Franchising – A way ahead for women

by Linda Whitney

STARTING a business can be the answer to the problem women often face of balancing your work with your private life, and a franchise can be less risky than going it alone.

‘Because it’s already tried and tested, the franchise model provides a more secure platform for starting a business,’ says Tom Endean of the British Franchise Association. Its figures show that more than a third of new franchisees are run by females. Women’s parenting experience is particularly valued by many franchisors.

‘The opportunity to nurture young talent while building a strong business appeals to women in particular,’ says Kerry Watkins, the head of the LIPA 4:19 franchise, where nearly 70 per cent of franchisees are women.

LIPA 4:19 is an offshoot of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney Noun 1. Paul McCartney – English rock star and bass guitarist and songwriter who with John Lennon wrote most of the music for the Beatles (born in 1942)
McCartney, Sir James Paul McCartney , and its franchisees run academies offering singing, dancing and acting lessons. Investment is [pounds sterling]13,500.

At the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, 16 out of 20 franchisees are female. As with most stage skills franchises, you don’t need performing arts experience, as you can employ teachers, and the [pounds sterling]1,000 investment includes marketing, advertising and actress Pauline Quirke attending your launch.
Many Pop Stars Academy franchisees, who run sessions teaching street dance and dance-themed parties, are female. The cost is [pounds sterling]9,995 plus [pounds sterling]4,000 for equipment.

Women’s people skills can make them particularly suited to care businesses. Lorna Lyons-Smith of home care provider, SureCare, says: ‘The franchise care sector is an area where women excel.

‘Not only are they often financially astute, but they have chosen to work in an industry that they feel passionate about.’ Many SureCare franchisees have a care service background, but it’s not essential as Surecare provides support managers to guide you through the launch and ongoing operation of your business.

The franchise costs [pounds sterling]25,000, (a [pounds sterling]3,000 deposit, then staggered payments through the first year). Working from home is possible with many franchises.

The Hairforce – Lice Assassins (www.thehairforce.co.uk ) turn their home-based head lice removal service into a spa-like experience, with clients sitting in a massage chair to read, watch DVDs or play computer games. The [pounds sterling]9,950 package includes training and specialist equipment.

Many franchises allow you to work part-time or flexibly. ‘I work hard and long hours, but they can also be flexible,’ says Nancy Malone Nancy Malone (born March 19, 1935) is an American television actress, principally in guest roles from the 1950s to 1970s, who moved into producing and directing in the 1980s and 1990s.

She played “Libby” on the TV series Naked City from 1960 to 1963. , franchisee of the Energie Fitness for Women club in Hackney Hackney, inner borough (1991 pop. 164,200) of Greater London, SE England, on the Lea River. Clothing manufacture (in Hackney) and printing and furniture making (in Shoreditch) are the borough’s chief industries. London’s first theater was built in Shoreditch (c.1575). , London. You don’t need to be a trained fitness coach, and investment starts at [pounds sterling]19,000.

WORK out how much time you can give your business. Most franchisors expect you to put in a minimum number of hours. Franchisees with Rosemary Conley Rosemary Conley, CBE (b. 19 December 1946, Leicestershire) is an English businesswoman, author and broadcaster on exercise and health. She is the founder and president of Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs, a franchise-based organisation that is, alongside Slimming World and  Diet and Fitness Clubs are expected to run at least ten fitness and nutrition sessions in local venues each week. The [pounds sterling]20,000 investment includes an exercise to music course plus business training and support.

Make sure you have the support of your partner and family. Kim Richardson, 27, co-owner of the Revive! franchise in Luton with partner Adam Smith, says: ‘It’s important to have your partner and family’s support. Sometimes you need someone to talk to who understands what you’re talking about.’ Revive! franchisees provide a small area repairs service to vehicles, and you can get started with [pounds sterling]10,000.

LIPA 4:19 0151 330 3000, Pauline Quirke Academy 08456 732 022, Popstars Academy 0870 850 6018, Energie 0845 363 1020, SureCare 01244 321 199, The Hairforce-Lice Assassins 020 7485 7351, Revive! 0800 056 2999, Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs 01509 622 000, Venture 01606 596 808. 

Go the the Daily Mail website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

AN OPPORTUNITY NIT TO BE MISSED

By Simon Read

Mirror Biz 

Our weekly look at Franchising and Business

A nit and headlice-removal franchise could be just the job to give you a headstart into running your very own business.

The Hairforce franchise was set up by London mum Dee Wright, a finalist in the Inspirational Business Mum Of The Year awards two years ago.

“I came up with the idea after I read about a company in the States that provided a headlice removal service.

“I had a good look and just thought, ‘I can do that so much better’,” says Dee.

After starting the business in her front room, Dee now has a Hairforce Lounge in Primrose Hill, North London, and is looking to build up a network of franchisees – or Lice Assassins.

Lice can hit any children, with half of all four to 11-year-olds in the UK catching nits each year.

Many traditional treatments prove useless as some bugs have become resilient to the chemicals used, leaving parents with little alternative than to scrape a painful lice comb through their kids’ hair several times.

Potential franchisees can provide great relief for parents and children, as well as building up a successful business.

They also don’t have to have any specialist knowledge to use the spa-like equipment – although most are mums who know about the problems of dealing with lice.

Customers are simply treated at home in a massage chair with a Lousebuster, which uses warm air to kill all the nits and head lice in one go by simply dehydrating them.

The business could be a part-time opportunity that can be run from home and visiting families in their homes, or by making speciallyarranged visits to schools to administer the painless treatment. Hairforce is being showcased at the British Franchise Exhibition being held at London’s Olympia on March 19 and 20. The franchise package costs £9,950 and includes all you need to start and run the business.

Find out more..

if you want to become a lice assassin email opportunity@thehairforce. co.uk or call 020 7485 7351.

www.thebfa.org is the main body for franchising in the uk.

www.whichfranchise.com offers lots of tips and advice on franchising.

 To view the article go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/03/04/an-opportunity-nit-to-be-missed-115875-22084423/