Brothers Partner in Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise, Providing Opportunities for Other Vets and Aspiring Business Owners
- After serving in the military, brothers Zach, Matt and Jake Lethbridge followed the path of other veterans in franchising with their investment in Kitchen Tune-Up serving Fredericksburg and Stafford, Va., and surrounding areas.
- The Lethbridges’ support for their community and other veterans contributed to their being named Franchisees of the Year in 2022 by the International Franchise Association.
- The Home Franchise Concepts family of brands, which includes Kitchen Tune-Up, offers a 15% discount on the initial territory fee for qualified veterans.
- About one in seven franchise owners is a veteran, which compares with about one in 20 working adults with military service in the entire United States.
Brothers Matt, Zach and Jake Lethbridge (together above) were always close while growing up. Identical twins Matt and Jake even earned commissions to the U.S. Naval Academy. After the twins’ graduation, and older brother Zach’s from Duquesne University, the Lethbridge brothers pursued military service, which took them in different directions. Zach and Matt were commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Jake in the U.S. Navy. They chose different careers in the private sector after military service, but always talked about combining their complementary skills and experience in sales, consulting and construction to start a business together.
The Lethbridge brothers followed the path forged by many veterans in franchising, ultimately choosing to invest in Kitchen Tune-Up, a member of the Home Franchise Concepts family of brands. The trio opened their location in 2021, serving Fredericksburg and Stafford, Va., and surrounding communities, and were honored a year later by the International Franchise Association as Franchisees of the Year (pictured below with Amanda Twete, director of Bath Tune-Up, Kitchen Tune-Up’s sister brand). Their efforts to support and hire other veterans and young aspiring tradespeople were key factors in their recognition by the IFA. “We work tirelessly to ensure we are always delivering the best work possible, so being recognized for our efforts is extremely fulfilling,” Zach said at the time. “It feels amazing to be a part of a company and franchise organization that truly values our continued success.”
Advantages for Veterans in Franchising
Before zeroing in on Kitchen Tune-Up, the brothers explored numerous avenues. “The driving factor was simply that we wanted to do something where we could work together,” Zach says.
As veterans in franchising, they understood that they could apply skills and traits honed through military service, such as discipline, leadership, resourcefulness, commitment to achieving a mission, and ability to follow and execute proven systems. They liked the advantages of franchising, such as the freedom of entrepreneurship, along with the structure and support to ensure greater success.
“The military is a very process-oriented organization. Our belief was that the franchise model would be similar in that we would have a business model with specific steps and metrics for success, thus offsetting some of the inherent risks associated with small businesses and entrepreneurship,” Zach says.
Increasing numbers of veterans in franchising underscore the strength of the business model. About one in seven franchise owners is a veteran, according to the IFA. That compares with about one in 20 working adults with military service in the entire United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Home Franchise Concepts Incentives for Veterans
As a member of the Home Franchise Concepts family of brands, Kitchen Tune-Up offers additional advantages for veterans, including a 15% discount on its initial territory fee for qualified veterans. Like many other Home Franchise Concepts brands, Kitchen Tune-Up has received accolades including being named to Entrepreneur’s lists of top low-cost franchises and top franchises for veterans.
Other factors that contributed to the Lethbridges selecting Kitchen Tune-Up included the history of the brand, which was founded in 1988; strong support and training provided by Home Franchise Concepts; demand for the franchise’s products and services; operating cost and capital requirements for startup, as well as the economic outlook for the home services industry. “Another contributing factor was that we wanted a business that we believed would thrive in our specific market and territory. We got to know the Stafford and Fredericksburg areas quite well over the years, were very excited about the economic opportunities of the region and felt that Kitchen Tune-Up would be a perfect fit,” Zach says.
He says the support and training provided by Kitchen Tune-Up has been excellent. “Kitchen Tune-Up has an outstanding sales program and they are heavily focused on the future and on exploring ways to make the system even better. The home office is filled with some outstanding people who are accessible and always eager to support,” he says.
Service to Veterans and Community
The Lethbridges have continued to prioritize service as veterans in franchising with Kitchen Tune-Up and members of their community. “We respect and treat our customers’ homes as if they were our homes. And we try to instill that in our installers. That serves as the basis or level of care and attention to detail and quality of work that our customers get from us,” Matt says.
Their commitment to hiring veterans stems from their recognition of the skills and dedication vets offer, as well as their interest in contributing to the well-being and prosperity of the veteran community. The brothers have also supported their local Spotsylvania County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Program, and even hired some of the young people in the program who aspire to become entrepreneurs and trades people. “Several employees have been truly integral to the company’s growth and have in many ways even become like family,” Zach says. “Their commitment to continuous learning and mastery of their craft is evident in the exceptional quality of work they deliver, making them an invaluable asset to our company.”
About Home Franchise Concepts
Home Franchise Concepts brands include AdvantaClean, Aussie Pet Mobile, Bath Tune-Up, Budget Blinds, Concrete Craft, Kitchen Tune-Up, Lightspeed Restoration, PremierGarage, The Tailored Closet and Two Maids. Since starting with a single brand in 1992, Home Franchise Concepts has become one of the largest home services franchisors, with over 2,600 franchised territories in North America. Many Home Franchise Concepts brands consistently are named among the top franchises in the industry by Franchise Business Review, Entrepreneur and Franchise Times, receiving recognition as top franchises for veterans, top low-cost franchises, top new and emerging franchises, top home-based franchises and fastest-growing franchises.
For more information about franchising opportunities, visit Home Franchise Concepts’ website.
