Oscar Nunez’s Career Pivot From the Navy to a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise

Oscar Nunez did not set out to own a plumbing franchise. In fact, his career as an adult actually took shape through government work and military service. But in 2025, after years of reflection, Nunez reached a career crossroads — and opened a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise in Huntington Beach, California.

After signing his franchise agreement last spring, Nunez officially opened the doors in October 2025. That move marked a defining change from the career he had spent more than a decade building.

A Navy veteran of 11 years, Nunez graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in Spanish. His background, on paper, pointed toward public service, not entrepreneurship. But as his military career progressed, he found himself reassessing what he desired in the bigger picture.

“After about 10 years, I hit a breaking point where you reflect and rethink which way you want your life to go,” Nunez said.

Leaving the military was not an easy decision. Nunez describes it as a deeply personal choice, shaped in part by his status as a disabled veteran.

“It was a very hard decision because I loved it,” he said. “It’s not for everybody. But for me it was.”

Rather than fully sever those ties, Nunez made his way into a civilian role as a security specialist protecting classified information. That work brought him to Huntington Beach, a short commute from the base.

Around that same time, Nunez began exploring entrepreneurship through a veteran-focused program called Vetrepreneur, which connects former service members with mentors and franchise opportunities. The program emerged from a nuanced process grounded in diligent research, proactive outreach and ongoing conversations with existing franchise owners.

“Franchising provides guidance instead of starting from scratch,” Nunez said.

The structure of that process resonated. It loomed particularly large as Nunez evaluated how to pivot from a more command-driven environment to running his own business.

As Nunez evaluated his options, plumbing emerged as an obvious choice. His father spent more than two decades in the trade and Nunez saw the value in skilled work he believes is increasingly undervalued.

“It’s a skill that will always be needed,” he said. “And not many people know how to do it.”

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing stood out during the discovery process, particularly for its accessibility and transparency. Conversations with other franchisees, and the franchisor itself, helped clarify expectations and operational realities.

“They were very supportive and always willing to answer questions,” Nunez said. “It felt like they had a solid blueprint for managing franchises.”

Since opening, Nunez has put his faith in the systems and support provided by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Authority Brands. That support includes regular check-ins and productive conversations on operations, vendors and marketing. At the same time, he’s taken on the daily responsibilities that tend to accompany the launch of a new business.

“Right now, I’m wearing multiple hats: HR, hiring, payroll, dispatching, taking calls,” Nunez said.

That hands-on experience has reshaped how he thinks about growth, reinforcing the importance of mastering the fundamentals before scaling too quickly.

While his business remains in the early stages, Nunez nonetheless has an ambitious goal for 2026: to grow deliberately. He’s currently working toward the hire of a second technician and intends to expand beyond residential plumbing. As a disabled veteran, Nunez has also established a government account in an effort to properly position the business to pursue federal contracts.

While the transition from government employee to franchise owner represents a major career shift, Nunez sees value in the mindset necessary to succeed in franchise ownership.

“Don’t be afraid of failure,” he said. “The best way to learn is by doing.”

For Nunez, the tools may have changed but the discipline and adaptability forged during his years of service continue to guide his approach as he builds his Benjamin Franklin Plumbing business from the ground up.