An exercise in flexibility (Daily Mail franchise story)

An exercise in flexibility

By: Linda Whitney

WOMEN who are searching for flexible work are increasingly setting up in business for themselves.

More than a million women are now self-employed in the UK, and many are attracted to franchising because it is less risky than setting up in business alone.

In return for an initial investment, franchisees get help from the parent business, the franchisor, with setting up and running the business.

Lynne Lister, franchisor with X-Press Legal Services, whose franchisees provide searches for property professionals, says: 'Franchising gives many women the confidence to start their own business, something they might not otherwise do.' More than half of the X-Press franchisees are female. 'Being self-employed offers a degree of flexibility that allows women to fit work around domestic commitments, and their ability to multi-task is a bonus, particularly in franchising when you must be able to tackle all aspects of the operation,' says Mrs Lister.

The £24,500 investment with X-Press includes training and ongoing support, and you can initially work from home before opening an office.

Work out the amount of time you can realistically devote to the business. Lack of time means your business will suffer, and your investment might be wasted. Many franchisors demand a minimum amount of work on your part, in return for the investment they make in your training.

More women are moving into franchising — more than a third of all new franchisee recruits are female — and many franchises seem designed to appeal to women.

Franchisees with Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs are often recruited from women who have attended the classes. The £20,500 investment includes an accredited course in exercise to music that counts towards a degree, plus training in business skills, and ongoing support.

Many franchisors welcome applications from women.

'Sixty per cent of our franchisees are female,' says Denis Chirgwin of Animals At Home.

Animals At Home franchisees provide pet-care services such as animal feeding and pet-sitting, but also drive pet ambulances, transporting animals to the vet, around the UK and Europe.

Investment is £14,000.

Women franchisees are not confined to traditionally ' female' industries. ' Being a female working in the sign industry is great,' says Lorraine Sullivan, who has been running a Fastsigns franchise in Reading for six months. ' My clients are bowled over when they see that I can climb a ladder and do all the practical stuff.' FASTSIGNS franchisees offer custom signs and graphic products, including banners, window graphics, floor graphics, safety and identification signs, exhibition graphics and exterior signs. Investment is from £40,000.

Women getting into business can often get extra help. The National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham on October 3 and 4 includes a section devoted to women in franchising (see www.franchiseinfo.co.uk).

Today also sees the launch of First Day Mums, aimed at women whose children have just started school.  November 19 is Women's Enterprise Day, aimed at helping women start in business.

More Rosemary Conley franchise information | More Fastsigns franchise information | X-Press Legal Services 01925 577 377 | Animals At Home 08701 126 613

FRANCHISE CASE STUDY

TRUDY TAYLOR, 34, went to Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classes when she wanted to lose weight. She soon realised that becoming a Rosemary Conley franchisee could solve the problem of working around her family – husband Paul and children Matthew, six, and Hannah, five. She began as a franchisee in 2005. ‘It was different from working for a big company,’ says Trudy, from Oldham, who was previously a manager in an RAC call centre. She started running her own classes, including a weigh-in, with nutritional advice and exercise. ‘I had customer service skills but I had help from the franchisor, learning about advertising and marketing the business, and there are ongoing training sessions in which you learn from more experienced franchisees.’ She now runs two classes a week, while others are run by staff she has trained. ‘Running a business and a family can be tough, but with a franchise like this there is always someone at the end of the phone to help you with any problems,’ she says.