By David Raymond
I didn’t set out to become a business owner (let alone a franchisee), but looking back, every step I’ve taken seems to have led me here.
Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of structure at home. I entered foster care at 10 and bounced around for a while. I wasn’t a bad kid, but I had a tough time finding direction. I got good grades but struggled with discipline, and college just wasn’t something we could afford. So, when I turned 18, my options were pretty clear: go to a community college or go into the military. I chose the Marine Corps.
If I was going to do something hard, I figured I might as well do the hardest thing. I walked into the recruiting office, and the Marines were all business: sharply dressed, serious, no fluff. That was the kind of environment I needed. I ended up in the armor field and became an M1A1 Abrams Tank Crewman. I’m 6’3”, so fitting into a tank was a tight squeeze, but it ended up being one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.
I served from 1993 to 1997, and after 9/11, I reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve for another four years. My time in the military taught me a lot about leadership, but it wasn’t always through formal training. When you’re thrown into situations, like stepping in as tank commander with just a couple of weeks’ notice, you learn fast. You learn to trust your team, to make decisions under pressure and to own the outcome. That kind of responsibility stuck with me.
After leaving the military, I got into the garage door business in 2002. My cousin hired me as a technician at a local company, and I worked my way up over the years. Eventually, I realized I’d gone as far as I could go there. I was looking for something more, something that gave me the freedom to build and grow.
That’s when I stumbled into franchising. I had worked as a franchise consultant for a while, even spent a few years at College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, helping new franchise owners get their bearings and build successful operations. I realized that the franchise world was where I could make the most of my experience and skills. I knew garages, I understood small business leadership, and I’d seen how systems and support could transform a new owner’s trajectory.
In 2018, I connected with Premium Service Brands. They asked me to help grow their ProLift Garage Doors brand, and after about six months of consulting, I was offered a role as VP of Operations. I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, to be closer to the team, and over the next few years, I helped scale the brand internally. But eventually, the itch to run something of my own came back.
I opened my ProLift franchise in Charlottesville because I believed in the system, and I knew I could make it work. It wasn’t about building something flashy. I wanted a business that allowed me to stay hands-on, take care of my team and spend time with my kids. My military experience gave me the foundation to lead with integrity and keep my operations tight. I know what it means to be accountable, and that shows up in how I run my business every day.
One of the things I appreciate most about this model is that it fits the kind of lifestyle I want now. It’s semi-absentee by design, which means I’m not stuck behind a desk or chasing revenue every minute of the day. I’ve built a team I trust, and that allows me the freedom to spend time with family or head out on the sailboat when I need to recharge. But when it’s time to be in the trenches, I’m there too.
To other veterans who are thinking about life after service, I’ll say this: transitioning out of the military can be daunting. You’re going from a highly structured world to one where success looks very different. But the leadership, discipline and problem-solving you learned in the military are all assets in business. Franchising can be a great path if you want structure with flexibility and support with independence.
Owning this business has been rewarding, not just because of the revenue or the growth, but because it’s mine. I get to build it my way with values I believe in. I even hired my daughter, which is something I never would have imagined early on. Whether she stays with the business or finds her own path, I’m just grateful I can offer that kind of opportunity.
Franchising may not be a tank, but it gives me a mission. It lets me serve in a new way: by creating jobs, supporting customers and building something that matters.
Read more articles for the Veteran Community here.
