Steak ’n Shake Hands Veterans The Keys

A new deal between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Steak ’n Shake opens a rare, real path for veterans to become business owners without paying the usual $10,000 franchise fee.

Story Snapshot

Steak ’n Shake will waive its usual $10,000 franchise fee for eligible veterans who become owner-operators.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)–Steak ’n Shake agreement is a public‑private partnership focused on veteran business ownership and VA benefit outreach.
Veterans who qualify can enter the Franchise Partner Program, share in profits, and get priority for leadership roles.
The program fits a broader Trump‑era push to use private partners to expand veteran entrepreneurship and access to VA services.

VA–Steak ’n Shake Deal Cuts a Major Cost Barrier for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs and Steak ’n Shake have signed a formal memorandum of understanding that waives the fast food chain’s usual $10,000 Franchise Partner Program fee for veterans who become owner‑operators. That fee is normally the entry cost to control a restaurant location under Steak ’n Shake’s model, where the franchise partner runs day‑to‑day operations. Dropping it for veterans removes one of the biggest up‑front hurdles for working‑class service members who want to move into small business ownership.

Under the agreement, veterans who join the Franchise Partner Program can operate a Steak ’n Shake restaurant with that $10,000 fee fully waived, rather than just discounted. Public information on the company’s franchise site explains that franchise partners usually invest $10,000 and then receive rights to run a location and earn a share of net profits. News reports and VA messaging now stress that eligible veterans will not have to pay this fee, meaning their initial cash requirement to step into ownership is significantly lower than for non‑veterans.

Partnership Also Promotes VA Benefits and Veteran Hiring

The memorandum does more than cut a check size; it turns every Steak ’n Shake restaurant into a small outreach post for VA health care and benefits information. The announcement says locations nationwide will display in‑store signs and website messaging that point veterans and their families toward VA services. Steak ’n Shake also pledged to prioritize veterans and VA beneficiaries, including family members and caregivers, for leadership roles across the company, tying the business model directly to veteran career advancement beyond ownership.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins framed the deal as part of a larger mission to help veterans reach the American Dream by owning businesses, not just working in them. He said this partnership makes it easier for veterans and their families to do that by removing cost barriers and spreading awareness of the benefits they earned through service. A senior Steak ’n Shake executive echoed that message, calling veterans “among the finest leaders in our country” and saying the program is meant to turn respect into “real economic opportunity” behind the counter and in the owner’s office.

How the Franchise Partner Program Works for Veterans

Steak ’n Shake’s Franchise Partner Program is a streamlined ownership track designed for individuals who want to run a restaurant with a relatively low cash buy‑in. Company materials explain that partners usually put in $10,000, gain operating rights for a single location, and then earn 50 percent of net profits. Separate veteran franchise information notes that selected partners get those rights and profit share for the same total investment figure, backed by a structured model and corporate support. Under the VA agreement, veterans step into that same model but with the fee waived.

Social media posts tied to VA leadership have promoted the program as not only waiving the fee, but also offering income security for new veteran owners. One VA‑linked post highlights that franchise partners keep 50 percent of profits and are guaranteed at least $100,000 in the first year, once they complete the company’s process and open their location. That guaranteed minimum, while coming from company messaging rather than government regulation, is being marketed as protection for veterans who might worry that taking on a restaurant could leave them with unstable income in their first year.

Part of a Broader Push for Veteran Entrepreneurship Through Partnerships

This VA–Steak ’n Shake deal fits into a wider pattern of public‑private partnerships the federal government now uses to support veteran business ownership. The Department of Veterans Affairs has promoted partnerships as a way to leverage private expertise and resources so veterans can more easily move into careers and entrepreneurship after service. A separate 2024 memorandum between the VA and the Small Business Administration focuses on training and counseling to support self‑employment for veterans and active‑duty service members, showing that this model is not limited to food service.

Yesterday VA Secretary Doug Collins and Sen. Jim Banks announced that Steak 'n Shake is eliminating franchise fees for qualified Veteran franchisees, creating new opportunities for Veteran entrepreneurs. IDVA Director Jake Adams was honored to attend this exciting announcement. pic.twitter.com/JkoEAxBCrr

— Indiana Dept. of Veterans Affairs (@Veteransindiana) July 9, 2026

Public‑private partnership guidance from the VA says these agreements aim to improve access to benefits and services while keeping trust, transparency, and accountability at the center. At the same time, past veteran franchise efforts have sometimes raised questions about the fine print, like who is eligible, what other costs exist beyond a headline fee, and how firm income guarantees really are. The current reporting on this Steak ’n Shake deal stresses the fee waiver and outreach goals, but full program details and vetting of long‑term results will matter for veterans who are putting their livelihoods on the line.