Veteran-owned small businesses are a significant and rapidly growing sector of America’s economy. According to Veteran Round Table, there are approximately 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. employing over 5.8 million people – and this number is expected to grow in 2024. From discipline and patience to purpose and teamwork, veterans have a variety of skills and attributes making them well-suited for entrepreneurship. Whether they are starting a new career or going back to school, there are a plethora of opportunities for veterans to start their own businesses or join existing ones like franchises. Many veterans, like me, have found franchising to be a proven pathway to entrepreneurship and successful business ownership. Many of the skills I learned during my time in the military have benefited my portfolio and have shaped the business owner I am today.
It’s been a long journey from active military member to veteran franchise owner. Growing up, I knew the military was going to be my initial career path. There were two main reasons behind that decision. The first being I’ve always been a proud patriot. The idea of defending my country and its values resonated deeply with me. Our nation’s emphasis on freedom held a special place in my heart and I believed fighting for my country was the right thing to do. The second reason was my love of aviation. I’ve been fascinated with airplanes for as long as I can remember. I even started down the path of becoming a pilot by enrolling in Southern Illinois University’s aviation program. However, somewhere along the line, I realized I could combine my passion for flying with my love for America by taking a military route instead – and that’s exactly what I did.
Then I was off – heading to bootcamp and diving into technical school immediately after. Initially, I spent three years in the Air Force as part of the National Guard. I preferred being part of the National Guard because its state directed rather than national, meaning I could keep my civilian life while still serving my country. To get the job I wanted, I signed up for delayed entry and was able to serve locally in Illinois. This meant committing to one weekend a month at the base and two-week deployments each summer. Juggling my military duties while having a full-time job wasn’t easy, but I was young and managed to find a balance that worked for me. My duties shifted after 9/11 when my home base was relocated, leading to my honorable discharge. From there, I moved into the Ready Reserve where I stayed for the next decade.
After my time in the military ended, I explored other career paths and decided to pursue business. Prior to becoming a multi-unit franchise owner, I started my own lawn maintenance company in 2009. Wanting to stay connected to the military and better my community, I continuously offered complimentary lawn care services as part of GreenCare For Troops, a needs-based program dedicated to taking the burden off the families of active-duty deployed service members. Simultaneously, I started building my business portfolio which sparked my interest in franchising. In 2023 I decided to invest in The Cleaning Authority, a residential cleaning franchise within the Authority Brands home service franchise portfolio. I saw franchising as a smart business investment because I knew there were established systems in place I could utilize and learn from. Operating under a franchisor, I had access to training sessions, networking opportunities, marketing tactics, advanced equipment and technology, and so much more, which made launching my business much easier. After a successful year with The Cleaning Authority, I was interested in additional franchising opportunities within Authority Brands. I knew I’d have a solid team in place to support me and access to necessary resources to fuel my new company’s success. Then I heard of Authority Brands’ most recent acquisition – Lawn Squad. With 15 years of lawn care experience under my belt and familiarity with the Authority Brands system, I knew operating a Lawn Squad franchise would be a natural fit. I was also confident Lawn Squad’s brand awareness throughout the Midwest would prove appealing to future hires and clientele. I decided to sign on as one of the brand’s first business owners in late-2023 and have been converting my existing lawn care business ever since. I’m grateful to have retained 90% of my staff and look forward to getting my business up and running. I plan to open my first location in Aurora, IL this March and a second in Nashville, TN in 2025.
The new year is a popular time to reconsider one’s professional future. This especially holds true for veterans looking to embark on new adventures. Luckily, there are resources available to assist in the transition from military to civilian life, including those in career development. For veterans who appreciate structure, like me, owning a franchise can be a perfect hybrid between working for an organization and starting a business from scratch. Not only do franchisors actively seek out veterans as potential business owners, but many offer special discounts or support programs like VetFran® Program to help create a solid business foundation. As International Franchise Association (IFA) members, my franchising concepts – The Cleaning Authority and now Lawn Squad – offer these incentives, as do many other concepts under the Authority Brands umbrella. Like the military, franchises are made up of different sectors all with one common goal. Regardless of the industry, veterans can carve out post-military careers that interest and empower them, all while serving their communities and relying on skillsets built during their time served.
After 13 years of dedicated military service, John Garretson leveraged his experience and embarked on a new mission as a franchise owner in the lawncare industry. He will operate Lawn Squad of Aurora, Illinois as of March 2024 and plans to open a second location in Nashville, TN in 2025.