8 franchise brands perfect for female entrepreneurs

A handful of brands that could be a great first franchising step

Sometimes it can be tricky to know where to begin when looking for a franchise brand that aligns with your needs as an entrepreneur. Which sector do you want to enter? Do you want to work remotely, or operate out of a brick-and-mortar location?

Here’s a handful of great franchise brands that are not only brimming with female franchisees but could be the next step in your entrepreneurial journey.

1. PINK SPAGHETTI

A virtual personal assistant business that can be operated entirely from the comfort of your own home, Pink Spaghetti is perfect for communication-focused franchisees who want their business to be as flexible as their lifestyle. Lots of its current franchise network consists of career-driven women wanting a break from the standard nine-to-five, and it currently has over 40 locations across the United Kingdom.

“A Pink Spaghetti franchise is a flexible and rewarding business opportunity, which lets you reach your full potential and take control of your life and career,” says co-founder Vicky Matthews, who launched the brand with Caroline Gowing in 2009. “It has the potential to fulfil your career aspirations and adapt to a busy lifestyle whilst also giving you the opportunity to achieve financially.”

 

2. ACTIONCOACH

For women looking to support fellow businesses while making a name for themselves in the B2B world, ActionCOACH could be the perfect franchise opportunity. Not only do ActionCOACH franchisees enjoy the fulfilment of helping other entrepreneurs to succeed, but they can rely on the brand’s global network of experts and truly become part of this international white-collar community.

“I’m now in control of my destiny,” says Helen Pethybridge, an ActionCOACH franchisee, “where the speed of progression is my choice and it’s up to me to decide when I want to reduce my hours when to retire, and what work I choose to do.”

3. POPOLO CERAMICO

When Christina Taylor-Chisolm had her first child, she realised that her inflexible IT project manager role, which often demanded over 60 hours of her time every week, wasn’t as viable as it had previously seemed. So, taking her career into her own hands, she created Popolo Ceramico; a lifestyle franchise perfect for family-oriented entrepreneurs.

“Popolo Ceramico is a personalised ceramics business that specialises in capturing hand and footprints in paint, clay, and plaster, and also paint-your-own-pottery takeaway boxes,” says Taylor-Chisolm. “Our creative franchises are perfect for individuals who want to work flexible, mainly from home, and still earn a good income.”

READ MORE: Christina Taylor-Chisolm, franchisor of Popolo Ceramico

4. SKINHQ

SkinHQ is one of the U.K.’s leading tech-driven skin clinics and is looking to work with empathetic franchisees who share its passion for inclusivity and wellbeing, and who can help the brand to create a unique experience for patients seeking unparalleled beauty support.

“I am passionate about helping people,” says Haroon Danis, founder. “I believe that everyone should be given an equal opportunity when it comes to building a bright and successful future. Creating an accessible franchise program has been a huge part of helping to turn this dream into a reality.”

 

5. AIMS ACCOUNTANTS FOR BUSINESS

As well as being fully set up for remote working – a huge benefit even before the pandemic changed our work lives forever – AIMS Accountants for Business provides franchisees with a client generating system to encourage growth. The brand also establishes fees with its clients in advance rather than hourly rates, keeping things transparent and ethical.

“Accountants have been joining AIMS for the last 26 years to escape corporate life, but in the last five or so years we have seen a marked increase in the number of women joining us,” says Jessica Rajwan, head of recruitment. “For many, that’s because of the flexibility our model offers to run your own business and to do so around family obligations – so those who want to do the school run, or load their work to outside of school holidays or evenings, can do so.”

6. XPRESSO DELIGHT

A rapidly growing Aussie franchise brand, Xpresso Delight has managed to find success in numerous international markets with its popular coffee-as-a-service business model, which allows businesses to remain financially savvy while getting their caffeine fix.

It’s also a surefire moneymaker for franchisees, with the semi-passive business model allowing for a steady flow of recurring revenue after spending only half a dozen or so hours on operations every week. This is down to Xpresso Delight’s franchisees primarily pitching its services to other business owners; franchise partners can hire their own staff to run other aspects of admin or maintenance, keeping the overall time commitment to the concept low.

7. BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL

Established in 2007, Bright & Beautiful has been improving the lives of its many franchise owners and clients for over a decade. By providing such a premium cleaning service, the brand ensures many repeat customers that ensure recurring revenues; in fact, 90 per cent of Bright & Beautiful clients go on to use its services multiple times.

Primarily managing an adept team of house cleaners, franchisees can deliver a premium service while working from the comfort of their own homes, so that they can spend quality time with friends and family, and maintain a successful career. Don’t just take our word for it; the brand has been the recipient of several female-empowerment awards, including the Barclays Women in Business Award.

 

8. GET AHEAD VA

One of the best things about the Get Ahead VA franchise opportunity is that it can be scaled up or down to suit an entrepreneur’s needs. If you’re looking to prioritise the ‘life’ side of your work-life balance, then fewer clients can be taken on to accommodate other commitments. Alternatively, franchisees can hire a vast team to truly create their own network of success.

“The Get Ahead VA franchise is totally flexible, which means it is suitable for women who want to work around other commitments, such as children or other family members,” says Rebecca Newenham, founder. “It’s an opportunity to be your own boss and enjoy work-life balance whilst still being part of an award-winning and profitable brand.”