While it’s always been clear that women face both different and greater obstacles than men in the working world, the pandemic only exacerbated these challenges over the past three years.
To try to address this disparity in Canada, institutions have developed programs and resources to help women realize their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Read on for a list of resources intended to help address the specific challenges facing women who want to become entrepreneurs and rise through the ranks of the Canadian franchise industry.
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
A one-stop source of knowledge, data, and best practices developed by the Government of Canada, specifically created with women entrepreneurs in mind. The Hub collects, analyzes, and disseminates statistics and research on female entrepreneurship. Other activities include reporting on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Canada.
Export Development Canada: Women in Trade
Offering resources for women entrepreneurs competing on the global stage, EDC helps women-owned and –led businesses with exports through credit insurance, risk management, and cash flow, as well as by providing a deep well of expertise, featuring guides, webinars, and success stories with insights and practical advice on international trade.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Woman Entrepreneur
The BDC provides free resources, including access to networking opportunities and partnerships that can provide business benefits. The BDC also provides case studies of successful women-owned businesses and articles and exclusive content on maintaining business growth.
Visa’s in-house platform for female small business owners. They offer grant opportunities to remove the disproportionate barriers faced by Black women founders. They also feature how-to guides full of tips for starting, scaling, and running a successful business, and a series on customer insights.
Creating meaningful learning initiatives, engaging with the industry to create connections, and providing opportunities for members to market and promote their businesses, Canadian Women in Food gives everyone a seat at the table.
Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC)
Providing resources for women-identifying and nonbinary entrepreneurs across the country, including membership for established enterprise leaders and loans of up to $50,000 for emerging business professionals.
Women of Influence+ aids organizations with everything from talent recruitment and event sponsorship to targeted marketing. It also offers leadership programs, workshops, and keynotes, allowing working professionals to make connections.
The only bank-owned recognition program for women in North America, BMO celebrates successful women who have given back to their communities or achieved success in business. BMO also financially supports women, with the new Celebrating Women Grant Program.
Learn more about women who are thriving in the Canadian franchise industry!