The Best Non-Food Franchises for Veterans (VetFran)

Veterans comparing non-food franchises can use the VetFran directory to find published franchise-fee discounts across several industries. This guide compares IFA listings checked on 2026-10-14, explains how to read the directory, and points to SBA training and counseling resources. A discount alone does not establish whether a franchise suits your budget or the work you want to do.

One framing point up front: the veteran discount applies to the franchise fee, which is only a slice of the total investment. So it is a genuine saving, but it does not change the fundamentals of whether a given franchise fits your budget and your life. Judge the whole investment, then treat the discount as a bonus.

How VetFran works, briefly

VetFran is a program of the International Franchise Association that connects veterans with franchisors who offer them incentives, most commonly a discount on the initial franchise fee. Per the IFA’s Franchising for Veterans page, it uses a tiered Star System: a 1-Star partner gives a minimum 10 percent discount on the initial franchise fee, a 3-Star partner a minimum 15 percent, and a 5-Star partner a minimum 20 percent. Individual brands then set their own actual figure at or above that floor, which is why the numbers below range from flat dollar amounts to 30 percent. Our VetFran explainer covers how to verify a brand’s status, and for the food side of the house, see our veteran food-franchise discounts guide.

How to search the VetFran directory

On the IFA’s Franchising for Veterans page, the “View Directory” button opens the franchise-opportunities list filtered to veteran discounts. Open a brand’s listing to compare its investment figures and veteran offer.

Read “Start Up Cost” separately from “Total Investment”; do not substitute the first figure for the full investment range. The “Veteran discount rating” text describes the listed discount, what fee it applies to, and any eligibility terms stated there. Discounts are set by each franchisor and must be confirmed in its current FDD; the VetFran discount program explainer covers the program and its Star System.

Verified VetFran non-food brands

Each brand below publishes a veteran franchise-fee discount in the IFA directory (IFA listing, checked 2026-10-14). These are listing figures, not substitutes for the current FDD. If you are considering SBA financing, the SBA Franchise Directory eligibility guide covers that separate directory check.

Brand	Category	Veteran discount (as listed)	Total investment (IFA listing)
PuroClean	Restoration and remediation	25% off the initial franchise fee for honorably discharged veterans	$234K-$277K
Homewatch CareGivers	Senior and home care	30% off the initial franchise fee for honorably discharged veterans of American and Canadian armed forces	$122K-$178K
Christian Brothers Automotive	Automotive repair	$12,500 off the franchise fee	$515K-$650K
Mosquito Joe	Outdoor pest control	$8,500 off the initial franchise fee for retired military members who were honorably discharged	$151K-$193K
Anytime Fitness	Fitness	$7,500 off the franchise fee for veterans	$539K-$905K
Tutor Doctor	Tutoring and education	$5,000 off the franchise fee for honorably discharged veterans	$94K-$211K
Junk King	Junk removal	15% off the initial franchise fee for retired military members who were honorably discharged	$125K-$300K
Dogtopia	Dog daycare	10% off the franchise fee, equal to $4,250	$668K-$1,444M as printed on its IFA listing
ActionCOACH	Business coaching	10% off the franchise fee for veterans	$140K-$369K
Camp Bow Wow	Dog daycare and boarding	$25,000 discount (50% off franchise fee)	$955K-$1,230M as printed on its IFA listing
Cruise Planners	Home-based travel agency	Reduced franchise fee of $6,995 for qualified veterans (standard franchise fee up to $10,995)	$2K-$24K
Jani-King	Commercial cleaning	Listing says it “offers discounts to veterans” without stating an amount	$25K

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Mosquito Joe and Junk King appear in Neighborly’s franchise-opportunity list. Neighborly’s VetFran page states 15% off the franchise fee for the initial base territory purchase, while Mosquito Joe’s IFA listing states $8,500 off the initial franchise fee. These pages were accessed 2026-10-14. Confirm the current discount, eligibility, and territory terms in the FDD before relying on either offer.

How the listed categories differ to run

Compare crew size, scheduling, and premises before comparing discounts. Ask whether the business needs a storefront or other dedicated facility, sends crews along customer routes, or can be managed from home. These are operating questions to verify for each brand, not reasons to assume a category suits a military background; fit is personal.

The IFA listings describe different work: PuroClean provides property restoration, Mosquito Joe uses teams of pest-control technicians, and Homewatch CareGivers provides in-home care. Tutor Doctor explicitly describes owners working from home while managing tutors who deliver in-home and online services. Use those descriptions to frame franchisee calls about staffing and daily responsibilities, rather than assuming all service businesses have the same overhead or crew needs.

Veteran resources beyond the fee discount

The SBA’s veteran-owned business resources, accessed 2026-10-14, include training and counseling:

• Boots to Business is part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program and is offered on military installations worldwide.
• Boots to Business Reboot extends that training to veterans of all eras in their communities, including National Guard and Reserve members.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) offer business plan workshops, concept assessments, mentorship, and training nationwide.

The same SBA page states, “The federal government does not provide grants to start a business.” That statement was checked 2026-10-14. For financing considerations alongside these resources, see the guide to SBA loans for a franchise.

Beyond the discount

The fee discount is the headline, but it is not the only veteran-relevant factor. Weigh the total investment and the working capital you will need to reach steady operations, not just the fee, using our guide to how much you need to start. Read the full FDD, especially Item 5 for the fee the discount applies to and Item 7 for the true investment, with a franchise attorney and an accountant. And avoid the mistakes first-time owners make most, because a discount does not offset an under-capitalized start.