When it comes to increasing the number of women in business, franchising has a strong part to play.
Some 30% of the UK's 40,000 franchise 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 great
option for women who want to start their own business. Read more about women in franchising
Exclusive Interview: "I'm empowered, inspired and encouraged."
Alex Scotchbrook is the UK’s top performing Tutor Doctor franchisee and has been ranked number 2 in the world for the last four years running. She was Tutor Doctor’s first ever UK franchisee when she launched in 2009. She now runs four territories, employs five members of staff and gives work to over 382 tutors in her community. Alex’s business has helped over 2000 children not only get good exam results but to believe in themselves – a skill for life!
Interview with Emma Nicholson, Marketing Manager (Franchise Recruitment), ServiceMaster
Emma Nicholson is Marketing Manager (Franchise Recruitment) for ServiceMaster. ServiceMaster was founded in Chicago in 1929 and first launched in the UK in 1959. The group currently consists of 6 brands – ServiceMaster Clean, ServiceMaster Restore, TruGreen, Rosemary Bookkeeping, Merry Maids and Furniture Medic. Emma talks to us about the company’s franchise journey in the UK, their successes to date, and the challenges they have had to overcome; including how they coped during the Covid pandemic. “All existing strategies were out of the window and instead, we had to create a business contingency plan, not only for our central operations, but for our franchise brands too. We are continuing to work hard to rebuild and strengthen our brands.“
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.
Rush Hair franchisee interview with Natalia Valenza
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
My EnviroVent franchise helped me scale up my life
When busy mum of four, Sarah Bell, launched her EnviroVent franchise in 2010, her motives were simple – bring home a supplementary income that would cover the odd treat for her children and fill the hours whilst they were at school. Now, she is thought of as the number one domestic ventilation system provider in the Nottingham and Derby area and a very successful business woman in her own right. Ten years on, her motives may have evolved but her priorities remain the same; put the customer first and the rest will follow.
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
Ask The Expert
Vicki Mitman QFP - Birketts
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
If you are a woman 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.
Find out more about the EWIF annual awards, including past winners, nominees for this year's awards and the latest keynote speakers.
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.
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.