You served your country, but now it’s time to move on with your life. The economy is recovering, but the job market is still tight. You’ve set aside some money during your military career and maybe you’ve thought about starting your own business. But you don’t have an MBA, business experience or a killer idea for a new product or service.

What you do have are the skills the military taught you: leadership, discipline, tenacity, teamwork and the ability to follow a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). These skills are the perfect foundation for a franchise owner. With franchises, you don’t need an MBA, business experience or a killer idea. Franchises are proven business models that come with directions.

“Military veterans are ideal for this excellent business opportunity,” said Allan Young, an Army veteran who is CEO and co-founder of ShelfGenie, which designs, builds, and installs Glide-Out shelves. “They’re disciplined, show attention to detail, know how to assess risk and can execute a strategic plan. They also know how to deal with change and overcome fear and doubt. There’s not a huge difference between a battle plan and small business plan – one is just more dangerous to execute.”

While it’s not for everyone, franchising offers many advantages to those who want to realize the American dream of owning their own business.