Leading convenience store franchise business 7-Eleven is seeking honorably-discharged veterans who are ready to be their own boss for their second "Operation: Take Command" competition. The winner of the multi-phase contest will receive a 7-Eleven franchise available in the U.S. without having to pay the franchise fee, a prize worth up to $190,000.
Contestants will go through various interviews and must meet the franchise’s qualifications for a franchisee. The top 25 contestants have to send in a video that explains why they deserve the franchise, and up to seven veterans will be chosen from this pool. A public vote on the company’s official Facebook page will decide the top three, who will then be interviewed by the brand’s franchise department to decide the winner.
Qualified contestants must be at least 21 and a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S. They must also have stellar credit, an honorable discharge from service, and at least three years of restaurant, retail or leadership experience. Those who enter will undergo the same qualification process as typical 7-Eleven franchisee applicant, which includes a leadership test, a credit evaluation, budget preparation, a declaration of store location preferences, and the development of a business plan.
Due to local restrictions, eligible veterans who are residents of Hawaii or South and North Dakota cannot enter. 7-Eleven will announce the winner in June, and those who want to enter can do so by visiting VeteransFranchiseGiveaway.com. The deadline for entries is February 26, 2016.
According to Vice President of Franchise Systems Greg Franks, more than 6,000 veterans applied for last year’s competition and 1,700 were vetted. The finalists, says Franks, were outstanding applicants, and some of those who did not win still completed the franchise business’s qualification process to own their own location.
2015’s winners are already running their own stores. 7-Eleven executives couldn’t decide just one winner from the three finalists, so three veterans won a franchise. Navy veteran Mark Anthony Page has a Texas store, U.S. Army veteran Salil Gautam chose Virginia for his location, and Army Reserve veteran Robert Kemna has his 7-Eleven in Florida.
7-Eleven has been recognized throughout the industry for its commitment to veterans. Those who have left the military five or fewer years prior to applying for a franchise receive a 20 percent discount off the franchise fee for their first location, along with special financing and preferred interest rates. Veterans who left the service more than five years ago still receive a 10 percent reduction on the fee.
About the 7-Eleven Franchise Opportunity
Currently, 7-Eleven licenses, franchises and operates more than 10,700 stores across North America, and there are around 57,900 stores spanning 17 countries. The brand has received several accolades, including the 7th spot on the Franchise 500 list for 2016 in Entrepreneur and the 3rd spot on "Top 20 Franchises to Start" in Forbes.
7-Eleven is seeking franchises in several areas, so if you’re searching for a proven opportunity with an established and globally-recognized brand, add 7-Eleven to your list.
