Franchise Prospector » Franchising for Women
A Match Made in Heaven: Why Women Make Good Franchisees
Women's innate talents, such as their skills in multi-tasking and communication, make them uniquely qualified to work in franchising.
Women are discovering their skills in business and franchising, and it shows. According to the U.S. Center for Women's Business Research, 10.5 million businesses in the United States are owned by women. Additionally, businesses owned by women have grown two times as fast as average over the past twenty years. Much of women's recent business achievement comes from hard work alone, but women's innate skills and abilities also fuel their accomplishments. In fact, women tend to be better than men in certain business areas that are key for franchising success.
Multi-Tasking and Problem-Solving Come Naturally to Women
Multi-tasking and problem solving are day-to-day necessities for owners of franchises. They must make quick, well-reasoned decisions while juggling other tasks. Many people believe that women tend to be more adept at multi-tasking and problem solving than men.
This popular observation actually has a basis in biology. Human brains are divided into right and left hemispheres. The right hemisphere is considered the "creative" half. It is also responsible for language. The left hemisphere is responsible for more concrete, linear thought. As you multi-task, your brain must quickly adapt its thought patterns. Problem solving requires the combined forces of the creative and the concrete parts of your brain. A bundle of nerve fibers connects the two halves of the brain. This bundle is more developed in women's brains, suggesting that they can more easily form connections between their left and right brains.
Developing Relationships -- a Female Forte
It is not only the brain's biology that makes women effective at franchising. In general, women are more adept at navigating social situations than men. They are very sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues in conversations, so they tend to have a clearer picture of how others feel, even if it does not agree with what others say. Keeping employees happy and productive is one of the top tasks of a franchise owner. Women are good at gauging employees' satisfaction with their jobs, and women's excellent communication skills can win over employees who are unhappy.
Many franchising opportunities are in retail and service industries. These business sectors rely on repeat business and good word-of-mouth for their continued success. Women's talent for developing and maintaining relationships gives them a real edge. Customers are much more likely to feel loyal to a business if they know that the business values them, and women are usually very good at showing their customers how important they are.
Escaping a Corporate Structure Means Escaping the Glass Ceiling
A final reason that women make such good franchisees is that they have the chance to escape a rigid corporate structure. Working for a larger corporation, women might find that they have less autonomy than they prefer. If they are intent on working their way up the corporate ladder, they encounter grueling work hours that steal away time with their families. Even if they are willing to make sacrifices to advance their careers, some women still bump their heads on the glass ceiling as they rise in the corporate world.
Many women turn to franchising because of the drawbacks of corporate life. They bring the skills and knowledge they gained with them to their new business. Franchising can also be a more than full time job, but it does not have to be. Women who want to spend more time with their families or with other interests and hobbies can find a bevy of franchising opportunities that can be done part-time. Part-time franchising ensures that both the business and life outside it receive ample attention. No matter whether women choose to work full-time or part-time, they have total control over their work schedule.
If you are feeling held back by the corporate structure at your job, maybe it is time to look into franchising. You might be pleasantly surprised to find out that you already have the skills you need to succeed.
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