Source: Racine County Eye
Phil Welch of Franksville is a second-generation US Military Veteran and a third-generation business owner.
Welch served in the U.S. Navy from 1994-2000, and his father, Frank Welch Jr, is an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Phil is a third generation owner of the A&W Restaurant in Caledonia.
Statistics show there are over 1.6 million veteran-owned firms in the U.S. These businesses employ approximately 3.3 million workers nationwide, according to the Small Business Administration. Veteran-owned companies represent about 5.5% of all U.S. business owners, indicating that roughly one in every 18 business owners is a veteran.
Welch wasn’t surprised by those numbers, as he believes there are characteristics of veterans that make successful entrepreneurs; being punctual, being structured, and having a plan for your day.
“Maybe that’s what helps military people, because you learn to be places on time, because if you don’t, you’re in trouble. And you learn to be structured, and you learn to have a plan for your day. Those are just key things in life that make a good entrepreneur,” he said.
Military influence and entrepreneurship
Welch stresses punctuality to his team at A&W, located at Highway K just east of I-94.
“If you’re five minutes late and you get a rush, that five minutes is an eternity in the restaurant business. It’s all about being there for your team,” he explained.
Welch owns and operates the A&W franchise along with his wife, Brittany. Always known for homemade root beer in a frosty mug, the Franksville restaurant was founded in 1954 as a root beer stand by his grandparents, Frank and Dorothy Welch.
Welch’s father, Frank Welch Jr., began working there when he was just a boy, or as Welch described, “You know, family business … as soon as your could walk you were helping.”
After serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, Frank Welch, Jr. returned home, and he and his wife, Sharon, partnered with his parents to build a year-around stand on the west side of I-94 at Highway K, in Franksville.
Just as his father had done when he was young, Welch began working there with his parents when he was 13. History repeated itself as Welch took over the business in 2012 after eminent domain forced the family to relocate to its current location on the east side of I-94 at Highway K, in Caledonia, when the interstate expanded to eight lanes.
Welch did not go straight from military service to entrepreneurship. After six years in the U.S. Navy, he said he took advantage of the G.I. Bill, attending MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering) in Milwaukee and earning an engineering degree. He worked as an electrical engineer in the Milwaukee area for more than a decade when his dad, ready for retirement, offered Welch the opportunity to take over the A&W.
“I was open to continuing the 60-year business, because it was an opportunity – who doesn’t want to at least try to keep a business going that’s successful,” Welch said.
Eventually, the old restaurant and the land it stood on were sold to the state, and the Welch family was able to secure a two-acre parcel of land just across the interstate, on the east side, to build a new A&W, complete with a drive-through window and a large patio. The new location opened in 2014.
Advice for veterans
For veterans trying to figure out what’s next after military service, Phil encourages them to consider business ownership.
“They (veterans) do have that basic skill set that not everyone has,” Phil said.
He also recommends talking to A&W about franchising opportunities.
“It’s a smaller company – we’re a large franchise, but there’s a lot of single A&W’s that they work with,” he said.
He also indicated that A&W and other franchises may have specific opportunities or discounts for veterans.
“Don’t be afraid to call the franchise groups,” Welch suggested.
Additionally, there are federal assistance programs that support veteran entrepreneurs. Look for funding programs, training, and federal contracting opportunities, Welch added.
Since Phil was taking over an existing family business, he didn’t need to utilize any such programs, but encourages veterans to investigate how these programs might help them get a start.
A&W’s veteran roots
The very first A&W was founded in 1919 just after WWI by a veteran, and the company began franchising in 1921.
“A lot of WWI veterans became A&W franchisees,” Phil said.
Throughout their history, the company has been steadfast in its support of veterans, as exhibited by the annual company-wide Root Beer Float Day, to be held on August 6 this year, to raise money for the DAV (Disabled American Veterans).
Between June 30 and August 6, collection boxes will be in participating stores, and guests can get a limited edition collector’s root beer mug for a $10 donation to DAV. Then, on August 6, A&W restaurants will provide a free small root beer float to all guests. No purchase is necessary; however, guests will have the opportunity to donate to DAV.
Last year, Phil said the corporation raised $100,000 for DAV, with a running total of more than $1 million donated over the years, through the annual promotion.
“I can tell you, A&W Corporate is very passionate about taking care of veterans,” Phil said.
Resources for veterans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers support for veterans as they enter the world of business ownership.
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs offers state specific services for Wisconsin veterans including assistance with the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, state veterans homes, grants, and employment programs.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a federal agency responsible for nationwide benefits such as VA healthcare, pensions, disability compensation, and education benefits.
Hiring Our Heroes is a small business grant program that offers grants for veteran owned small businesses.
