The Time is Right For Women In Franchising

Which Franchise:

There are an estimated 3.7 million small businesses in the UK with around 400,000 new businesses started every year.

However, you may not be aware that over 30% of all new businesses are currently started by women – i.e. over 130,000 every year.

Why Are More Women Going Into Business?

Both men and women feel that it is now easier for women to start their own business due to cultural change and increased opportunities available to them, as well as being taken more seriously.

Government agencies such as Business Link and Scottish Enterprise actively help women looking to start their own business. They have specialist services and programmes dedicated to women in business, and run networking business events solely for women.

There has also been an increase in the number of women network organisations, e.g. everywomen.com, focusing solely on the needs of women at work. These are women actively encouraging other women to go into business.

Cultural change is also encouraging more younger women to start their own business. Due to the introduction of equal opportunity legislation (where the consequences of not following it can be financially damaging to organisations) and a shift in attitude, many women don’t have to deal with the issues faced by their peers. Women are instead becoming increasingly more independent and career-focussed, with an inert desire to do as well as their male counterparts, leading many to start their own business.

Why is Franchising an Ideal Option?
Recent research has shown:

Women state that being given the chance to be their own boss is the most important factor for setting up their own business. Franchising gives you this plus back-up help and support from the network.

Women tend to go for businesses that require less start-up capital, hence less risk and greater flexibility to work out of normal office hours. Due to the proven business system, franchising offers less risk and greater security. Many franchises do not follow a strict 9-5 day, but allows you to work out of hours providing you with the flexibility you desire.

Research has also shown that 15% of women, compared to 5% of men run their business on a part-time basis, which could be due to the continued pressure on women to take on the primary childcare role. Franchising is ideal for women with children, as it allows them to “juggle� between their working and family life

45% of women chose to get into a business that is different from what they did before. When you buy a franchise you are giving all the training and support you need to make your business a success on an initial and ongoing basis. This therefore lets you buy into a industry where you have had no previous experience.

Women place greater emphasis on such skills as being organised and having the ability to handle numerous tasks. As with any small business, franchising can require the franchisee to be director, sales person, IT guru and admin person in the same day!