Dida Clifton believes franchising and the military have more in common than meets the eye. As a U.S. Air Force veteran, Clifton took her military discipline and built TheOfficeSquad, a bookkeeping and administrative support business with a methodical approach. By Sarah Lindauer
Dida Clifton believes franchising and the military have more in common than meets the eye.
As a U.S. Air Force veteran, Clifton took her military discipline and built TheOfficeSquad, a bookkeeping and administrative support business with a methodical approach.
TheOfficeSquad runs a clean back office for its partners, from up-to-date financials and on-time bill pay to call answering and client scheduling. Its business model is built around precision and order – characteristics Clifton honed in her Air Force fighter squadron.
The result? A high-performing business with happy customers.
“When the civilian world looks at the military, they think of trust,” shared Clifton. “The same then goes for veterans-turned-entrepreneurs; your clients are going to trust you. I always tell people, ‘This is the most honest bookkeeping firm you’ll ever find.’”
Not only do these military principles cater to a successful business, but they also open a door for veterans to enter entrepreneurship.
“When you’re a business owner, it’s important to be disciplined. You have to do the same things over and over in a structured manner. That’s exactly what the military teaches you,” said Clifton.
TheOfficeSquad has a simple- to-operate model with limited staffing requirements and a quick launch time. Follow the steps and grow the business.
One part of these directives involves managing small-business owners, and Clifton believes that veterans are uniquely equipped to do so. How? She compares business owners to fighter pilots, a personality type that fellow Air Force veterans know well.
“All a pilot wants to do is fly, and all a business owner wants is to grow their business. They don’t want to do the bookkeeping or answer the phones. That sense of urgency that I gained in the military, working with pilots, now helps me to field requests from TheOfficeSquad’s clients,” she explained.
Veterans also appreciate TheOfficeSquad’s community feel. “When you leave the service, it’s like leaving family. You take off your uniform, and your mission is gone. Franchising makes this an easier transition; we’re another family,” said Clifton. Alongside the new family, franchisees also get their mission back – this time, in the form of serving small-business owners in need of administrative support, bookkeeping and full back-office services.
And they’re never alone in their ventures. Clifton calls TheOfficeSquad’s support system The Wing, a play on the Air Force’s units of command, to demonstrate the franchisor’s collective work toward a greater goal – ensuring franchisees see a successful launch. The Wing offers 360-degree assistance with operational support, leadership development, business development training and marketing support.
“Don’t start from the beginning or do this by yourself. Franchising is so much easier. You pick a business model that’s tried and true, and then you soar,” she said, evoking the image of a fighter jet taking flight. Certain experiences really do stay with you forever – and make for good business.
Sarah Lindauer