This Veteran’s Day Franchise Solutions honors veterans in franchising by highlighting JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling and one of its owners, Shawn Schexnayder, of Dallas, Texas.
“Chex”, as he was called in the Marine Corps, was on the verge of starting his own junk removal recycling company when a franchise consultant introduced him to the JDOG concept. “I was about to sign on the dotted line when this opportunity came to me,” said Schexnayder. “Owning a JDOG gives me so much more flexibility to do what I want, and it was about $100,000 cheaper than starting my own business.”
JDOG, named after the CEO, Jerry Flanagan, is a unique franchise opportunity because it is the nation’s only U.S. military veteran brand which awards franchises to veterans and their family members exclusively; giving post-military personnel an opportunity to build successful and valuable businesses.
“The bulldog used in the JDOG logo is very similar to the bulldog frequently seen throughout the Marine Corp; I thought it was a sign,” said Schexnayder. “There was no other franchise more perfectly fit for me. JDOG is offered to military only, I love working with people, and I was familiar with scrap yards through my previous job. It just felt right.”
Before starting his JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling business, Schexnayder worked for the Department of Defense as an industrial property manager and plant clearance officer. “A lot of my business was top secret and involved disposing of hazardous materials safely like explosives and ammunitions and finding ways to save tax payer dollars. I spent a lot of time in scrap yards and saw how much people threw away.”
Schexnayder’s military career began at the age of 16 when he enlisted in a Marine Corps delayed entry program. During his 8-years of service, he participated in operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey and Afghanistan. Throughout his service, he received the following military awards:
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
- Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Kosovo Campaign Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- NATO Medal
When Schexnayder talks about which set of skills from his military duty he uses most in his business today, he mentions what was repeated in the Marine Corp: honor, courage and commitment. “If you put dedication into everything you do and take pride in your work, people will see you give 150%.” He continues, “In the Marine Corps, we always went above and beyond for others, as we would for ourselves. That’s what I’m bringing to the table in my JDOG business – the unparalleled customer service.”
The JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling Franchise
JDOG is more than a junk removal franchise which delivers service the military way, with respect, integrity, and trust. It is a franchise system of brothers and sisters who understand the concept of sacrifice and service to their country. JDOG is determined to build a national brand which dominates the waste management industry.
There is a trend in the junk removal business to reprocess and repurpose as much of the trash as possible. JDOG resells much of the waste in second-hand stores or consignment shops, or donates it to local charities. Recyclable items including scrap metal, wood, plastic and electronics are recycled when possible.
The junk removal and repurposing industry is gaining visibility in the public eye as television producers feature shows such as Hoarding: Buried Alive, Hoarding, Junkyard Wars, Junkyard Empire, Salvage city and West End Salvage
The Junk Removal Industry
Americans buy more stuff and build more places to put it than any other country on the planet. The on-going demand for junk removal services is fueled in part by the ever growing “consumer society” mentality. Here are some industry statistics that will keep the JDOG franchise in business for decades to come and make it an incredible option for business ownership for veterans:
- Junk removal is considered part of the $55 billion U.S. waste management industry
- The average American moves 12 times in his or her lifetime- when people relocate, they clear out unwanted items from their homes and work places
- An estimated 43 million Americans relocate annually
- Waste collection is among the top 10 most recession proof industries
“I saw how much money was being made on recycling and waste,” says Schexnayder. “When I went to contractors, I enjoyed interacting with people. A big part of the JDOG business is customer service, and I realized this was something I could do. What made it so attractive was the affordability to start.”
The franchise fee to start a JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling business is $25,000. Schexnayder has worked two jobs since February and just quit his full-time Department of Defense job Friday. Schexnayder says the best part of owning his own business is “having freedom. Before I was in a constant struggle to be motivated and get out of bed. Now with JDOG, I’m not setting the alarm clock. I’m up before the sun.”
Benefits of a JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling Franchise
- Low start-up costs
- Easy to operate
- Quick start-up – Establish your business in 60 days.
- High profit margin
- Great demand
- Proven business model
- Multiple revenue streams
- Opportunity to hire other veterans
“The process was fairly simple and surprisingly stress-free,” explains Schexnayder. “When my wife and I attended the initial training, the JDOG team was professional, educated, organized and extremely personable! They welcomed me and my wife with open arms. They made sure we understood the availability of the resources they used to succeed. Jerry, the CEO of JDOG and his wife, Tracy assured us they would be as easily accessible to us as we needed them to be. By the time we left the training, we felt extremely connected to the JDOG family. I’m excited to work with such a warm team of professionals!”
Schexnayder says he plans on “providing excellent service to my existing area and I’m visiting the possibility of expanding my business to other locations.” If you would like to learn more about the benefits of owning a JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling business as well, go to Franchise Solutions.
And how will Schexnayder be spending his Veteran’s Day? Why, holding his grand-opening for his new JDOG Junk Removal business. Flanagan and his wife along with the VP of Operations and two other franchise owners will be joining him. After the ribbon cutting, they plan to watch the Veteran’s Day parade in Dallas. “I don’t think I could have picked a better day to have the grand opening for a veteran-owned franchise than Veteran’s Day!”
Shawn Schexnayder’s JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling business services the whole Dallas, TX area and is open 7 days a week Monday – Friday 6am-8pm, Saturday 6am-4:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-12pm. You can inquire about his services through the JDOG website at www.jdog.com.
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