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Franchise Prospector » Franchising for Women
Starting a Franchise: What Crucial Challenges Do Women Face?
Women who are interested in franchise ownership should be prepared for the unique challenges they might face, such as juggling family commitments and maintaining professional relationships with staff.
According to the United States Small Business Administration, over the five-year period from 1997 to 2002, the number of businesses owned by women increased by an impressive 19.8%. The Center for Women's Business Research reports that women now own 10.5 million businesses in the United States. Women are making tremendous strides in business, but they still can face some obstacles. If you are a woman interested in starting a business franchise, it is important that you are familiar with these challenges--and that you feel comfortable tackling them.
Penetrating the Old Boys' Club
One disadvantage for women business owners is that they tend not to be as well-connected as their male counterparts. Friendships are vital in the business world, and knowing the right people can really give your business a boost. In the past, women in business encountered gender discrimination from "old boys' clubs" of businessmen who were not eager to embrace women's skills in business. They had few female mentors who could help them by sharing their own business experience and advice. Over the past thirty years, however, women have been joining the workforce in greater and greater numbers, changing closed clubs into open networks in the process.
Today, many successful businesswomen are teaching each other how to succeed in franchising. In fact, it's in every franchise owner's best interest to make reaching out to the community a top priority. Joining business organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and the industry's specialized trade organizations keeps a franchisee in touch with other business leaders and helps to increase the franchise's visibility in the community.
Juggling Work and Family Responsibilities
Another special concern for women is making time for family. Very generally speaking, women tend to be more family-oriented than men, so putting in long hours at work could be a real problem. If you already have children, you will need to find a way to get plenty of quality time with them. If you know that you want to have children in the future, you must figure out how you can both enjoy your pregnancy and keep up with your business. You might need to shorten your maternity leave to ensure that your business stays on track, for example. It can be tough sometimes to be the boss.
These family challenges can all be solved with a little planning and a lot of energy and dedication. The toughest part of starting your own franchise is at the very beginning. Your stress levels will be high, and you most likely will be working long hours. If you have a partner or other family members who live close by, they can give you extra support during this busy time. As you choose your franchise, look for businesses that are open during times when you would not be with your family anyway, such as when your kids are at school.
Maintaining Boundaries with Staff
Women's talent for communication and empathy are two of their great skills in business. Conversely, though, these personality traits also can harm a franchise. If you have a staff, you must maintain a professional relationship with them so that they respect your authority. It is easy to feel as though your staff members are your friends. Once you and your staff settle into a close relationship, it can be difficult to ask them to do unpleasant tasks, or to reprimand them if the standard of their work is sliding. In the long run, you are better served by staying a little bit aloof.
Now is an excellent time for women to become franchise owners. New businesswomen join the ranks of an increasingly female workforce. Though women in business today do face some unique challenges, such as scheduling around family commitments and keeping relationships with their employees professional, the rewards are great. If you are looking for a dynamic career in which you control all of your company's major decisions, you should consider a franchise.
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