While veteran employment has been making gains in recent years, Army veteran James Campbell saw firsthand what it’s like to make the transition to civilian life when he retired from the Army after a 30-year career.
Faced with a struggling economic climate and lack of fulfilling opportunities, James had to find a way to discover what his next career would be – and he found it in franchising.
Upon retirement, James began looking for his next venture, and ultimately decided to pursue his longtime interest in real estate. Unfortunately, the housing market was difficult to break into at the time due to its instability, but James knew there was one thing that could be counted on: rent. Tenants had to pay their rent every month, and so he decided to pursue a career in property management, an industry fueled by the millions of Americans who choose to rent. James found Real Property Management, purchasing his first franchise in 2012 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Real Property Management is the leading property management franchise in the nation, with over 280 locations across the United States. The brand has been consistently recognized as a leading franchise for veterans, receiving awards including Franchise Times Magazine’s 2016 Best for Vets, Franchise Business Review’s Top 100 for Vets, and Military Times’ 2016 Best for Vets.
James was attracted to Real Property Management because of its brand experience, reliability, and generous discount for veterans. He knew he was in good hands with Real Property Management’s franchise blueprint, along with the significant support and resources the home office offered to new franchisees. He hit the ground running, and began making a profit after only eight months in business.
James is now the franchise owner of two Real Property Management offices, managing small teams at both locations. Although he still handles the high-level marketing and financial oversight for the offices, he is able to delegate a majority of work to his teams – a skill set the military prepared him well for. The leadership skills and work ethic he acquired from the Army translated well into his new role as a business owner and leader. His thoughtful delegation also allows him time to spend with his wife and kids, allowing him to achieve the highly sought after work-life balance.
His advice for other veterans looking to find their next ventures is to also look at franchising opportunities. James recommends doing your due diligence by researching revenue streams both month-to-month and year-to-year. Real Property Management worked for James because he was able to expand his property base every month, allowing his revenue to consistently grow, and add new employees as his revenue allowed.
“Franchising was the perfect opportunity for me to achieve everything I wanted after my military career,” said James. “Real Property Management allowed me to gain financial stability, more time with my family and the opportunity to own a business I’m passionate about.”