Best for Vets: Franchises 2011

Military Times EDGE invited franchise brands that met three criteria to participate in the "Best for Vets: Franchises" feature by sending their most recent Franchise Disclosure Document to the franchise research firm FRANdata and answering a survey about their veteran incentives. Those companies:

Started franchising before 2007.
Had at least 50 franchised units.
Had a minimum and maximum initial investment that averaged $750,000 or less.

With data from the FDDs of participating brands, we eliminated franchises whose total number of franchised units had decreased in the previous two years.

We evaluated the veteran incentives of the remaining brands by comparing the offered savings to the initial investment costs to see where they went the furthest. We then deducted points for any restrictions on the offer and added points for how many years the incentive has been given.

The "good, better, best" categories on the chart reflect our evaluation of the strength of the veteran incentive only. Franchise brands are arranged alphabetically within those categories.

Data on units, growth, continuity, investment and royalty is from latest available Franchise Disclosure Documents. Veteran information was reported by franchisers.

Click on the (+) for more information about each franchise.

Brand	Franchised units	3-year growth	Continuity	Initial Investment	Royalty
BEST
American Poolplayers Association (+)	296	5%	97%	$17k–$20k	20% of weekly team fees or $2.50 per team
Vet-Owned Units: n/a Franchise Fee Discount:: $3,750 Other Incentives: N/A
Coverall (+)	5,513	9%	92%	$6k–$36k	5% of monthly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units:206 Franchise Fee Discount: $5,275 Other Incentives: N/A
FETCH! Friendly Neighborhood Pet Care (+)	205	42%	95%	$23k–$37k	5% of monthly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: n/a Franchise Fee Discount: $3,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Handyman Matters (+)	124	4%	92%	$57k–$115k	6% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: n/a Franchise Fee Discount: $3,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Mr. Appliance (+)	138	10%	82%	$40k–$91k	4-7% of gross weekly sales
Vet-Owned Units: 21 Franchise Fee Discount: $6,000 Other Incentives: additional discounts from vendors
Mr. Electric (+)	140	1%	84%	$71k–$169k	5-7% of gross weekly sales; minimum license fees vary from greater of 3% of gross sales or $100-$800 payments
Vet-Owned Units: 31 Franchise Fee Discount: $6,500 Other Incentives: additional discounts from vendors
Mr. Rooter (+)	255	16%	89%	$55k–$151k	5-7% of gross weekly sales; minimum license fees vary from greater of 3% of gross sales or $100-$1,400 payments
Vet-Owned Units: 5 Franchise Fee Discount: $6,500 Other Incentives: additional discounts from vendors
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits (+)	1,539	1%	97%	$354k–$442k	5% of weekly gross sales.
Vet-Owned Units: n/a Franchise Fee Discount: $30,000 Other Incentives: Royalty reduced to 2% during first year
Rainbow International Restoration & Cleaning (+)	206	24%	89%	$156k–$189k	4-7% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: n/a Franchise Fee Discount: $6,500 Other Incentives: additional discounts from vendors
Roni Deutch Tax Center (+)	72	350%	87%	$27k–$100k	13.5% of monthly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: 4 Franchise Fee Discount: $4,000 Other Incentives: N/A
The Grout Doctor (+)	58	9%	82%	$22k–$29k	6-9% of monthly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 10 Franchise Fee Discount: $4,000 Other Incentives: N/A
BETTER
ACFN (+)	112	29%	100%	$51k–$91k	7.5% of gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 22 Franchise Fee Discount: $1,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists (+)	116	15%	88%	$108k–$231k	5% of gross revenues on repairs
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount: $2,100 Other Incentives: N/A
Always Best Care Senior Services (+)	58	241%	100%	$50k–$91k	6% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: 11 Franchise Fee Discount: $1,975 Other Incentives: N/A
American Leak Detection (+)	137	2%	100%	$83k–$234k	6-10% of gross volume
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount: $5,000 Other Incentives: N/A
BrightStar Healthcare (+)	141	422%	97%	$91k–$156k	4-7% of annual revenue
Vet-Owned Units: 10 Franchise Fee Discount: N/A Other Incentives: $2,500 toward system, advertising fees
ComForcare Senior Services (+)	129	39%	93%	$80k–$115k	3-5% of gross sales; minimum of $250 per two- week billng period after 9 months
Vet-Owned Units: 3 Franchise Fee Discount:: $3,950 Other Incentives: N/A
Comfort Keepers (+)	559	6%	95%	$57k–$79k	3-5% of gross sales; minimum of $300 per month
Vet-Owned Units: 2 Franchise Fee Discount:: $3,850 Other Incentives: N/A
Five Star Painting (+)	64	60%	96%	$40k–$87k	2-5% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $1,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Grease Monkey (+)	245	5%	99%	$193k–$347k	5% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: 80 Franchise Fee Discount:: $10,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Great Harvest Bread Co. (+)	193	4%	98%	$90k–$705k	4-7% of monthly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $5,250 Other Incentives: N/A
Maaco Auto Painting & Bodyworks (+)	434	3%	96%	$342k–$386k	9% of weekly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $10,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Maidpro (+)	113	16%	97%	$19k–$38k	3.5-6.5%; based on monthly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 0 Franchise Fee Discount:: $4,200 Other Incentives: N/A
Marco's Pizza (+)	166	48%	97%	$174k–$369k	5.5% of net sales, up to a maximum of 6%
Vet-Owned Units: 3 Franchise Fee Discount:: $5,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Max Muscle (+)	141	4%	89%	$138k–$292k	6% of gross monthly revenue
Vet-Owned Units: 6 Franchise Fee Discount:: N/A Other Incentives: $10,000 toward Max Muscle inventory upon opening
Padgett Business Services (+)	299	7%	91%	$98k–$98k	9% of monthly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: 39 Franchise Fee Discount:: $4,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Pizza Patron (+)	87	36%	100%	$199k–$274k	5% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 0 Franchise Fee Discount:: $12,500 Other Incentives: N/A
Puroclean (+)	291	63%	53%	$69k–$95k	8-10% of monthly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: 20 Franchise Fee Discount:: $2,500 Other Incentives: N/A
Right at Home (+)	206	35%	94%	$64k–$100k	5% of weekly gross billings
Vet-Owned Units: 10 Franchise Fee Discount:: $3,850 Other Incentives: N/A
Rita's Water Ice (+)	560	15%	93%	$193k–$491k	6.5% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 20 Franchise Fee Discount:: $17,500 Other Incentives: N/A
Sport Clips (+)	650	30%	97%	$153k–$277k	6% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 67 Franchise Fee Discount:: $2,500 Other Incentives: N/A
The Maids Home Services (+)	1,054	3%	95%	$107k–$157k	3.9-6.9% of gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $4,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Two Men And A Truck (+)	178	11%	96%	$158k–$431k	6% of monthly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $4,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services (+)	377	24%	93%	$52k–$84k	2-9% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $3,595 Other Incentives: N/A
GOOD
Batteries Plus (+)	362	21%	98%	$159k–$314k	4% of monthly gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: 4 Franchise Fee Discount:: $10,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Caring Transitions (+)	56	195%	84%	$37k–$64k	6% of gross revenue; $300/month minimum
Vet-Owned Units: 8 Franchise Fee Discount:: $1,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Colors On Parade (+)	224	14%	99%	$21k–$70k	30% of immediate gross revenue
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $1,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Edible Arrangements (+)	783	23%	97%	$147k–$261k	5% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $5,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Liberty Tax Service (+)	3,217	36%	92%	$57k–$70k	14% of monthly gross receipts
Vet-Owned Units: 78 Franchise Fee Discount:: N/A Other Incentives: other incentive?
Massage Envy (+)	606	78%	99%	$301k-$484k	5% of weekly gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: 3 Franchise Fee Discount:: $5,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Smoothie King (+)	550	17%	93%	$142k-$320k	6% of gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $5,000 Other Incentives: N/A
Subway (+)	23,051	8%	96%	$115k-$258k	8% of gross sales
Vet-Owned Units: N/A Franchise Fee Discount:: $7,500 Other Incentives: N/A
The Growth Coach (+)	140	12%	90%	$46k-$75k	$1,000-$1,500 a month
Vet-Owned Units: 10 Franchise Fee Discount:: $1,000 Other Incentives: N/A
U.S. Lawns (+)	219	22%	94%	$49k-$56k	3-4% of gross monthly sales
Vet-Owned Units: 2 Franchise Fee Discount:: N/A Other Incentives: financing for 85% of franchise fee

Franchised units: The number of units owned by franchisees – as opposed to the franchiser – in a system.
3-year growth: The increase in a brand's franchised units over the last three years.
Continuity: The percentage of franchised units open at the end of the most recent FDD year (including units that changed ownership) compared with how many units were open at any time that year.
Initial investment: Estimated cost of training, equipment inventory and other expenses associated with starting a franchise.
Royalty: Ongoing fee paid to the franchiser.
Vet-Owned Units: Number of veteran-owned franchises in the system. Franchisers marked N/A do not track this information.
Franchise Fee Discount:: Savings offered eligible veterans on the initial franchise fee, the upfront fee paid to the franchiser.
Other Incentives: Incentives offered veterans instead of, or in addition to, a Franchise Fee Discount:.

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Best for Vets: Franchises 2011