---
title: "Former Professional Baseball Player Opens JDog Brands Franchise"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/0543c71f-44c8-4eae-8f7d-fad5e68981a9
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/former-professional-baseball-player-opens-jdog-brands-franchise-2721073
category: "Home Services"
industry: "Home Services"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2023-02-09T18:13:58.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:08:23.628Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/75d825b6b0f56ce0a703141ad64952d22920.jpg
---

# Former Professional Baseball Player Opens JDog Brands Franchise

**TL;DR:** Wes Freeman, a former professional baseball player, has opened a JDog Junk Removal & Hauling location in Lakeland, Florida. JDog Brands, founded by Veteran Jerry Flanagan, aims to lower the Veteran unemployment rate to less than 1%.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2023-02-09. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/former-professional-baseball-player-opens-jdog-brands-franchise-2721073).*

## Story

JDog Brands, the Veteran-focused franchise with around 300 units across the U.S., is welcoming a former professional baseball player to its team of franchisees.

Wes Freeman, a former player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, opened a JDog Junk Removal & Hauling location in Lakeland, Florida in January. Freeman recently spoke to Patch about what prompted his decision to franchise with JDog.

Freeman says, after retiring from his baseball career due to an injury, he knew he wanted a follow path that fulfilled his passion for giving back to the community. He says JDog’s commitment to improving the lives of Veterans spoke to him on a personal level because his brother is also a Veteran.

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling offers a full range of junk removal services for residential and commercial properties while empowering Veterans through employment and entrepreneurship.

JDog Brands, founded by Veteran Jerry Flanagan, aims to lower the Veteran unemployment rate to less than 1%. The brand is on track to exceed 300 territories by the end of 2023.

*The total investment necessary to begin the operation of a JDog Junk Removal & Hauling ranges from $30,000 to $110,000, including a $35,000 franchise fee. For more information on franchising with JDog, visit* *

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Home Services (sector)
- franchise expansion (topic)
- home services (topic)
- JDog Brands (company)
- Jerry Flanagan (person)
- junk removal services (topic)
- veteran employment (topic)
- Lakeland, Florida (location)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/former-professional-baseball-player-opens-jdog-brands-franchise-2721073). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/0543c71f-44c8-4eae-8f7d-fad5e68981a9).