Every year, thousands turn to franchising to make the dream of starting their own business become reality. More and more of these entrepreneurs are women: according to the Wall Street Journal, as of May 2019, 35 per cent of franchise outlets in the U.S. are owned by women. Here in Canada, women are following suit, turning to franchising for the many benefits it provides, including work-life balance.
In honour of these female entrepreneurs and International Women’s Day on March 8, this Women in Franchising issue recognizes females across the Canadian franchise industry. These women are helping to grow the franchise community through their hard work and commitment to their businesses and communities. Throughout this issue, we share their insights to inspire Canadian entrepreneurs from all demographics, starting with our Women in Franchising cover story.
In this article, we include the stories of seven women from across a range of different franchising sectors. Here, they share their motivations, challenges, experiences, and words of wisdom to help motivate the next batch of female community-builders. You can also find more inspiring female success stories in a special online article available exclusively at www.FranchiseCanada.Online.
Beyond the cover story, we also take a close look at two female franchisees and their thriving operations. In the First Year article, 30 Minute Hit franchisee Kristi Bieber outlines how she moved her family to Vernon, British Columbia specifically to open her location, and the value that comes from providing a strong sense of community and consistently transforming women’s lives. We also take you through a day in the life of Bark Busters franchisee Michelle Bailey, who switched careers to follow her passion for animals and to spend more time with her family.
Family is a fundamental part of any successful franchise, especially for women who turn to franchising to find the right work-life balance. Four families who operate their franchises together explain how their family dynamics strengthen their franchise operations. They also share their advice for franchising as a family unit, including navigating any challenges that arise.
As this issue indicates, there are so many opportunities available to women who want to become franchisees. You can find the full online directory of CFA member opportunities at www.LookforaFranchise.ca. For those interested in expanding an existing business through franchising, the How to Franchise Your Business article outlines the information you need to know before taking your business down the franchising path.
I’ve been a part of the franchise community since I was a student. In the Leadership Profile article, I share my story, including how I got started in franchising and my experiences with different leading franchise brands that led to my current position as the President and CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA).
The women featured in this issue are already making a difference in their communities. There are so many opportunities available for women in franchising throughout the country, and I look forward to welcoming more female entrepreneurs into our community in 2020 and beyond.