Some 30% of the UK's 40,000 franchisee businesses are owned and run by women, according to the bfa NatWest Franchise Survey. That's higher than the rate of female SME ownership across the UK - 18%, according to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills - but there is still more to do to make sure that franchising is seen as a franchising is seen as a great option for women who want to start their own business. Read more about women in franchising
When Sarah Slater lost her Mum to cancer, she started to look at her life and what she wanted out of it. Determined to make a better future for herself whilst helping the lives of others, Sarah started to look at the options of starting her own business in the care industry. After much research, Sarah is now running her own Home Instead franchise in Rugby.
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Karen Kelly is founder and Managing Director of Cleanhome, a cleaning franchise with 16 franchises across the UK. Cleanhome franchisees provides clients with fully trained cleaners who undertake a range of services from ironing, to weekly and fortnightly cleaning. To get an insight into this thriving franchise business...Read more…
Hear from successful women in franchising, both franchisees and franchisors, talking about their journey into franchising, why they love franchising, and what their role as a franchisee/franchisor entails.
The winner's of this year's NatWest EWIF Awards have been announced. These awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of women throughout the franchise industry and help them to come together to recognise each other's successes.
Franchising is a popular choice for women looking to get back into work after having children. Franchising offers them the flexibility to fit a career around their family life; something that many would struggle with in a 9-5 job. Read more about the benefits of franchising for women
If someone had asked me 20 years ago whether I thought I would be running my own business and raising a family I would have laughed and said no way. It was a childhood dream that I had, but it was only a dream and they don't come true do they? How wrong was I? I’m now the proud owner of a Belvoir franchise and mum to 4 kids!
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Though your own personal banker may seem the obvious approach when looking for funding for a franchise, most will tend to have little knowledge of the UK franchise market. Banks with franchise expertise such as Lloyds Bank are a great source of impartial advice. They may offer you preferential terms as they are likely to have knowledge of the brand you are looking to invest in and may have already supported several existing franchisees so have a track record to work on.
Find out more about how Lloyds Bank can help you
Vicki is an Associate Solicitor in the Franchising Team at Birketts and specialises in advising franchisors on a broad range of legal matters from drafting franchise agreements and franchise resale agreements to brand protection, network management and assisting with dispute resolution. Vicki also advises franchisees on the terms of their franchise agreement and assists franchisees looking to buy or sell a franchised business. Birketts is a full service law firm which advises on a range of commercial and corporate services together with employment, commercial property and dispute resolution.
Ask Vicki a question
Women in franchising experts
If you are a women looking to get into franchising, whether it be buying a franchise or developing your own business into a franchise, there is an array of business events taking place that will help you to understand the franchising process. Or maybe you are a woman already in franchising, an existing franchisee or franchisor, and want to know more about developing your business, then there are also events suited to you.
Aimed at encouraging more women into franchising, the 2015 Women in Franchising conference, run by the British Franchise Association, has been hailed a success. A record amount attended the event to hear from inspiring franchisees and franchisors, as well as guest speaker, television presenter turned entrepreneur, Carol Smillie who spoke about her internationally recognised brand, Diary Doll.
