Mothers can have it all (Daily Mail franchise story)

Mothers can have it all

by Linda Whitney


WOMEN looking for a better work/life balance are increasingly choosing to find it by starting their own business. A franchise can be an easier way to do it. Though nearly half of franchises are co-owned by women, just over one in ten is solely owned by a female. But this isn’t because franchisors don’t want them. ‘We particularly appreciate women franchisees,’ says Gerry Usher of Go Kart Party, whose franchisees take a mobile go-kart track to children’s parties, fêtes and corporate events. ‘Seven of our ten best franchisees are women.’ The events are mainly at weekends, and you can take older children with you to help. ‘One of our franchisees says travelling to events provides great quality time with her children,’ says Mr Usher. The outlay is £25,000. New franchises offering flexible work are more and more common, but check them out extra carefully. The new Tatty Bumpkin franchise involves running yoga-based music and movement classes for young children. Franchisees can also run children’s parties and sell organic, fairtrade children’s clothing and merchandise. ‘It suits mums wanting to return to work, though it will be full-time,’ says Gill Levett. Got an eye for interior design? Home Stagers is looking for people to help create stylish interiors. Clients include estate agents, developers and individuals selling homes. Price is on application. PL8 franchisees provide a furnishings service for landlords and letting agents. You can do the work yourself or oversee it, but your main job is selling your service. Investment
is £23,000. Women’s communication skills are much in demand. ‘Many successful travel
agents are women because of their good communication skills,’ says Kerry Costello of Freedom Travel-Gateway, which helps people get into the business. The franchise is part of the Co-operative Travel group, and involves opening a high street outlet. The £30,000
investment includes training, and Association of British Travel Agencies (ABTA) bonding. ‘It’s a full-time business, including weekend work, and you need to enjoy meeting people and have an eye for detail,’ says Mr Costello. If you enjoy networking, you could make a business of it with the Athena Network. Its 24 franchisees sell memberships and run networking events for business women. Investment is from £5,000. Women with a corporate background can also use it to start a KJ Associates franchise.
Founder Katie Jones says: ‘It means offering management training in skills such as communications and presentations, so you need experience.’ Investment is from £7,995.
■ GO KART Party 0870 116
2000, Tatty Bumpkin 01732
812212, Home Stagers 0800
542 8952, PL8 0845 603 1183,
Freedom Travel-Gateway
0161 927 7300, Athena 0845
004 9262, KJ Associates
01425 471597.

‘AREADY-MADE BUSINESS NETWORK’

JEMMA CORBETT is a franchisee with Medics On The Move in Bristol, finding homes for medical staff, solicitors and other professionals. ‘I was surprised to find that women are in the minority in franchising,’ says Jemma, 26. Medics On The Move franchisees find properties for clients to rent or buy, and then provide management services. ‘Women often have dependants, so they are more likely to want to minimise risk in their business, and with a franchise you stand a better chance of success,’ says Jemma. ‘You also get support from the franchisor, with help at the end of the phone.’ Medics On The Move offers the chance to work flexibly. ‘Many clients prefer to meet me in the evenings, so I arrange my work to fit in with visits to the gym,’ says Jemma. ‘You could organise your work around school runs.’ She also appreciates the contact with other franchisees. ‘Running a business can be daunting but it helps that I can call other franchisees to talk things through. It’s like a readymade business network.’ Medics On The Move is looking for more franchisees with £25,995 to invest.
■ Medics On The Move 0870 350 1858.