Franchisors love veterans. They see them as ideal franchisees, thanks to veterans’ built-in leadership skills, ability to follow prescribed systems, and determination to succeed. In fact, many franchisors seek to attract veterans—and thank them for their service—by offering them special incentives, usually in the form of a franchise fee discount.
Every year, we invite those franchisors to apply for our list of the top franchises for veterans, and this year we had almost 500 applicants. We narrowed that pool down by evaluating several factors, including their veteran incentives, how many of their units are owned by veterans, whether they hold any franchise giveaways or other contests for veterans, whether they have veterans on their leadership team, and more. We also considered each company’s 2023 Franchise 500 score, which is based on an analysis of 150-plus data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.
The result is our ranking of the top 150 franchises for veterans, which you’ll find on the following pages. But we also went beyond the numbers and talked to four sets of veteran franchisees about their experiences with franchising: why they chose the brands they did, how their time in the military helped them succeed, and what advice they have for other veterans looking to follow their lead. Our list is not intended as a recommendation of any particular brand, so if you’re considering buying a franchise, you’d be wise to talk to existing franchisees as well—along with reading the company’s legal documents and consulting with an attorney and an accountant—to find out whether the opportunity is right for you.
1 Snap-on Tools
Professional tools and equipment
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
4,485/239
STARTUP COST
$201.4K-$465.4K
FRANCHISE FEE
$12K-$16K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
$20,000 off cost of startup inventory
2 Dream Vacations
Travel agencies
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
1,874/0
STARTUP COST
$1.8K-$21K
FRANCHISE FEE
$495-$10.5K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
30% off franchise fee; training fee waived for business partner; training fee waived for first veteran/military spouse associate, reduced by 50% for additional veteran/military associates
3 Grease Monkey
Oil changes, preventive maintenance, brakes, light repairs
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
254/245
STARTUP COST
$245.8K-$761.95K
FRANCHISE FEE
$39.9K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
$10,000 off franchise fee; rebates on royalty fees for first two years
4 Budget Blinds
Window coverings, window film, rugs, accessories
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
1,472/0
STARTUP COST
$140.5K-$211.8K
FRANCHISE FEE
$19.95K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
15% off franchise and territory fees
5 The UPS Store
Shipping, packing, mailboxes, printing, faxing, shredding, notary services
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
5,568/2
STARTUP COST
$101.8K-$476.99K
FRANCHISE FEE
$9.95K-$29.95K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
$15,000 off franchise fee
6 FastSigns
Signs, graphics
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
768/0
STARTUP COST
$240.1K-$310.6K
FRANCHISE FEE
$49.8K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
50% off franchise fee
7 Matco Tools
Mechanics’ tools and equipment
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
1,942/8
STARTUP COST
$77.2K-$313.6K
FRANCHISE FEE
$8K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
$10,000 off initial inventory
8 Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Smoothies, salads, wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
1,311/1
STARTUP COST
$296.5K-$661.5K
FRANCHISE FEE
$30K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
50% off first-store franchise fee; $5,000 off franchise fee for additional stores
9 Cruise Planners
Travel agencies
TOTAL UNITS
(Franchised / Co.-Owned)
2,719/1
STARTUP COST
$2.3K-$23.5K
FRANCHISE FEE
$695-$10.99K
VETERAN INCENTIVE
$4,000 off $10,995 franchise fee
10 PuroClean
Property damage restoration and remediation
TOTAL UNITS
