Economic uncertainty, sizable veterans' population may boost franchise ownership: questions about the nation's economy might prompt more people to consider financial independence through franchise ownership.

Policymakers are debating if the United States is approaching, has slid into or can avoid an economic recession. At the same time, the nation has more than 23.8 million veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Could these two factors contribute to the increasing popularity of business-format franchising?

When employees are nervous about the economy and jobs start cutting back, many find their entrepreneurial spirit rising. Franchising provides an avenue for these self-employed seekers to be in business for themselves without starting from point zero or doing it alone. Military veterans can bring practical and leadership skills to a thriving business sector.

Franchise growth outpaces other business sectors, coming out ahead of durable goods, finance and construction, says a new study commissioned by the IFA Educational Foundation and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Veterans can take advantage of the opportunity for small-business ownership via the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative known as VetFran. The International Franchise Association offers the program to its nearly 1,300 franchise system members, of which nearly 300 currently participate. The program enables military veterans to jump-start their business ownership dreams by providing financial assistance from IFA participating member companies. The voluntary program, which receives no government money, has been recognized by several government agencies.

Learn more about the program at Franchise.org.

VetFran participating companies include:

@WORK Franchise

@WORK HelpingHands Services

@Work Medical Services

@WORK Personnel Services

1 800 905 GEEK

1-2-3 Fit

1-800 Water Damage

1-800-DryClean

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

360Clean

A Sweet Beginning Wedding Consulting & Event Planners

AAMCO Transmissions

Accessible Home Health care

Action COACH USA

Advanced Maintenance

Aero-Colours

Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning

All American Deli & Ice Cream Shops

All Tune & Lube

Allegra Print & Imaging

AlphaGraphics

Alta Mere Window Tinting and Auto Alarms

Alternative Board

Always Best Care Senior Services

Amazinflates

American Leak Detection

American Poolplayers Association

American Prosperity Group

AmeriSpec

Andy OnCall

Annex Brands

Anytime Fitness

Athletic Nation Men's Fitness Gym

Baskin-Robbins

Bearclaw Coffee Company

BeneTrends **

Best Coupon Book

Big 0 Tires

Birtbflowers.com

Blendz

Brightstar Franchising

Budget Blinds

Camp Bow Wow

Candy Bouquet

Careers USA

Caring Transitions

Cartridge World

Case Handyman & Remodeling Services

CD One Price Cleaners

CGI International

ChannelBrite

Checkers Drive-In

Chem-Dry

Chick N' Friends

Christmas Decor, Inc.

Cinnabon

Cleaning Authority

CLIX

Closet Tailors

CM IT Solutions

Coffee Beanery

Cold Stone Creamery

Colors on Parade

ComForcare Senior Services

Comfort Keepers

Computer Renaissance

ComputerTots/Computer Explorers

Country Place Living

Coverall Cleaning Concepts

Creative Colors

Crestcom

Critter Control

Crown Trophy

Cruise Holidays

CruiseOne

Cruise Planners

D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches

Dagwood's Sandwich Shoppes

Daily Grind Unwind

DataPreserve

Deck the Walls

DirectBuild

Direct Link

Dogtopia

Domino's Pizza

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide

Ductz

Dunkin' Donuts

Dunn Bros Coffee

Duraclean

Ellianos Coffee

Emerald City Smoothie

EnergyCraff Systems

Entrepreneur's Source

Environix

Exciting Windows!

Expetec

Express Personnel Services

ExxonMobil

FACES

Fantastic Sams *

Fast-Fix Jewelry & Watch Repairs

Fast and Friendly Floorcare

Fast Frame

Fastsigns

Figaro's Italian Pizza

FiltaFry

Flicko's Video Workshop

Fish Window Cleaning Services

Five Star Painting

Foot Solutions

Forcefield Hurricane Protection Systems

FranNet

Fresh Coat

Friendly Computers

Furniture Medic

Glass Doctor

Coin' Postal

Gold's Gym

Good Feet

Great American Cookies

Great Clips

The Great Frame Up

Grins 2 Go

Grout Doctor

Grout Medic

Growth Coach

Gymboree Play & Music

Hand and Stone Massage Spa

Handyman Connection

Handyman Matters

Happy & Healthy Products

Heidi's Brooklyn Deli Restaurants

Hester Painting & Decorating

HMA Franchise Systems

HobbyTown USA

Hollywood Tan

Home Helpers

Home Instead Senior Care

HomeTask Handyman Service

HomeTeam Inspection Service

HomeVestors

Homewatch

HoneyBaked Ham Company and Cafe

House Doctors

Huddle House

Hygienic Home

i9 Sports

Ident-A-Kid

Inspect-It 1st Property Inspection

Instant Tax Service

INTERIORS by Decorating Den

J. Gumbo's

Jet-Black International

Juice It Up

Jumping J-Jays

Jungle Quest

KidzArt

Kitchen Tune-Up

Kwik Kopy

Ladybird Academy

La Paletera Franchise Systems

Lawn Doctor

Learning Express

LeamingRx

Lenny's Sub Shop

Liberty Tax Service

Link Staffing Services

Liquid Capital

Little Caesars

M.A.R.S. International

MaggieMoo's

Maid Brigade

MaidPro

MAIDS

Marco's Pizza

Matco Tools

Maul Wowi

Max Muscles Sports Nutrition

Meineke

Merry Maids

Miami Subs

Midas

Milex Tune-Up and Brakes

Molly Maid

Money Mailer

MonitorClosely.com

Moving Solutions

Mr. Appliance

Mr. Electric

Mr. Handyman

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

Mr. Transmission

Mrs. Fields

MTO Cleaning Service

Mullin House, PC **

Multistate Transmissions

Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings

Navis Logistics Network

Nerd Force

NiteLites

OpenWorks

OXXO Care Cleaners

Paciugo Italian Gelato & Caffe

Packaging Store

Padgett Business Services

Painting Pros

Pak Mail

Papa Gino's

Parcel Plus

Parker Finch Management

Personal Training Institute

Pet Butler

Pet Supplies "Plus"

Pillar to Post

Pita Pit

Planet Beach

Platinum Properties Investment Network

Postal Connections

PostNet

Precision Tune Auto Care

Pretzel Time

Pretzelmaker

Proshred

Pump It Up

Purosystems

Rapid Refill

Rainbow International Restoration and Cleaning

Remedy Intelligent Staffing

Right At Home

Rita's Water Ice

Ritter's Frozen Custard

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Rolly Pollies

Roni Deutch Tax Center

SafetyNet4kids

Salad Creations

Salsarita's

Sarah Adult Day Services

Sargo's Subs

Screenmobile

SealMaster

Sears Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning

Sell4Free Real Estate Systems

Seniors Helpers

Seniors Helping Seniors

ServiceMaster Company

Siegel Capital **

Signs Now

Sir Speedy

Skyhawks Sports Champs

Snap-on Tools

Shelling Staffing Services

Sparkle

Spherion

Sport Clips

Spring-Green Lawn Care

Steak-Out Franchising

Sunshine Pack and Ship

SuperCoups

TCBY

TeamLogic IT

Tinder Box

Togo's Eatery

TruePresence

TSS Photography

Two Guys and a Truck

Two Men And A Truck

Unishippers

United Marketing Solutions

UPS Store

USA Insulation

Valpak

Vanguard Cleaning Systems

Verlo Mattress

Vine 100

Virginia Barbeque

Vocelli Pizza

V's Barbershop

Weed Man

We're Rolling Pretzel Company

Wheelie Bin Cleaning Service

Window Fashions on Wheels

WineStyles

Wing Zone

Wireless Zone

WOW Cafe and Wingery

WSI Internet

Z-Coil Pain Relief Footwear

Zero's Mr. Submarine

* Selected states available

** Non-Franchise

Updated March 2008