3 Compelling Reasons Veterans Succeed With a Marco’s Pizza Franchise
Military training and Marco’s franchise ownership go hand-in-hand
With the war in Iraq over and the war in Afghanistan winding down, thousands of American troops are coming home with skills tailored more to the battlefield than the market.
They may not realize how their unique backgrounds make them perfect candidates for Marco’s Pizza franchise ownership.
According to the International Franchising Association’s VetFran website, there are more than 66,000 veteran-owned franchises that employ 815,000 Americans and generate more than $41 billion in GDP. With its proven track record of success — Marco’s has posted positive same-store sales increases almost every quarter for the past four years — Marco’s may be the best franchise for veterans, and veterans are especially well-suited for franchise ownership.
Here are three reasons why:
Leadership. Military training emphasizes the importance of operating in high-stress situations and following a chain of command. In the business world, leaders set the tone for their team and must be able to make decisions quickly. In franchising, it’s especially important for someone to function as a leader while following established processes.
Teamwork. In the armed services, you have to know you can rely on the person next to you to have your back in an emergency. That’s why there are squadrons, platoons and units — everyone functions better as a team. In the Marco’s franchise system, you rely on your fellow franchisees to share best practices and on the corporate team in Toledo to provide the support you need.
Self-discipline. All those push-ups and early-morning runs weren’t for nothing. Veterans, more than anyone, know the meaning of self-discipline. It’s valuable in a military unit and in business. Business owners have to exercise self-discipline to lead a crew, market the business daily through community involvement and keep the momentum going.
Kevin Wilkerson and his wife, Laurel, both had lengthy careers in the military before becoming Marco’s franchisees. The two now own seven Marco’s stores of their own and oversee 14 total as Area Representatives in Edmond, Okla. They were Marco’s Multi-Unit Franchisees of the Year in 2012.
“With Marco’s, the operational aspect replicated what I had done in the military in the past,” Kevin says. “Every day we’re dealing with hiring, firing, benefits, certainly all the marketing and market analysis, how to retain customers and get new customers, training, day-to-day operations in stores, development of new stores, site selection, construction, management — all the logistics.
“I really enjoy developing young leaders, whether it’s their first job or they’re starting a new career,” he says. “I enjoy working with those people and seeing them blossom.”
The only chain founded by a native Italian, Marco’s Pizza is a cut above other franchises because we believe in making pizzas like they did in the Old Country. We make the dough fresh in the store every day and use only fresh, never frozen premium meats, vegetables and cheeses. Customers can taste the difference.
Marco’s Pizza has 379 stores in 29 states and more territory availability than any of the top pizza delivery franchises. Marco’s participates in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program, which means we offer a $5,000 discount on our franchise fee to those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. This discount opens up opportunities for some veterans who might otherwise have difficulty affording the fees.
We already know veterans in general are highly trainable, and we will train them in all of our processes and proven methods of success. We welcome veterans into our system. If you’d like to learn more, fill out the franchise report form on the right or call us at 1-800-262-7267.
