24
BUSINESS CHICKS latte magazine
DOLLARS & SENSE
More women need to be encouraged to join the
franchising sector, as Kate Johnson explains.
T
he proportion of women remains lower
in franchising than small business in
general, a trend that we hope to be able
to reverse. We're looking to provide genuine
opportunities and initiatives for contribu-
tion, networking and professional develop-
ment amongst women within the franchising
community and to promote the success of
the franchising sector to women in general.
Women bring a different approach and alter-
native skills to business and that's the reason
we should be encouraging more women to
become franchisees.
Research undertaken by Scott Weaven in
2007 points to `lack of access to capital' as
one of the predominant reasons women are
not becoming franchisees.
Many franchisors can put prospective
franchisees in contact with their established
contacts at various fi nancing institutions so
women need to understand that lack of capital
isn't as a big a hurdle as they might anticipate
before fully considering the opportunity.
There are a variety of successful women-
centric franchises. Fernwood, Ella Bache and
The Natural Way that are proof that women
who are given the opportunity and are trained
and nurtured in the business environment can
be every bit as successful as the more male-
centric franchise systems.
Female franchisee, Ivana Rogina, says that
after four years as a bb's cafe franchisee she
defi nitely thinks the industry is well suited to
women.
"I get great support from Head Offi ce and
my Business Development Manager, which is
the reason I chose the franchising model, and
although I believe they don't treat me any dif-
ferently from the male franchisees within the
system, I do believe being female makes me
potentially more communicative and more
fl exible to implement ideas."
L
Is Franchising For You?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
1.
Do something you're really
2.
Create a crystal clear vision.
3.
Write a business plann.
4.
You can't do it all y.
5.
Decide that there.
5 TIPS FOR WOMEN
LOOKING TO FRANCHISE
1.
Select an industry that plays to your
strengths (eg. Customer service if you like
interacting with people)
2.
Ask prospective franchisors about their
relationships with fi nancial institutions
3.
Speak to other female franchisees and
employees of the prospective franchisor
4.
Spend time in an existing store or out
on the road in a mobile service to gain
hands on experience
5.
Look at systems in the growth
areas such as health, aged care, home
services, and environmental
Kate Johnson is the Chairperson of the
Franchise Council of Australia's Women in
Franchising committee.
> >>