A Qualitative Study: Military Veterans and Franchise Ownership

This study focuses on the military experience and motivation to become a franchise business owner. Previous research indicated franchisees who were military veterans had a significantly higher level of job satisfaction in owning and operating a franchise compared to franchisees with no military background. This study attempts to provide answers to important research questions like how and why military experience influences satisfaction in owning a franchise. Seven franchise business owners who served in the military participated in this qualitative study using a process of surveying, coding, and thematizing to answer this research inquiry. The findings of this follow-on study indicated veterans had strong negative sentiment towards bureaucracy, however did value the positive aspects of systems within the franchise construct. In addition, the veterans valued their prior learning related to military experience and leadership and perceived it as a key strength towards successful franchise leadership and business ownership. One of the main aspects of business ownership and leadership that veterans valued more than other concepts was control, which connects to the traditional aspects of control within the business profession