Leaving the military means choosing a new mission. For many veterans, that mission is business ownership. Franchise opportunities for veterans let you leverage the leadership, skills, and attention to detail you developed in the military to run your own company using a proven brand and playbook, with a support team behind you. Franchising offers a similar path: extensive training and teaching to execute the mission in your territory or community.
This guide walks you through how the franchise model works and how veterans pay for it. It also covers the discounts available to veterans and the industries that often mesh well with military skills. By the end, you’ll know the questions to ask and the resources that can help you decide which franchise fits best.
Key Takeaways
- Veterans bring leadership and process-driven habits that map directly onto the franchise model.
- VetFran connects veterans with brands that offer real incentives, and its Star System sets minimum fee discounts of 10%, 15%, and 20%.
- Franchise costs range widely, often $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and SBA resources plus veteran discounts lower the barrier.
- Rita’s gives qualifying honorably discharged veterans a 20% reduction on the initial franchise fee, with simple kitchen operations that don’t feature stoves, ovens, or other heating elements.
Why Franchising Is a Strong Next Move for Veterans
Franchise opportunities for veterans are business-ownership paths where a veteran buys into an established brand. Many of these paths add veteran-specific perks such as reduced fees and extra training. You get a tested system and a support team instead of building a company from scratch.
The appeal is easy to understand. In the service, you learned to lead and follow a clear playbook, and a franchise runs the same way. You operate a documented system and coach a team to meet clear standards.
There is another reason franchise opportunities for veterans fit so well. Franchisors have already worked through branding questions and supply planning. You focus on running your shop and serving your neighborhood, which plays to skills you built on active duty.
Franchising is also a large and growing part of the economy. The IFA’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook projects about 845,000 franchise establishments and nearly 8.9 million jobs for the year. Output is projected at roughly $921.4 billion. This massive market means there are several opportunities for veterans across myriad industries.
That scale means more brands and more open territories to choose from, so you can find a concept that fits your life. You can start by reviewing a single Rita’s franchise opportunity to learn how one model works up close.
What Is VetFran and How the Star System Works
VetFran is the veteran program you will hear about most as you research. The VetFran program is a program of the International Franchise Association (IFA) Foundation connecting U.S. military Veterans with opportunities in franchising. It gives you one place to find brands that welcome veteran buyers.
VetFran uses a Star System so you can compare how much a brand commits to veterans. A 1-Star member offers at least a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee. Higher tiers raise that minimum to 15% for a 3-Star member and 20% for a 5-Star member.
Membership works as a transparency signal rather than a promise of success. It shows a brand has agreed to specific terms in writing, which makes your comparison easier.
Veteran Discounts and Incentives Worth Looking For
Smart veteran buyers compare the concrete perks a brand offers. Look for reduced or waived franchise fees, plus financing or training help. These are the terms that change your real cost of entry. In addition, focus on sound businesses; brands like RIta’s, which has been in business since 1984, offer a track record of longevity that former service members can count on.
Before you count on any offer, get it in writing and confirm the eligibility rules. Many brands require an honorable discharge and majority ownership of the new business. Ask exactly who qualifies and how the discount is applied.
Rita’s is a good example of a real incentive. Qualifying honorably discharged veterans get a 20% reduction on the initial franchise fee for their first shop. The standard shop fee is $35,000.1 That’s $7,000 in savings.
An incentive like this lowers your entry cost without hiding the full picture, because the fee sits in a public disclosure document you can verify.
What a Veteran Franchise Costs and How to Pay for It
Franchise costs vary widely by brand and format, with real estate often driving the difference. Navy Federal notes the typical franchise investment range is between $50,000 and $500,000 or more depending on the brand and location. Your final number depends on the concept and the market you pick.
At Rita’s, the estimated initial investment runs $315,233 to $712,542 for a standard shop with no drive-thru.2 A shop with a drive-thru runs from $456,858 to $915,536.2
You also need at least $150,000 in minimum liquid capital to qualify. Owners also pay a 6.5% royalty on sales that funds ongoing support.3
This simple chart outlines where the money goes:
| Cost Element | What It Covers |
| Initial franchise fee | Your right to open and operate one Rita’s shop, plus pre-launch training and support |
| Royalty | Ongoing brand support, systems, and operations |
| Buildout and equipment | Construction, freezers, and shop fixtures |
| Liquid capital | Cash on hand for startup and early operating costs |
You can fund a franchise through savings and outside funding such as small-business loans (SBA) or grants. The SBA veteran business resources include funding programs and free counseling through Veterans Business Outreach Centers, which are available nationwide. These centers can review your plan and help you get ready to talk to a lender.
To plan your numbers, review what your startup costs cover and how franchise owners earn. Reading both pages together gives you a clearer view of the money going out and the money coming back.
Why Rita’s Is a Veteran-Friendly Franchise
Rita’s brings the veteran angle together in one place. The brand has operated since 1984, more than 40 years. It has over 600 shops across the country, a system tested in many kinds of markets.4
The operations fit military habits. Each shop runs on two core products, Italian Ice and Frozen Custard, with no fryers or full kitchen. This streamlined menu means franchisees don’t operate a full-service kitchen with fryers. This keeps training simple and the cost of goods low (17.3%),5 so you can spend your energy on your team and your customers.
Many owners also value the family angle. A Rita’s shop can involve a spouse or older kids, so the whole household can grow the business together over time. That shared purpose can make the early years feel more rewarding.
“Veterans already know how to follow a systems manual and hold a standard,” says Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer for Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard and U.S. Air Force veteran. “That is exactly what a Rita’s shop asks of an owner. They step in ready to coach a young Treat Team the way they once led their airmen, sailors or soldiers.”
Want to see what is open near you? Browse the available Rita’s territories to check your market and format options.
Questions Veterans Should Ask Before Signing
A short list of questions keeps your due diligence sharp. Work through these before you sign anything.
- Match your goals: Confirm the business fits the life and income you want after service.
- Check your budget: Know your capital and how much you can safely invest.
- Study the market: Look at local demand and traffic before you pick a territory.
- Vet the franchisor: Ask about support and track record, and call current owners.
- Get the incentive in writing: Confirm the veteran discount and eligibility terms on paper.
- Review the legal terms: Have an attorney read the FDD before you commit.
“The strongest veteran candidates treat this like a mission brief,” adds Brown. “They do their diligence, get to know the Rita’s management team, visit their local Rita’s, train like a champ and then execute the highest Brand Standards.”
One veteran franchisee, Rob Tarr, explains further: “They [Rita’s leadership] do a very good job of supporting us in operations and marketing. We always have everything we need as far as operations.”
When you are ready, the steps to become a franchisee lay out the path from your first call to signing the agreement and beyond.
Support Organizations and Your Next Steps
Several groups help veteran franchise buyers. VetFran connects you with veteran-friendly brands, and SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers offer free counseling and training. Many programs also welcome military spouses and military-connected families, so your household can share the research.
You do not have to sort through all of this alone. A quick call with a Veterans Business Outreach Center can point you toward the right brands and funding for your goals. That guidance often saves weeks of guesswork.
A simple action plan keeps you moving:
- Clarify your goals and set a realistic budget.
- Shortlist a few veteran-friendly brands that fit those goals.
- Request information and read each FDD closely.
- Line up your financing early so you can act fast.
Each step builds on the one before it, so you reach signing day with clear answers instead of open questions. Keep notes as you go, because the details you gather now become the questions you ask the franchisor later.
Give yourself enough time to review the documents carefully before you sign. A steady pace protects you, and rushing the process tends to cost more than it saves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best franchise for a veteran to open?
The best franchise is the one that fits your budget and skills, along with your local market, so there is no single winner for everyone. Look for a proven brand with a real veteran incentive and simple operations, like Rita’s.
What is the best franchise to start with $100,000?
The amount you need to start a franchise varies significantly by brand, business model, location, and financing structure. Rather than focusing only on the cash you have available today, compare each brand’s total estimated initial investment and ongoing fees. Rita’s lists the initial investment for a Standard Shop without a drive-thru at $315,233 to $712,542.3
How do veterans pay for a franchise?
Most veterans combine savings with small-business loans or grants, and some use retirement rollovers. Free SBA counseling can help you build the plan and compare your options before you apply.
What veteran discounts are available for franchise fees?
Under VetFran’s Star System, initial-fee discounts run from 10% to 20% by tier, as covered above. Rita’s gives qualifying honorably discharged veterans a 20% reduction on the initial franchise fee.2
Are military spouses eligible for veteran franchise programs?
Many programs and brands extend support to military spouses and military-connected families. Confirm the specific eligibility rules with each franchisor before you apply.
Ready to Turn Your Service Into Ownership?
Your service gave you the discipline and steadiness that owners need. A veteran-friendly franchise lets you put those skills to work. A support team stands behind you at every step, so you are in business for yourself with backup you can count on.
Rita’s pairs a 40-year brand with a real veteran incentive and a clear path to ownership. The model is simple, and the daily work centers on putting smiles on faces.
If you are a qualified veteran ready for the next step, reach out to Rita’s franchise team. You can also download our free eBook to see the full picture. Your next mission could be building a sweet tradition in your own community.
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 5
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 7
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 6
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 1 and Item 20
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 19
