New VA, Fast Food Chain Agreement Waives $10,000 Fee for Veteran Franchisees

A national restaurant chain is waiving its franchise fees for veterans.

Steak ‘n Shake announced an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Wednesday to waive the $10,000 fee it normally charges for veterans seeking to run their own Steak ‘n Shake franchise. The longtime U.S. chain is known for its Steakburger, homemade milkshakes, and beef tallow fries.

“VA is all about helping those who have worn the uniform achieve the American Dream,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement, adding that it will “make it easier” for veterans to accomplish such goals.

As part of the agreement, Steak ‘n Shake restaurants across the United States will raise awareness of VA health care and benefits by providing information on their websites and signage in their stores, according to the VA. Restaurants will also prioritize hiring veterans and other VA beneficiaries, including family members and carers, for leadership positions in the company.

“I’m grateful to Secretary Collins and the Department of Veterans Affairs for their support of this initiative,” Michael Boes, who was hired as Steak ‘n Shake’s first chief MAHA officer in April, said in a statement.

“Veterans are among the finest leaders in our country, and this partnership is about translating our respect for them into real economic opportunity—both behind the counter and at the ownership level,” he added.

‘Most Pro-Veteran Restaurant in America’

The announcement received praise from at least one GOP lawmaker who joined Collins.

“Steak ‘n Shake, in my opinion, just cemented themselves as the most pro-veteran restaurant in America,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said.

The restaurant chain wrote on X: “Thank you, Secretary Collins and Senator Banks. We love our veterans and are proud to be able to support them. We appreciate all that President Trump is doing for our great country.”

Steak n’ Shake is not the only American business that offers special deals for veterans. Pirtek USA, which provides hydraulic hose repair and replacement services to customers, offers veterans a 30% discount off of their initial franchise fee.

Poll Scouts, which provides pool maintenance services, offers a 20% discount to veterans.

Aside from its deal with Steak ‘n Shake, VA has recently overhauled its police force to deal with a series of structural problems in the force.

The VA also announced on Monday that its disability claims backlog had dropped below 70,000 this week, a number not reached since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic six years ago.