Serving in the U.S. military is an experience unlike any other, regardless of which branch you served with or what jobs you trained for. Unfortunately, it can be a challenge to make the transition back to the civilian workforce after your service is through. You may feel like a traditional job doesn’t fit you just right, and many of your skills from the military may not transfer over to a new job. For this reason, we’re proud to support veterans in becoming the owner of their own business through our men’s grooming franchise opportunities. The skills you developed during your service could very well transfer into becoming a successful Strategic-Partner with The Gents Place.

How Military Characteristics Transition to the Civilian Market

Throughout history, many veterans have turned to entrepreneurship after their service, and often they find great success. Some of our nation’s leading companies, including Walmart, Nike, and FedEx, were started by veterans. Many veterans possess characteristics that make them amazing business owners, whether by joining the team of an established franchise brand or striking out on their own.

Those who have served in the U.S. military know the values and skills instilled in service members, such as teamwork, loyalty, and leadership. As a veteran, you probably work well under incredible pressure and are a natural-born leader. You may have experience evaluating and managing risk and are familiar with how to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves. You can juggle the stress of performing a variety of roles and can get things done with limited resources and personnel. Regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in, you have what it takes to accomplish your goals and move forward—an invaluable skill as a franchise owner.

Veterans are 45% more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have support. Joining a franchise brand is an incredibly popular choice for many veterans who want to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves. Joining a franchise provides veterans access to support and resources they can utilize to grow their business, but allows them to enjoy financial and personal independence.

The Steps to Transition to Civilian Entrepreneurship

As a veteran, you have a variety of resources and advantages when it comes to starting a business of your own. It can feel overwhelming at times, but there are some basic steps to follow on your journey to a successful business.

1. Gather Resources

As a veteran, you may be used to working with limited resources, support, and options. The good news is, that doesn’t have to be the case. There are dozens of non-profit and government organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurship and small business assistance to veterans. Two excellent resources to begin your search are:

• VetFran: An initiative by the International Franchise Association to provide access to franchising opportunities and resources for veterans and their families.
• SCORE:  A non-profit organization that helps entrepreneurs get started. Check out their list of resources here.

2. Review Your Skills

Take full stock of your experiences, training, and skills that you have acquired throughout your experience. You may want to take some notes so you can see what you have available. The next step is figuring out how to apply it. Specific training, such as mechanical work or electrical work, can easily transfer to civilian jobs. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck as an artilleryman. You still have plenty of skills to bring to the table, you just need to learn how to market your first product—yourself.

Concrete skills are a start, but soft skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, the ability to work under pressure, and the ability to plan ahead, are vital to entrepreneurship. These skills often aren’t taught, but rather are gained through experiences. You most likely understand what it takes to lead, communicate with a team, and work together to accomplish a common goal. Laying out your soft skills and experiences in a résumé-style layout can be especially helpful when drawing parallels between military experience and civilian business issues.

3. Assess Your Opportunities

If you haven’t started looking for opportunities, it’s definitely time to do so. You may find your skills leading you to one particular industry or another. Perhaps you’re looking for a unique opportunity that brings a service or product to your market for the first time. At The Gents Place, we seek to bring premier men’s grooming services to gentlemen everywhere by going above and beyond a standard haircut and a shave. If you understand the power of a good haircut and grooming services, you may be interested in becoming one of our Strategic-Partners and bringing world-class grooming services to the gentlemen in your community.

4. Get Training and Funding

As a veteran, you understand the difference training can make, so you understand why it’s critical to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to succeed before you begin. SCORE, community colleges, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs often offer training and education resources for veterans looking to start a small business.

Funding is the second part of this equation, since your business needs money to get started. The money to begin your own business can come from a variety of sources, but family, bank loans, and outside investors are common sources. Startup costs can be the biggest hurdle, but once cleared, you’ll find yourself well on the way to becoming a business owner.

Our team at The Gents Place is committed to providing better opportunities for our veterans, as well as offering superior grooming services for men across the country. Do you think you have what it takes to become a Strategic-Partner? Then get started by discovering our franchisee process today!

Contact our team to learn more. Call (888) 463-2145 today.