Franchise Discounts: Straight from the veteran's mouth

VetFran is a program created to help veterans who want to own a franchise. We thought it would be interesting to talk to a real life veteran who actually took advantage of VetFran to get the real scoop, so we interviewed Lenny Geibel, owner of Spring-Green Lawn Care in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Lenny came out of the Airforce in 1993 after spending four years as a ground radio maintenance technician. He returned to corporate America and worked as a cable technician for Bell South - until an injury kept him from returning to work. He decided that owning a business was a good alternative and proceeded to research business opportunities. That's when he came across the Spring-Green Lawn Care franchise, one of 200 VetFran participants.

Q: How did you learn about the VetFran program?
A: Spring-Green made me aware of it. One of the reasons I decided to go with Spring-Green is because they do take care of veterans.

Q: What did the program do for you?
A: It gave me a 25% break on my $35,000 franchise fee, which is not too shabby. I was able to use that money to turn back into the business, which helped me ramp up a little quicker than normal.

Q: What did you learn in the military that has helped you run a successful franchise?
A: The discipline and diligence that the military will instill in a person is number one. Attention to detail has really helped me, too, especially in the lawn care industry where it's critical to have an exacting eye. And perseverance and a determination to win, to succeed. Before I went into the military I'd have to say that I was your typical shiftless teenager. The military helped me get my priorities and my morals straight and that has translated well to running a business.

Q: Would you recommend franchising to other veterans?
A: Absolutely. It's a great system and following a system is definitely something that translates from the military. It's just a natural fit.

Q: Any advice on finding a good franchise that works with veterans?
A: Go to the VetFran website and look at the list of providers there. Try to find the kind of business that you think would suit you, your personality, and your market. It's a great resource that can give you a nice little leg up that your common (civilian) person doesn%u2019t enjoy.

If interested in VetFran participating franchises companies, go to www.veteranfranchises.com