CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FASTSIGNS®, the worldwide franchisor of more than 545 sign, graphic and visual communications centers, has been named to Franchise Business Review's list of the top 100 franchises for military veterans due to its outstanding veterans programs and franchisee support.
To find which franchise opportunities are the most veteran-friendly, based on franchisee satisfaction and performance, Franchise Business Review surveyed 2,892 veteran franchisees, representing nearly 300 leading franchise brands. Veteran franchisees answered 33 benchmark questions ranking their franchise system in the areas of financial opportunity, training and support, core values, etc. and 16 additional questions about market area, demographics, business lifestyle and more.
In its efforts to actively help veterans find career opportunities and transition to civilian life, FASTSIGNS was named among the top 100 franchise companies on this list. Currently, more than 12 percent of the company's U.S. network is comprised of military veterans, including Eric Schnitzer, who opened his FASTSIGNS location in Brandon, Fla. in August 2013.
"Upon retiring from the Air Force, I decided that I wanted to be my own boss. Knowing that it would be best to have a partner with me for guidance and support, I decided to look into franchise opportunities," said Schnitzer. "FASTSIGNS offers a great deal of ongoing training, direction, and support to ensure that you set-off on the right foot and never stray off the path to success."
Through the International Franchise Association's (IFA) VetFran program, all veterans who become FASTSIGNS franchisees can take advantage of special incentives including a 50 percent reduced franchise fee of $18,250 and reduced royalties for the first 12 months. FASTSIGNS is the only franchise in its industry to offer a 50 percent discount to any veteran without stipulations.
Franchise Business Review President Michelle Rowan explained the importance of its top 100 list, "One of the best ways to know if a franchise opportunity is really as good as it appears is to look at its third-party franchisee satisfaction data. Those that do provide data, offer a wealth of information on the system's leadership, culture, training and support, financial outlook, and franchisee community. This data is even more important to prospective franchisees on active military duty. If you're located abroad, it may not be easy to conduct the necessary due diligence from afar."
FASTSIGNS is the largest sign and graphics franchisor in North America and consistently receives top ratings for system growth and franchisee satisfaction, including: certification as a 2013 World-Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute, inclusion on the Franchise Business Review's 2013 "FBR50", and inclusion in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500® as the No. 1 franchisor in the sign and graphic category.
With more than 545 FASTSIGNS sign and graphics centers in eight countries, the company provides marketing and visual communications solutions to businesses, organizations and events of all types and sizes. FASTSIGNS offers a variety of sign and graphics solutions – including banners, building signs, digital signage, yard signs, vehicle graphics, decals, trade show exhibits and displays, point-of-purchase signs, and posters – as well as mobile websites, promotional products, interior décor, branding, printing and other marketing services.
For more information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679) or visit www.fastsigns.com.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the worldwide franchisor for the more than 545 FASTSIGNS® sign, graphic and visual communications centers in eight countries including the US (and Puerto Rico), Canada, England, Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®). FASTSIGNS provides comprehensive visual communications solutions to help customers of all sizes – across all industries – meet their business objectives and increase their business visibility through the use of signs, graphics, printing, promotional products and related marketing services. FASTSIGNS was ranked number one for the third year in a row in the sign and graphic category in the 2013 Entrepreneur Magazine annual Franchise 500®. For franchise information, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679) or visit www.fastsigns.com.
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About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. The firm's services include commissioned franchise research projects, as well as industry-wide studies of franchisee satisfaction. Franchise Business Review is headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, and can be reached at (603) 433-2270. Visit www.FBR50.com or www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com for more information.