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Are you interested in investing in a franchise or business opportunity? Do you know there are various organizations and institutions set up to help women enter into the franchise industry? Begin your research of the franchise industry by first reading the following informative articles on the various aspects of women in franchising. 
View information on available funds and grants for women entering into franchising. Read about the different organizations set up to provide resources for women in franchising. Finally, why not read women in franchising “success stories”. These case studies relate to successful women franchisors and franchisees, and also successful women working within the franchise industry. Let these stories inspire you to start your own franchise business…
Your future success in franchising starts here….
Women and Franchising: Top Franchise Characteristics
According to Iain Murphy in his book (The Franchising Handbook: The Complete Guide to Choosing a Franchise), women are in some ways better suited to franchising and make a more attractive group as potential franchisees.
Here are a number of interesting characteristics that make women in franchising a successful target group for franchisors:
- Women are good at organizing, at coordinating activities and people efficiently. This means women franchisees will be naturally inclined to organize and coordinate their franchise opportunity more productively and profitably.
- Women are good at prioritizing, at deciding which activities are more important than others. This particular skill works well in the franchising industry, when problems arise concerning planning, staffing, financing and people management.
- Women enjoy working towards a common goal. Women operating a franchise will work to make that franchise a success, for all franchisees involved under the one franchise operation.
- Women are good at networking, ensuring effective communications are created between franchisee and franchisor, and franchisee and all other internal and external bodies.
- Franchising can offer women who are ambitious the opportunity to go into business and to be potentially successful and profitable on a personal and professional level.
Advantages of running your own franchise…
- In Franchising you get to be your own boss, and take control of your own life. Women franchisees are more successful because they enjoy the work life balance franchising can offer, making it more appealing to be their own boss.
- With 20% of small businesses failing in the first year of business, the concept of franchising offers assurance for women, interested in minimizing business start-up risks. The tried and tested formula helps reduce the risks by providing training, help and support.
- After a career break or pregnancy, women can often feel a lack of confidence in returning to the workplace. Franchising gives women the opportunity to rebuild their skills and knowledge in a supportive and successful environment.
This all adds up to one conclusion, franchising offers a tremendous opportunity for ambitious women to start their own business. Just as women’s characteristics are suited to franchising, franchising is suited to the needs and demands of women. It can’t be doubted, women and franchising make a very successful combination!
Read the following case study about one woman’s ambition to start her own franchise and how alongside her co-founder Julane Borth (now retired), Darcie Harris grew the business into a successful and profitable franchise network.
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Women Franchisors: Case Study Darcie Harris is one of many successful women working within the franchise industry. Her franchise EWF International was set up in 1998 to help promote the advancement of women entering into the business world through established franchise networks or peer advisory groups In an interview with The Oklahoman newspaper (August 13, 2006), Harris revealed her roots and how she became CEO of EWF International. The following is a brief excerption from the interview. My “father was an electrician, a union man, and my mother worked in the school systems. I was the second of four children... In 1976 I moved to California with my former husband, and worked as an assistant buyer for a high-end Nieman Marcus-type department store. I always loved to work and this was part of the reason I didn't finish college...I was drawn to take more hours at work than to the huge campus of San Diego State”. Here, Harris “worked briefly in retail and later outside sales, before working eight years at Contact Crisis Helpline Inc. It was as development director and executive director at Contact that Harris learned good management processes and the importance of a strategic plan”. Co-founder Julane Borth, whom Harris met at Contact, were encouraged to start a niche peer advisory market for women. “They both knew members of YPO (Young Presidents Organization) who loved the idea. They also knew a lot of female business owners who were left out because they couldn't meet YPO's membership criteria, a minimum number of employees and so many millions in annual revenues”. They started “EWF as a sideline to their separate consulting practices. Together, they grew the company to four forums in Oklahoma City and three franchises in Oklahoma City; Plano, Texas, and Tulsa. There are 120 members nationwide”. “The 44 business-owner members in Oklahoma City employ more than 1,200 people and generate annual revenues of $268 million. Eighty-five percent renew their annual memberships”. Darice Harris is one of many influential and inspiring women working within the franchise industry. Her success as a business founder and franchisor is an inspiration to all women hoping to start up their own business venture in franchising. In fact her franchise model is based on helping women enter into the business and franchising industry! |
