They’ve earned their medals in the U.S. Armed Forces. Now veterans can prove their mettle in the business world with the Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway, a program that will award more than $1.5 million in business ownership opportunities to 100+ veterans, creating more than 1,000 jobs nationwide.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The contest comes at a time when America's economy is down, but patriotism is high. Maid Brigade, the award-winning house cleaning service and longtime supporter of the military, is acting on both fronts by offering new careers to veterans, a group it considers worthy, qualified, and proven as franchise owners. Currently, 10 percent of Maid Brigade owners are veterans; others in the network come from a range of careers.
The contest will launch on Independence Day, July 4, and conclude on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009. To apply, veterans must visit www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com to complete the form and submit a short essay by September 30 on how their military responsibilities would translate to a successful house cleaning franchise with Maid Brigade.
Maid Brigade will waive its $14,500 Select Market Franchise fee for as many as 100 qualified veteran applicants. Additionally, one grand-prize winner will receive a new Maid Brigade house cleaning franchise operation at zero cost — a total value of $45,000, which includes waived franchise fees, working capital, training, and equipment. Second and third place winners will receive similar packages valued at $27,500 and $17,500, respectively. A Select Market Franchise is designed for smaller geographical regions. Owners manage all business aspects of the operation and oversee a house cleaning staff following Maid Brigade's certified Green Cleaning system.
An Esteemed Panel of Judges
Maid Brigade's four-member panel of judges consists of U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael H. Miller; Ted Daywalt, military veteran and President of VetJobs, the leading military-related job board on the Internet and endorsed by The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Naval Reserve Association and the Veterans of Modern Warfare; decorated U.S. military veteran and Maid Brigade franchise owner Ray Toombs; and Maid Brigade Chairman and Founder Don Hay.
Veterans at the Forefront
“Military veterans have done so much for our country," said Hay of the Maid Brigade franchise network. "This year on Veterans Day, we want to show them our appreciation by giving them their own business, a new career, and comfortable lifestyle." Unlike a typical military career and some other franchises, Maid Brigade franchise ownership is a Monday to Friday business with daytime hours, no nights, and no weekends. It allows time home with one's family and an opportunity for business growth and a high ROI. House cleaning tends to be a recession-resistant industry, and Maid Brigade has weathered previous recessions of the 1980s, 1990s and post-9/11, without a drop in same store sales.
Franchise businesses consider veterans to be excellent franchise owners. They're disciplined self-starters, they embrace teamwork and know how to follow a proven path to success. Maid Brigade's technology-driven business systems, highly standardized house cleaning processes, and ongoing corporate support make its organization an especially good fit for veterans.
Hay and his wife, Maid Brigade Vice President of Franchise Recruitment and self-proclaimed “Navy Brat” Cathy Hay, have always believed in a vigorous commitment to the U.S. military. For years, Maid Brigade has partnered with the non-profit Operation Homefront to provide military families in crisis with free house cleaning services; it has also consistently offered veterans discounted franchising fees and larger territories. Maid Brigade is a longtime member of VetFran, the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, created by the International Franchise Association and supported by the Center for Veterans Enterprise.
One of the contest judges, Army and Navy veteran Ray Toombs, and his wife bought their Maid Brigade house cleaning operation in Ohio in 2003. “The military was a big part of my life, and it meant a lot to be recognized for my service by Maid Brigade and VetFran,” Toombs said. Since they launched their business, the Toombs’ franchise has experienced 15 to 20 percent growth per year. Other couples also own Maid Brigade operations; system-wide the network of house cleaning franchises comprises 17 percent couples, 48 percent men, and 35 percent women as owners.
While Maid Brigade has a long and rich history of supporting veterans, a new bill, the Help Veterans Own Franchises Act (HR 2672), has recently been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage other franchise businesses to offer discounts for veterans interested in buying a franchise.
Detailed Veterans Franchise Giveaway rules are available at www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com. Veteran applications are due by September 30, 2009. |
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