crazy, and decided, "hey! I can help with that!"  I called the BAy Area USO and the next thing I know, we are running a USO drive!  I even created a website for it, www.stratusgivesback.com.

So look to me for updates this week... I am looking forward to making a difference.  Our goal is 200 pounds of materials for servicemembers in Bagram AFB in Afghanistan.  Think you want to help?  Drop me a line!!!

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.

On November 2, IFA members participated in a webinar with Aneesh Chopra, the Chief Technology Officer of the United States, to preview the Veterans Job Bank, which President Obama unveiled during a White House press conference Nov. 7.  The Veteran Job Bank is part of the National Resource Directory, a resource directory for veterans that will provides one site that veterans can use to search for job opportunities as they transition back into home life.  

Beginning today, IFA members and all employers can use this new search tool designed to help connect veterans with employers looking to hire them. It already searches over 500,000 job postings and is growing. In a few easy steps, companies can make sure the job postings on their own websites are part of this Veterans Job Bank.

All of these services can also be accessed by visiting www.whitehouse.gov/vets.

To develop the site, Mr. Chopra and his team developed a schema that any career site or career page can use to tag a job so the job opportunity automatically appears in the Veterans Job Bank.  This tagging schema can be implemented three different ways and is easily integrate with any web site.  By using this tagging schema to post your jobs in the Veteran Job Bank, you are not only finding qualified workers, you are helping those who served and most importantly helping grow U.S. economy.

For more information about how IFA members can use the tagging schema to list their job opportunities targeted toward veterans on the Veteran Job Bank, please visit The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.