Let's Ride!: Navy Vet and EagleRider Franchisee Rolls On

Jay Staggs is sailing high these days with his EagleRider motorcycle rental franchise in Washington, DC. The former Navy submariner has faced his share of challenges over the last five years he's been in business but his hard work, determination, and military background have seen him through.

Staggs served in the US Navy from 1983 until 1989 receiving two years of training in electronics and serving seven tours on SSBN class submarines. This military training and experience helped launch his carrier in management, electronics, and software development. Following his time in the military, he worked for NASA and several software companies before transitioning into the financial services field where he rose to the level of vice president of information technology. That's when he decided he wanted to operate his own business.

He discovered franchising and realized that the support system the model offers would be a great way to build a business. The longtime motorcycle enthusiast found it easy to select EagleRider as his own.

"The future of this business looks promising but I have had several challenges through the last five years," says Staggs. One of the biggest challenges has been surviving the tough economic recession. "As the economy started to fall, my customer base shrank as less people had money to spend on vacations and motorcycle getaways. Being part of a franchise helped my business survive through the tough times," he says.

The franchise worked closely with him during these lean years. He expanded his advertising and marketing to reach a larger customer base beyond his normal territory. Financing was also a challenge. A fleet of motorcycles is an expensive endeavor and made even more challenging by stingy banks, he says. But again he was able to rely on the support of his franchise to help him overcome obstacles.

Now that the economy is improving, Staggs sees blue sky ahead. He expects to double his current revenue over the next five years. But he always returns to his military background.

"My military experience provided me with the disciplined work ethic, organizational skills, and dedication that I needed to stay strong through leaner times and plan for a successful future."