Tuesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day set aside to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of women around the world. This year’s theme asks us all to help #BreakTheBias, and work towards a more verdant, just, and equitable future for women in the workplace. And March is also Women’s History Month, dedicated to the sacrifices and contributions that women have made in society.
At FranNet, we celebrate the success of all women, not the least of whom work in the franchising industry or happen to own a franchised business. From the top down, our organization is all about empowering women who empower others. And we don’t just talk the talk – we walk the walk.
Jania Bailey is our organization’s CEO, a place she joined back in 2006. An accomplished leader and role model, she’s a veteran of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Executive Board of Directors and a best-selling author. But her greatest contributions come as a result of her leadership qualities, among them a dedication to empowering other female business leaders.
In celebration of this week’s International Women’s Day and March’s Women’s History Month, we thought we’d share a few up-to-date statistics about America’s female business owners.
Below are some facts and figures you may not have known about, as compiled by Guidant Financial, one of the leading franchise funding outlets in the industry. Last year, they became involved with the Small Business Trends Alliance (SBTA), dedicated to tracking and supporting small business data trends. A 2021 survey of more than 2,400 small business and franchise owners across the U.S. helped compile the following statistics:
- Women own approximately 31% of all small businesses and franchises – up five percent year over year and echoing similar studies from the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s the fifth consecutive year to note an overall increase
- Almost a third of these owners listed a desire to become their own boss as their motivation to start a business of their own. 30% of all these female business owners have kept the doors open for 10 years or more!
- Half of all female business owners are planning for additional growth this year, with almost eight out of 10 revealing they intend to invest further in traditional and digital marketing
- More than three-quarters of all respondents (76%) reported being happy with their current role as women business owners. After all, what’s not to like?
You can view the full article by following this link. We hope you’ll agree that having a robust participation of women owners in business is a key economic driver in the U.S. Thankfully, franchising truly lends itself to the empowerment of women and the vital role played by female-owned businesses. This month – and every other month – make it a point to patronize, support, and lift up the female business owners in your community – and we’ll all end up being stronger for the effort.
Whether you’re an empowered woman now or have begun looking into a future more entrepreneurial, the franchising industry is a great place to start. Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. If you’d like to explore whether franchising is a fit for your business ownership dreams, perhaps it’s time to begin an entrepreneurial journey of your own. FranNet can help you get started today by setting up a no-cost, no-obligation appointment with a qualified FranNet representative who both lives and works in your area. Together, we can find a franchise ownership opportunity that matches up perfectly with your lifestyle and income-oriented goals.