Franchise Consultants Brian Braggs and Rick Giandonato Share Insights on Veterans and Franchising
The franchise industry has a special love for U.S. military veterans. Trained to follow a system, persevere and lead teams, veterans make some of the most successful franchise owners. But did you know that veterans excel as franchise consultants, too?
Here, we talk to Brian Braggs and Rick Giandonato, two IFPG Franchise Consultants who use their leadership and communications skills from the military to help others find financial freedom through franchise ownership. As owners of their own franchise consulting businesses, they have found a new path for themselves guiding and educating hopeful entrepreneurs about the franchise industry.
Although they are from different military branches, they both said the same thing: If you work hard and follow the system, you will succeed as a franchise business owner.
Brian Braggs, U.S. Army Veteran, The Franchise Dream Inc.
Franchise Consultant Brian Braggs says his time in the military gave him the ideal set of intangible skills that help him best serve candidates in his franchise consulting business, The Franchise Dream. These skills include leadership and communication, but most importantly, he says, initiative. “Taking initiative is critical for consultants to make the most of their businesses. For example, taking advantage of weekly learning opportunities and the knowledge of seasoned franchise consultants takes initiative, but are essential to success. And then, of course, so is listening and applying what is learned,” he says. Not only does Braggs think that veterans make good franchise consultants and franchise owners, but he says that in order to recruit more veteran franchisees, franchisors should consider recruiting more veterans on their franchise development teams because “veterans trust other veterans.”
Rick Giandonato, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Franchise Freedom Finders LLC
In any business, you are going to have your ups and downs, and you will get knocked down. Veterans know firsthand how to take a hit and keep going.
Rick Giandonato
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rick Giandonato works exclusively with veteran candidates through his franchise consulting business, Franchise Freedom Finders. He loves working with fellow veterans and says they excel in franchise ownership because they are trained to persevere. “Veterans take an oath to defend the country and risk their lives in doing so,” he says. “Veterans will accomplish any mission no matter the challenges they face. In any business, you are going to have your ups and downs, and you will get knocked down. A veteran knows firsthand how to take a hit and keep going.”
Entrenched in the veteran community, Giandonato is passionate about helping veterans find opportunities through franchising. “As fellow veterans, we have a common bond. A veteran trusts another veteran. As the saying in the military goes… ‘I have your six.’ Basically, it means… ‘I have your back, no matter what!’”
