The UPS Store, Inc. announced its recently launched, Mission: Veteran Entrepreneurship, a program offering significant financial incentives – valued at nearly $300,000 – for a select group of qualified U.S. military veterans to help open their own The UPS Store franchise location. The UPS Store, Inc. is proud to support America’s U.S. armed forces as they pursue starting their own business and as a part of this effort the company will waive the franchise license fees for 10 first-time veteran franchisees. The first 10 eligible veterans to submit a complete buyer’s application packet and initial application fee will be awarded $29,950 in waived franchise fees. The UPS Store, Inc. is accepting franchise application packets from veterans between Wednesday, May 1, 2019, and Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 (Veterans Day).

Veterans are often some of the most qualified and successful prospective franchise owners, as franchising offers a unique business opportunity incumbent on strong leadership skills. According to the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (VetFran), at least 97 percent of franchisors believe that veterans would make excellent franchisees, with 70 percent hiring a veteran franchisee or employee in the last year alone.

“The UPS Store, Inc. is deeply committed to helping veterans transition back into civilian life and achieve their dreams of owning a business,” said Tim Davis, president of The UPS Store, Inc. and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “We are thrilled to launch Mission: Veteran Entrepreneurship and offer this financial incentive to those who have given and sacrificed so much for our country.”

The pledge, announced at the 2019 International Franchise Association (IFA) Convention, builds on The UPS Store, Inc.’s ongoing participation in the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (VetFran) to provide discounts in franchise fees for qualified veterans, active military and their spouses. Of the over 4,800 The UPS Store locations in the U.S., more than 400 are owned by veterans and that number continues to climb.

Isaac Gonzalez, a franchise owner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, benefited from The UPS Store, Inc.’s financial incentives for veterans in 2011. The support helped him launch and sustain his own The UPS Store location near a military base in Ruther Glen, Virginia.

“As a veteran, you hold lots of pride, something you get to carry out in your business as a franchisee,” said Gonzalez. “To be able to take that strong sense of responsibility and apply it to your business is really important.”

The UPS Store is an industry leader being ranked as the No. 1 franchise in the retail shipping category by Entrepreneur magazine for 2019 and named consistently on the Military Times’ list of best franchises for veterans. The UPS Store continues to receive recognition as a brand  helping those who dream of owning a business through franchising.