DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, a national home remodeling franchise that grew average location revenue 60% from 2011 to 2014, is offering veterans and their spouses discounts and other assistance to help them become franchise owners.
DreamMaker is no stranger to veteran outreach. Many DreamMaker franchise owners have remodeled homes for disabled veterans — creating more accessible baths and kitchens, and backyard decks with ramps instead of stairs. At the same time, the company has created a path for veterans to move into skilled trades and to become franchise owners.
Several of DreamMaker’s most successful franchisees come from backgrounds outside the construction and remodeling industry. DreamMaker’s business systems, coaching and support help people learn the business and thrive.
“That’s why we’re excited to speak to veterans,” says President and Chief Stewarding Officer Doug Dwyer. He notes that while the discount is a small acknowledgement of the sacrifice and dedication of service members, it pays great dividends, adding that veterans make excellent franchise owners. The exact traits that they learn and express through their service — dedication, honor, commitment to excellence, leadership, attention to detail, perseverance, camaraderie — are the same traits that help a business owner succeed, especially when they are able to work with proven systems and enjoy training and ongoing support.
Dwyer’s mission to help veterans runs deep. His father, the late Don Dwyer Sr., was a visionary businessman who also started the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program in 1991 as a way to thank veterans returning from the first Gulf War. The program encourages franchise companies to offer discounts to make it easier for veterans to start a business. DreamMaker continues that legacy by providing a $5,000 discount to veterans who are starting a DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen franchise.
Financial incentives, mentoring and education about franchise ownership are all part of the VetFran program, which has helped more than 5,000 veterans become franchise business owners since 2010, according to the International Franchise Association.
“If you are a veteran, first of all, thank you,” says Dwyer. “We owe you a tremendous debt. Without the efforts of you and your fellow service members, we wouldn’t enjoy the freedoms that have allowed us to build a growing business based on biblical principles. The VetFran discount is a small token of our thanks.”
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is a remodeling franchise that helps entrepreneurs and remodelers earn strong financial numbers while having a focus on improving their quality of life. The company’s franchisees enjoy much stronger margins than most remodelers — more than 40% gross margin on average — and their customers report much, much higher satisfaction, because the strong margins provide remodelers enough resources to provide extraordinary service. DreamMaker’s business practices are guided by biblical principles of service, respect and integrity — more reasons the company enjoys working with veterans.
“We’ve helped brand new remodelers launch very successful businesses, and have also helped existing remodelers take their operations to the next level by providing training and systems to run a stronger remodeling business,” Dwyer says. “If you are a veteran considering a franchise, and are interested in a creative business that can change lives, I hope you will give us a call.”