Retired Navy aviator brews up serious profits with Dunkin’ Donuts.
There’s nothing quite like the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee and hot, fresh donuts to get you going in the morning. Pete Turner, who owns four Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in North Carolina, is greeted by this delectable fragrance every day and tastes the sweet rewards of one of the fastest growing veteran franchising opportunities in the country.
Turner, 44, owns four restaurants in Raleigh-Durham and has an agreement with Dunkin’ Brands to open another eight restaurants in the Raleigh area through 2011. The Milwaukee, Wis., native also plans to open another 23 locations in the Minneapolis, Minn., area by 2013.
On the Job
Turner earned his airline transport pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2004 while he was serving in the Navy. Although he planned to work as an airline pilot when he retired from military service, Turner decided he didn’t want to spend two weeks each month away from his family. He learned about franchising opportunities with Dunkin’ Brands while he was stationed at the Naval War College and decided this would be a better fit for his post-military career.
“My main concern was risking most of the money I had,” Turner said. “I really didn’t have a lot of restaurant experience. The biggest challenge I had was getting approved by Dunkin’ Donuts and banks without having quick-service restaurant experience.”
Turner opened his first restaurant in April 2008. He said overcoming his lack of experience was the catalyst to his expansion.
“The first one’s the hardest,” he said. “Once you establish a track record of strong sales and well-run stores, the financing and approval for more stores comes pretty quickly.”
Turner said his military experience comes into play much more than he originally thought.
“Operations are operations,” Turner said. “Whether you’re getting an aircraft off the deck at 0600 or opening a restaurant at 0600, they’re largely the same thing. You’ve got people and equipment and checklists and you’ve got a job to do. It’s all about motivating employees.”
He said he loves the freedom to make decisions without getting clearance from a wing commander or a boss. Turner also said the flexibility and freedom of business ownership is only enhanced by the fact that he’s able to build on the proven success of the established Dunkin’ Donuts Brand.
“It’s a proven concept,” Turner said. “By having a proven concept, your real risk is location and your management. This also helps with approvals and leasing.”
Turner offered some advice for other veterans who may be considering franchising as a post-military career option. He said retired veterans have two strong advantages. First, the steady income from pensions makes the original financial commitment a little easier. And second, military families are used to moving, so it’s easier for them to move to a prime location.
“You’re better off starting a business in a business-friendly growth state,” Turner said. “Swim with the current. Find a strong business climate. You can be the greatest franchisee in the world, but if you open up in the wrong ZIP code, you’re swimming upstream.”
The Company
Dunkin’ Brands owns the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins brands. Dunkin’ Donuts is the nation’s largest coffee-by-the-cup retailer, serving nearly 1 billion cups of brewed coffee each year. There are more than 8,300 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in 30 countries and more than 6,000 Dunkin’ Donuts in 36 states in the U.S. alone.
Dunkin’ Brands plans to expand and steadily increase this number in the coming years. Grant Benson, vice president of franchise sales for Dunkin’ Brands, said the company is seeking veteran franchisees to fuel the growth.
“Our country’s veterans have proven leadership skills and have demonstrated the ability to work well within a framework of discipline and accountability, and we are honored to offer them Dunkin’ franchising opportunities,” Benson said. “Military veterans are mature, and responsible, with proven leadership skills. Through their training, they are taught with difficult situations. Their perseverance makes them the ideal candidates for franchising.”
Dunkin’ Brands became part of the VetFran program on April 1, 2003, to support its recruitment efforts and affiliation with the International Franchise Association. Currently, there are 18 veteran franchisees with Dunkin’ Brands restaurants and the firm offers incentives to find more.
“Veterans have an extensive background in operations management,”Benson said. “And, franchises like Dunkin’Donuts are recognizing this experience in the nation’s military veterans.”
The total investment to start a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise ranges from $240,250 to $1,699,850. This includes the franchise fee, which ranges from $55,360 to $97,860, depending on location. All qualifying veteran franchisees will receive a 20-percent discount on the franchise fee for as many as five units.
In Uniform
Turner graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 and was a two-time All-American pistolier. He earned his wings in 1988 and in 1991 he volunteered to join a new squadron, the HSL-51 Warlords, in Atsugi, Japan. He deployed to the Persian Gulf twice during his assignment with the Warlords – once aboard USS Mobile Bay and again aboard USS Curts. In 1997, he transferred to the Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy, where he served as director of carrier operations.
Turner has flown more than 3,100 hours in six different Navy aircraft. He was a SH-60B helicopter flight instructor and made more than 1,000 successful night shipboard student landings on destroyers, frigates and cruisers. He earned a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies in 2003 from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. In 2004, Turner earned his airline transport pilot certificate from the FAA and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.