7-Eleven will give away a franchise to one deserving Veteran

Starting your own business from scratch can be expensive – but 7-Eleven is making it a little easier for Veterans.

In the company’s “OPERATION: TAKE COMMAND” contest, one deserving Veteran will win a 7-Eleven store franchise. The winner can choose any of the company’s 7-Eleven convenience stores available in the continental U.S. Enter the contest – no purchase necessary – at VeteransFranchiseGiveaway.com. Keep in mind the deadline to enter is Feb. 26. Before you go down the path of owning a small business, keep in mind two of the biggest challenges: long hours and uncertain revenue. Here’s how it works:

• After you enter, you’ll be prompted to complete a franchisee application.
• 7-Eleven will select the top 25 semifinalists from those applications. Each semifinalist will be asked to create a short video to explain why he or she should be the winner.
• The top five videos will be posted online, and Americans will vote for their three favorite finalists.
• The finalists will be flown to Dallas, where they’ll meet key executives at an event held in their honor.
• On June 14, the 7-Eleven franchise winner will be announced.

In last year’s contest, all three finalists – a Navy Veteran, an Army Veteran and an active duty captain in the reserves – were so impressive that each was awarded a 7-Eleven franchise.

Want to know what it’s like to run your own 7-Eleven store? Watch this video the company posted of  two Veterans discussing their experience after purchasing their own franchise.

Good luck to all who enter, but be sure to read the fine print of the contest. Although the winner will receive a franchise without having to pay the normal franchise fee (a value of up to $190,000), there are costs associated with opening a store – inventory and licenses, among other things – that 7-Eleven won’t cover.

Now, GI Jobs “Top 12 Hot Franchises for Veterans 2015” list ranked 7-Eleven top of the heap, but I happen to know of another employer who is THE leading supporter of America’s Veterans, the Veterans Health Administration. Operating America’s largest integrated health care system takes a lot of caring, committed individuals. The benefit of helping those who’ve served in our armed forces pales in comparison to other rewards.

If owning a 7-Eleven franchise doesn’t sound like the right career fit for you, then consider the many opportunities here at VA. We are the biggest health care organization in the world. That means we have more options, more opportunities and more room for advancement – and the work you will do will benefit those who have served our Nation.

Even if you do participate in the contest, I really encourage you to explore a career with VA. You will find so much personal and professional satisfaction working with Veterans. There are other advantages, too: a comfortable salary, outstanding benefits and great work-life balance, just like the private sector. Learn more at Join VA.