Maid Brigade's new program helps veterans clean up
Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Career, Relationships, Recession
One of the most oft-cited benefits to military service is that it gives members training and skills that they can use in private life. But few companies seem eager to help veterans convert these disciplines to civilian employment. In fact, a stint in the military is often not a career salvation but a job killer.A couple of months ago, I wrote about Leon Batie, an Army reservist and Subway restaurant franchise owner who lost his shops while serving in Afghanistan.
Although many deserve some blame for the loss of Batie's business and his credit rating -- including his brother and his business partner -- the fact that one Subway executive pocketed $100,000 from the sale was more than a little disturbing.
So I was reassured by the story of Maid Brigade's Veterans Franchise Giveaway program. Between now and November 11, the Atlanta-based cleaning company is waiving its $14,500 franchise fee for qualified veterans seeking to open their own business. At the same time, it's running a contest for new veterans looking to go into business; the grand prize is a full franchise, valued at $45,000. Second and third prizes are similar packages, worth $27,500 and $17,000.
Don Hay, Maid Brigade's president, explained why the chain is so eager to recruit former soldiers: "We've had good experiences with veterans. They have good training, and know how to follow a system. Also, many are used to managing personnel."
Beyond this, the company uses a quasi-military system to maximize the effectiveness of its employees. As Hay noted, Maid Brigade is top-ranked in support training, and much of its organization -- from the way it divides geographical regions to the awards it gives its employees -- is based on a military model.
One Top Gun/Blue Angel award-winning franchise owner, Bob LoFranco, noted that his Marine training made the transition to Maid Brigade easy: "Everything was structured. Coming from the military, I was able to relate to that. The company wants you to succeed and stands behind everything. They are there for you."
LoFranco, who served in Beirut in the 1980s, worked for various defense contractors and financial institutions after leaving the military. After repeated layoffs and job re-trainings, he decided to go into business for himself. In the four-and-a-half years since he started his Maid Brigade franchise, he has had steady growth, including a 45% revenue increase over the last year.
As Hay noted, even with support from the corporate office, it's a tough time to start a new business. Major banks aren't lending money to new business owners, making it difficult to raise the money to cover start-up costs. Maid Brigade is working with prospective owners to find lenders and often calls on community banks for support.
Still, with franchise fees waived and a business that seems relatively recession-resistant, it looks like Maid Brigade may be a solid option for many veterans.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-20-2009 @ 1:35PM
kmfrost69 said...
Times have certainly changed. Many years ago I applied for a job as assistance to city engineer. After the tests, I was notified that I had the top score. However, I had two military veterans that tested high enough that the job had to be offered to them first. I understood that logic, yet at the time jobs were not hard to get around here at the time. When a veteran comes home and can't return to a job, or find a job something is wrong.
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8-20-2009 @ 3:21PM
Bob said...
Maybe you didn't get the job because of your terrible writing skills.
8-22-2009 @ 12:01PM
Estella Carol Wyatt said...
kmfrost69,
I don't know what Bob is talking about. Your formatting is not A+, but your sentence structure is fine. And nowadays it is always a pleasant of fresh air to read something that is not so spelling-errored that sometimes you can't even make sense of their post.
When even computer programs start showing wretched spelling and grammer, you know this is already a systemic problem with the general American education. The 'dumbing down' of America is no joke-- it's for real. When bloggers stop showing such eggregious reading comprehension skills that they cannot understand a written news article, and ask dumb questions that are already answered in the same article, then I will criticise people like yourself for not putting two spaces between sentences. And when other bloggers don't even know the difference between 'our' and 'are', how can I fault someone who at least knows how to spell (or at least know how to use a spell-checker)?
Keep on blogging, kmfrost69. Like me and Bob, you are easily in the top 10% in the country as far as spelling, grammar and readability go. That still leaves 90% of the American public who apparently believe that learning 7th grade level skills is not necessary to get on with their lives. Now THAT is inexcusably neanderthal...................... . .
8-20-2009 @ 2:52PM
Douglas Gilbert said...
The Army Reserve has a fairly new program called Employer Partnership Initiative, EPI for short. The EPI program has signed over 300 businesses from Walmart, Exxon, USAA, down to mom and pop businesses. The businesses partner with the Army Reserve to assit Army Reserve Soldiers in finding jobs within their company for skills they have. Soldiers are able to go on a website and file their resume with the company and the company can advertise it's job listings there also.
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8-20-2009 @ 4:13PM
carlo said...
had my own bussness for 28yrs made 300thousand $ gov wont give me a loan for nother all those years ans was I work for my self had to 5000 to buy my house from a crook on the street was always a a disabled vet viet nam and u can forget loanns from the gov they say they back a morgage for 387thou but banks wont give u 10 thou count on ur self not the gov vets....
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8-20-2009 @ 5:37PM
Mike said...
Talk about bad typing. I wouldn't loan you money if this is the way you work on a computer. Are you drunk?
8-20-2009 @ 6:59PM
Moe said...
If anyone can clarify what carlo is trying to say here that would be great.
8-21-2009 @ 4:57PM
James said...
I have a hard time believing that you owned, much less ran any type of business with such terrible grammar and sentence structure. Go to school.
8-20-2009 @ 4:32PM
Jim said...
Bob, You are an idiot. KM makes a valid point.
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8-21-2009 @ 1:38AM
Charles Queen said...
I'm a 100 percent disabled vet(nam)When I got out of the military I found it extremely hard to find work .I was T.O. at one point while in the military intelligence field.We did real time ariel survailance so I was well familier with the infra red side looking radr equip and other stuff related to this line of work camera elctronic survaileance equip etc.Anyways every where i went i was always told the same thing and this was well into the 80's too that the vast majority of places don't hire vets from certain branch's of the service mainly because the equipment we used and trained on in the military was and still is usually anywhere from 10-30 outdated when compared with what the public and private sector uses today.The neglect to tell those going into the army for one this stuff.So when they get out their going to find it very hard getting anything that requires technical skills for this reason
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8-21-2009 @ 1:31PM
E 3 said...
You are correct. This was something I found happening to my fellow vets yet to defend the truth my time was usefull that I learned a good bit about engines and engine repair, It was a living I enjoyed my jobs after I got out.
8-21-2009 @ 3:30AM
Russell said...
Remembering the veterans that are yet serving in the armed forces and the dedication they have to making a better world for all multinational Americans, we are a country that lives to help others and our own. Justice for all that gave there all overseas to defend our great nation, and the work of bringing them home safe to the homes and families that make it all worth while. Thank You for doing your duty soldiers and those that help to make this world a better place. God Bless each and everyone that shows there unfailing devotion to the American way of life.
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8-21-2009 @ 11:32AM
eddhino said...
guys need to tell your government to stop leting companies from brining foriegn workers in to take americans jobs in america frim the unemployed you guys read up on globalization and new world order the bushes effed ya guys good no such thing as veterans preference better get ready for the intercoursing gte some ky jelly
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8-21-2009 @ 6:41AM
Gman said...
Being a Military Vet myself, served some great times overseas, been to places no one wanted to go, it just shows that most of Us Veterans can change with the pace, but when the government, stiffles your growth outside of the military, the community acknowledges your service, by not supporting us, either by schooling or loans which are none existant, what are we to do, my era was post Vietnam, I was afraid to mention that I was Military, now there are pats on the back, but, still there is no quick fix for anyone, even the education I recieved after my time in service, is null and void, being disabled is a further demotion in the job search, no employer (atleast locally) wants to have a Disabled Vet in their ranks, it looks good on paper and thats about it, I support the Vets of today, I dont want to see another Vietnam, post Vietnam, happen again, once our government gets thier heads out of thier A__, only then can we provide the means of support for our soldiers and thier families, and the American public, Once a Soldier always a Soldier, and that EPI mentioned above, it does work if you have the skills for the position, but what if your an 11B, Infantry, or just a 11 series?? or even the 13 series, Artillary?? I havent found anything that coincides with my training.....have a great day
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8-22-2009 @ 11:51AM
Len said...
Gman, I left service in July 1969 and was employed within 2 weeks...Remember this:
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all" and
"All beginnings require that you unlock a new door"...
All of you veterans, new and old, don't leave your future to someone else or your boots will surely be stuck in the mud of life...
8-21-2009 @ 10:57AM
Ray said...
First To Carlo.........Huh?????? I think what Maid Brigade is doing is great. There should be other Franchisor's doing the same. I wish this was available when I came home from Nam in '67. Any Vert worth his weight should think very seriously at looking into this great deal. Of course you know working in this type of Business requires man hours, finding capable help and most of all knowing to re-invest back into business. Good Luck to any and all Vet's that take this opportunity. C'mon, business' of the United States, follow in the foot steps of Maid Brigade.
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8-21-2009 @ 2:29PM
psykostx said...
Veterans shouldn't have to find jobs, they should be rich from our using them to plunder other countries. Instead we don't pay them, and TRICK THEM INTO ACCEPTING UP-FRONT BONUSES instead of them COLLECTING INTEREST on their pensions. A Veteran should ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE. We buy colostomy bags and hospital rooms for old farts who smoked too much, but we can't support our promise to build interest for people who spent every day of their young adult lives doing what a schizophrenic gov't tells them to. When the Federal Reserve interest rates were cut during the Bush years, it was to screw the troops over, and screw their families who inversted in bonds. Plain and simple. They should never have to work again. Doesn't mean they can't work, just means that they shouldn't HAVE to. Its a combo of them being young and stupid, and the gov't pulling their heart strings in a glorious scam. I wish all the loudmouths in this country who sit on their ass and get fat while screaming "I hate Arabs and Mexicans and Jews" and sending out troops into battle for no reason other than that... would really shut the hell up and have a coronary already...my God. Go eat some refried McDonalds you F'ing Hicks.
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8-21-2009 @ 3:34PM
sequin said...
These brave men and women gave all.....the very least this country can do is give them a decent job. These young vets will use their GI bills for college, and become the leaders of this nation in another 4 years. They are truly Americas national treasure.
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8-21-2009 @ 4:10PM
Lotek7 said...
Hiring a maid in a recession? Maybe I don't understand what a recession is?I clean up my own house.
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8-21-2009 @ 8:07PM
jason said...
I'm an 11b in the army.....and i was not tricked nor duped into joining as psykostx was implying.I personally think this is a great idea for returning soldiers and am happy to see someone out there is willing to help us.Those of you who offered support thank you, and to those who keep implying that I and My battle buddies are retards who joined for 20.000 bonusus or becuase our heart strings were pulled...... YOU are the idiot .I got no bonus when i joined nor did many of my buddies that serve with me,on monday i reinlist for 4 more years;I have served 2 all ready,again I will not recieve a bonus.When i leave the army in 4 years i will have no skill to take with me......infantryman is not ging to score Me any jobs once i leave,but i have never once thought I made a bad decision by joining.Again thank you to those who offered thier support ....to those who offered nothing but criticism please just be quiet
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