March 8th marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a time to reflect on the contributions of women in the world as well as putting out a call to action for accelerating gender parity. While men and women enter the workforce in relatively equal numbers, the rise to the top can be slower and harder for women.
This is evident in the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and the ever-present gender pay gap.
The global pandemic has not helped the situation. Women were more likely to have been employed in industries that were shut down, furloughed, or forced to change careers because of the resulting economic fallout.
Furthermore, it is estimated that 1 in 4 women are considering downshifting or changing careers as a direct result of the pandemic. This suggests that the pandemic has hit women especially hard and threatens to undermine much of the progress women have made in the workforce.
The theme of this year’s IWD is “Break the Bias.” At The Entrepreneur Source (TES), we firmly believe there is no better place to do that than in franchising.
Franchising offers an avenue for women to push forward—or even reemerge—in the workforce from a position of empowerment through business ownership. It allows women to achieve self-sufficiency and wealth while furthering progress toward gender parity.
Our Career Ownership Coaches are dedicated to helping clients do this by matching them with franchise models that best suit their individual income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity goals.
Small business owners are the engines of our economy, and women owners play an essential role.
According to the Franchise Business Review report on women in franchising (2021), there has been a 38% increase in women-owned franchise businesses over the last decade. This represents a 27% increase from the previous decade.
While there is still work to be done, franchising has proven to be a strong option for women entrepreneurs seeking a more level playing field.
Here are some ways franchising empowers women:
Create their own opportunities
Whether reentering the workforce after taking time off to care for family or pursuing a second career, women’s professional paths are not always linear.
In Corporate America, women are often left feeling invisible or overlooked. Franchising is less about whether your résumé checks a box and more about building a business around your goals and strengths.
With a built-in support system, franchising helps fill gaps in experience and skills. TES Career Ownership Coaches work in depth with their clients to assess goals and strengths and match them with business models that align, positioning them for success.
Building a business not only creates opportunities for yourself, but also for others in your community.
Beyond job creation, business owners shape workplace culture—one where women can thrive. Corporate environments often create pecking orders that pit employees against each other, particularly women competing for limited opportunities.
With its collaborative support system and network of franchisees, franchising fosters encouragement and cooperation that is unique in the business world.
For many women, there is a desire to step out of the corporate rat race and pursue more meaningful work.
TES’s Susan Scotts is a powerful example. Before becoming a Career Ownership Coach, she was climbing the corporate ladder. One day, after being cut off in rush-hour traffic, her stress and dissatisfaction reached a breaking point.
“I found myself overreacting and yelling at the other car. I stopped myself and said, ‘This isn’t me! I can’t keep doing this!’ I didn’t want to sit in traffic anymore. I didn’t want to sit in pointless meetings anymore. I didn’t want a boss controlling me and telling me what to do.”
That moment led her to TES. As a Career Ownership Coach, Scotts has since helped many clients—especially women—take control of their lives and achieve self-sufficiency through business ownership.
More freedom and flexibility for work-life balance
For many women, lifestyle is a key career decision factor, and the pressure of juggling priorities is often intense.
“In franchising, you build a business around your life rather than building your life around your job. Franchising empowers women to control their careers and lives. It is an investment in yourself,” says Scotts.
This flexibility allows women to be more present for family, home, and themselves.
For Elis Salamone, this flexibility was essential. After a 27-year military career, Salamone struggled with the transition to Corporate America, made even harder by layoffs and instability.
When her son, who has epilepsy, suffered a setback, she knew she needed greater availability to support him.
Though she had long considered business ownership, Salamone felt overwhelmed by not knowing where to start. With guidance from Scotts, she explored her options and found a TES model aligned with her goals and skills.
“TES allows me to do what I love—helping others fulfill their potential,” Salamone says.
With a home-based model, she now fully controls her schedule. “The ability to manage my own time has been one of the most empowering benefits of career ownership.”
She has even been able to create work opportunities for her son while growing her client base.
Fewer financial barriers to entry
Access to capital remains a major challenge for female entrepreneurs.
According to Fundera, male entrepreneurs are 20% more likely to secure small business loans. Franchising can help bridge this gap through financing options unavailable to independent business owners.
Some franchises offer in-house financing, while others have established lender relationships that franchisees can leverage. Many franchise opportunities also have lower startup costs.
“There are franchises whose startup costs are less than a new car,” says Scotts. “Franchising does not have to be cost-prohibitive. There are so many options—including government funding opportunities.”
As the workplace continues to evolve, burnout is at an all-time high—especially among women.
While these changes can be discouraging, they also create opportunity. Women are redefining leadership, ownership, and success.
Franchising offers a powerful vehicle for women to take control of their lives, build wealth, and create opportunity for others—moving us closer to true gender parity.
If you are interested in creating meaningful change by exploring business ownership as a path to freedom and wealth, visit The Entrepreneur Source for more information.
