Served in the armed forces? This new initiative is for you

The British Franchise Association’s latest marketing campaign is aimed specifically at ex-military personnel who want to start their own business

The British Franchise Association has recently launched a campaign aimed at a particular demographic of potential franchisees.

Following on from the success of our ‘Franchise Balance’ initiative - which targeted people looking to achieve a better work-life balance - this latest campaign is focused on those who are looking to the future having served in the forces.

Great franchisees

It’s become a well-accepted fact in the franchise sector that ex-military personnel make great franchisees and there are many examples that support this premise.

In our ‘Life After The Military’ campaign, we profile 25 separate case studies from within the bfa membership. Most provide specific relatable examples for those considering this path to a new career.

From the retired pilot in the South African Air Force, who became a successful ActionCOACH franchisee by helping other businesses to improve, to the former RAF franchisee who became disillusioned with corporate life and invested in a Trophy Pet Foods franchise 20 years ago, there are many stories that bear out the alignment between these two worlds.

Reducing the risk

At a time when an increasing number of people are turning their back on the sometimes constraining world of the traditional nine to five, franchising allows those who want to be their own boss to do so without shouldering the burden of risk that’s so often associated with starting out on your own.

As we say at the bfa, franchising is a way of going into business for yourself, but not by yourself.

The resilience of the sector during the recent extraordinary and challenging trading conditions should also prove attractive to those looking for stability on leaving the military.

Many franchised businesses have displayed an incredible ability to adapt to a landscape that Association shifted more rapidly than we’ve witnessed in living memory.

A lot of franchises have thrived due to shifting customer behaviours and many more still stand poised and ready to grow.

Key qualities

One of the reasons franchising is a good fit for ex-military personnel is that many of the attributes they’ve developed serving their country are similar to the ones successful franchisees possess.

Qualities such as integrity, honesty and a determination to succeed are hugely important. On top of that, team building and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work to clearly defined processes, are also crucial.

Franchising is a vast and varied sector, encompassing many types of business; from executive consultancy to drain cleaning, from children’s swimming classes to grounds maintenance, the list is endless.

Because of this, the possibilities are almost endless when it comes to choosing a franchise.

You can download the free Life After The Military guide at thebfa.org/life-after-the-military

The author

Pip Wilkins is CEO of the British Franchise Association.