Maid Brigade $1.5M Veterans Franchise Giveway

The following article, by Special Guest Author, Major Ray Toombs, brings to life how his military experience prepared him for his life as a Maid Brigade franchisee. Toombs shares this experience so that other retired military personnel will consider franchising as a career option, and more specifically, as a Maid Brigade franchisee. To that end, he is proud of his involvement in Maid Brigade’s competition that will award $1.5 million in prize winnings to up to 100 veterans interested in opening a Maid Brigade franchise. What a great way to say “Thank You” to the many veterans that sacrificed a great deal to ensure our safety and freedom.

A Thirty Year Military Career – the Perfect Proving Ground to Nurture Business Skills
A guest post by Major Ray Toombs

When I entered the service, owning and operating my own business wasn’t in the forefront of my mind. I joined the service because of a love for my country and a desire to help others. Over the course of time I learned and experienced much and as I look back on that time, I realize it was a great preparation for my current franchise success.

When I retired from the Army Nurse Corps in 1996 after a thirty year military career, I didn’t need to work; I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted. However, the sense of duty that has been my driving force since youth led me to seek opportunities to be of service to others.

I opened a home repair business starting with one home and over seven years time grew the business to serve over 100 families. In 2003 my wife left her Quality Advancement position with a national company and we decided to look into franchise opportunities.

I enjoyed the success of my own business, but there was something appealing about a franchise system that allowed us to use our experience in leadership, management, and operations to work on the business rather than in the business. My wife, Margie, is the analytical partner in our venture. We wanted to use her administrative know-how, quality improvement background and financial acumen.

Especially attractive is the fact that with a franchise system the business model has been created for you. You don’t have to try and reinvent the wheel. My wife, Margie and I took full advantage of the business systems and marketing guidelines provided by the franchisor to make a name for our business in NE Ohio.

Since opening our Maid Brigade in 2003 we have enjoyed a 15-20% business growth per year. I owe a lot of that to my wife’s analytical and financial abilities, but the skills I learned while serving my country have also served us well.

That’s why I’m so excited to be part of a wonderful competition Maid Brigade has launched that will bring $1.5 million in prize winnings to up to 100 veterans interested in opening a Maid Brigade franchise. The top three winning veterans will receive additional financial rewards in the form of working capital, training and equipment. One hundred new Maid Brigade franchise locations equal an estimated 1,000 new jobs across our country.

I have been asked to serve on the Judges Panel which will review the top applicants in early November. Winners will be announced on Veterans Day, November 11th. Check out the details on the Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway website. The Franchise King, Joel Libava (insert) also wrote about the details in a recent post entitled Maid Brigade is Giving Away Franchises to Military Veterans.

Major Ray Toombs and his wife Margie operate the NE Ohio Maid Brigade based in Canton, Ohio. They can be reached at mtoombs@maidbrigade.com.