FSC Franchise Co. Launches Veterans Program With New Franchise Incentives and Support

Parent company of Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap offers qualified veterans $25,000 in franchise fee savings and first-year royalty relief.

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FSC Franchise Co., parent company of Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap, announced a new veterans program designed to help military veterans become franchise owners while providing additional resources and networking opportunities for veterans already operating restaurants within its system. The program includes waived franchise fees, first-year royalty relief, educational opportunities and a new peer support group.

FSC has 14 veteran franchisees operating Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap restaurants, accounting for about 12% of franchise owners across the two brands. The company wants to bring more veterans into the system, including those looking to start a business after leaving the military.

"Veterans bring a lot of qualities to restaurant ownership. They understand accountability, how to lead a team and what it means to show up every day," said Chris Elliott, CEO of FSC Franchise Co. "Those things matter in this business. We already have some great veteran franchisees in our system, and we want to make sure more people coming out of the military know that franchising is an option for them. If we can make that first step a little easier, that's something worth doing."

Under the new incentive program, qualified veterans will pay no initial franchise fee, a savings of $25,000. Those who open their restaurants within 12 months of signing a franchise agreement will also receive 0% royalties during their first year of operations.

FSC is also establishing a veterans franchisee peer group, which will meet virtually each quarter to allow veteran operators to share experiences, discuss challenges and exchange business advice. The group will be facilitated by Jim Keenam, director of franchise operations for The Brass Tap and a military veteran.

"I've always thought it's important to have people you can pick up the phone and call," said Keenam. "Running a restaurant brings plenty of challenges, and sometimes another owner has already dealt with what you're facing. That's really what we want these meetings to be. A chance for our veteran franchisees to get to know each other, trade ideas and have a few more people in their corner."

Keenam is also working with Boots to Business, a free entrepreneurial education and training program offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration, to conduct franchising education sessions for veterans and transitioning service members.

Additional initiatives include a planned Veteran Partner Lunch at FSC's national brand conference next summer and dedicated veteran-focused franchise websites for Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap.

Prospective franchisees will also have opportunities to speak directly with existing veteran franchise owners about their experiences. Among FSC's veteran operators is Terry Snavely, a multi-unit The Brass Tap franchisee who has pursued expansion within the brand.

"If anybody's looking at the franchise, look at other franchises and look at what they're going to require you to give them. Then come back and talk to FSC," Snavely said. "You're going to be very surprised and very happy, and then you're going to realize exactly what you're getting for what you're giving them. I probably can't stress it enough. For somebody who was so anti-franchise, once we looked at this and had our discussions, it was a no-brainer."

The announcement comes as FSC continues to expand its restaurant portfolio. Through the third quarter of 2026, the company signed 20 franchise deals across its three brands and expects to open 15 restaurants by year-end. Another 21 openings are planned for 2027, including seven each for Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap. All three brands also earned spots on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400 ranking.

"We're proud of the veterans who are already part of FSC, and they've made a real impact on our brands," Elliott said. "They bring experience, perspective and a willingness to take ownership of the business. We want to keep building on that. This program is one way to recognize the people who are already here while opening the door for others who are interested in owning a restaurant."

ABOUT FSC FRANCHISE CO.
Founded in Tampa, Florida, FSC Franchise Co. is a leading multi-brand franchisor driving growth and innovation across three dynamic restaurant concepts — Beef 'O' Brady's, The Brass Tap and Newk's Eatery. With more than 250 locations nationwide, FSC brings together decades of expertise in hospitality, franchising and community engagement under one unified platform. Beef 'O' Brady's, with 120-plus family sports pub locations, serves up classic comfort food and community spirit in a neighborhood-friendly setting. The Brass Tap is a 50-plus-unit craft beer bar and entertainment venue that offers an extensive menu of drinks and food in a vibrant atmosphere. Newk's Eatery, a 100-unit fast casual brand founded in Jackson, Mississippi, brings fresh, handcrafted food to guests with a focus on quality ingredients, digital convenience and hospitality. Together, FSC's brands are redefining what it means to grow a scalable, community-driven restaurant portfolio — offering franchisees the opportunity to diversify within a powerful ecosystem of proven concepts. To learn more, visit https://www.fscfranchiseco.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Julie Maw
Mainland
209.617.6518
[email protected]

SOURCE FSC Franchise Co.