Women in franchising

With International Women’s Day just around the corner (8^th March), we thought that now would be a good time to honour female franchisees and acknowledge how they are pushing boundaries for women.

Across many corners of the world, women still face hurdles in the world of business. The reason we commemorate International Women’s Day is to celebrate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women. A huge part of this includes women’s careers, which include a lot of fruitful franchise endeavours.

For any women looking to get into franchising, there are many success stories out there that offer plenty of encouragement. According to the most recent bfa NatWest Franchise Survey, around 30% of all franchisees are women. This evidence clearly shows how franchising is an excellent opportunity for women who have ambitions to own and run their own business. It is also higher than the 18% of female SME ownership across the UK, according to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

In terms of NIC, an example is our very own Charlotte Eccleston and Kerry Miller, who turned an NIC franchise into an incredibly successful business model turning over £2 million. We hope the stories of these two women go on to inspire many potential and current franchisees to reach the top of the ladder. You can read more about the stories of Charlotte Eccleston and Kerry Miller here and here, with a personal video testimonial from Kerry at this link.

Why women should consider franchising

With the recent focus being on a more balanced life of working from home and the office, franchises are certainly becoming a more attractive proposition, and we expect the numbers of women in franchising to increase. The flexibility grants people the chance to find harmony between their personal and professional lives, which may be something that working mothers want to consider.

When franchising became more popular, women were definitely in the minority, but they have now filled a much bigger role in the franchising world. Women in franchising have a communal feel and are always supporting each other, and this gives them the encouragement to follow their passions.

Women make up 47% of the UK workforce, but only 7% of CEOs in the Fortune 500. However, when it comes to franchising, 16% of the CEOs are women. It may be that entrepreneurial opportunities provide the career ladder that allows women to ascend to the top, rather than having to break down the cultural infrastructures that come within the usual management hierarchy. Women are empowered as part of a franchise, and are able to break the mould.

Why franchise with NIC?

As one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial cleaning and support services, NIC will use its experience to help those who are up to the challenge. By allowing you to be your own boss, you hold the keys, all whilst benefiting from NIC’s ongoing support, mentoring, training and advice.

For any women who have been inspired by this blog, you might consider joining the NIC franchise family. We will give you access to a wealth of resources and franchise training programs that will teach you the skills you need to shine in your career as your own boss.

If starting a franchise is on your horizon, please get in touch with us, or for more information about NIC and our services, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.