How My Military Background Fueled My Entrepreneurial Journey

By Paul Holt, Pillar To Post Franchise Business Owner

I spent 22 years of my life serving my country, and while those years were tough, they were also incredibly rewarding. When I retired from the Army as a Master Sergeant, I knew that the road ahead would be difficult to pivot into civilian life - I was at a crossroad. I joined the Army right out of high school and it was all I knew up to that point. My experience in the Military provided me with all of the skills and leadership qualities I needed to be an entrepreneur, I just needed to take that leap of faith.

Being a veteran is one of my proudest accomplishments, but when I was done serving, I wanted to make something of my own while also helping give back the best way I could. I started to research different business opportunities and came across franchising, particularly with Pillar To Post. I had viewed several different concepts, but Pillar To Post had company values that aligned perfectly with what I wanted: Respect the individual, Invest in each other's success, Have pride in what we do, Practice continuous improvement, and Deliver what we promise. I also enjoyed that this concept was in the home services space. My family has a legacy in construction, so being able to work in a happy medium of that
world made me feel more like I was thriving in my own right.

I chose to be a franchise business owner with Pillar To Post in 2019, in North Carolina. Starting a business is never easy, and I quickly learned that the market for home inspections was both competitive and challenging. Many of my competitors were focused on offering fast and cheap services, which I knew would never lead to the kind of thorough inspections that homeowners truly need. I was determined to set a higher standard, even if it meant taking a risk.

That's why, in the early days of my business, I made the decision to offer my services for free. I conducted 47 home inspections at no charge, not because I didn't value my work, but because I wanted to prove to my clients that quality matters. I wanted them to see firsthand that a thorough inspection could make all the difference in the safety and success of buying a home.

Now this was a huge business gamble, especially for a first-time business owner just starting out. People around me were worried about how this would affect my profitability, and just the overall future of
my business. But it all paid off in more ways than I could have imagined.

In my first year, my business grew by 418%, and I was honored to receive Pillar To Post's Rookie of the Year award in 2020. Since then, I've continued to see annual growth of 20-30%. More importantly, I've built a reputation for excellence that has set my business apart in a crowded market.

I have been not only able to grow my own business, but have been able to give back to my community and my fellow veterans. I established a pipeline with Fort Liberty to help other veterans transition to civilian careers through the SkillBridge Program. I also have had the opportunity to work with the Dream Center a local charity for homeless veterans to help them get back on their feet because anybody who serves our country should never sleep without a roof over their head.

As I continue to grow my business, I remain focused on the things that matter most which is delivering quality service, giving back to my community, and helping others succeed. My military service may be behind me, but the principles that defined those years continue to shape my journey as an entrepreneur, as I strive to lead with purpose and create lasting change.