Franchise for Veterans
Kiddie Academy® Educational Child Care continues to be recognized as one of the top franchise companies for military veterans. We are ranked #39 on Entrepreneur’s list of Top Franchises for Veterans. This represents a jump of five spots in the listing of 150 veteran-friendly franchisors.
The ranking reflects each company’s veteran incentive, how veteran franchisees are attracted to and supported by the company and how each company scored in Entrepreneur’s 2021 Franchise 500 ranking. Kiddie Academy is ranked #129 in the Franchise 500.
We are a long-time participant in the International Franchise Association’s strategic initiative, VetFran. The program is an option for United States citizens who are either currently serving in or who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military. VetFran has a simple mission: To provide access and opportunities in franchising to veterans and their spouses. As a VetFran participant, Kiddie Academy offers qualified veterans a reduction of $25,000 on their initial franchising fee.
VetFran in Action
Among the veterans who took advantage of the fee reduction is Jon Ramsey. He and his wife have signed an agreement for an Academy in the Charlotte, NC, market, anticipated to open in 2023. Jon spent a total of 11 years in the military — four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force and seven years in the Air National Guard. Upon his return to civilian life, he and his wife were looking for a business of their own. His wife has a background in early childhood education and they decided that was the space they wanted to be in. “We really liked the Kiddie Academy model and the support they offered,” Jon said. “And then we discovered their commitment to helping veterans. I know we really appreciated getting the veteran’s discount on the initial franchise fee. We’re really grateful for everything Kiddie Academy is doing for the military community.”
“Veterans bring stability and discipline to the game,” said Kiddie Academy Vice President of Finance, Kevin Shaffer. “A military background seems to mesh well with the structure required to operate a successful Academy. We feel VetFran is a great program and we have many successful veterans who are now Kiddie Academy Franchisees.”
