Gender trends in America have shifted greatly in recent decades, seeing more and more women taking control of their financial futures, and the franchising sector is proof of this change. One of the largest, if not the single largest demographic of home based business franchisees is women. Many of these women looking at work at home franchises do so because they can build financial stability and boost the family income without having to leave the house and the kids. Generally, that is the specific group of ladies that are drawn to home based franchises: the stay-at-home mom/businesswoman. But, if the housing trends are any indicator as to who is really interested in upward mobility and financial gain amongst women, perhaps we ought not to ignore the single ladies—who, we should mention, make up roughly 22% of US homebuyers and are more financially independent than ever before.

If you're a single woman looking to branch out and go into business for yourself, there are a number of ways that you can go, but the choice depends on whether you want a well established business, with a generally higher initial investment, or an up-and-comer with plenty of room to grow.

Tried and True Business Plans

For those who want to take the more established business route, Adventures in Advertising could be a great place to start. This franchise company has been considered by many reputable sources to be one of the best franchise firms for the last 10 years. If you have no experience in the advertising world, this is a great way to get your feet wet, as this particular franchise can teach you how the advertising world works while simultaneously providing you with the working capital to achieve whatever ends a client requires.

There are other alternatives as well, in internet based businesses and vending businesses. Virtuoso Music, for instance, can easily be your ticket into financial freedom and business experience without putting you in a cubicle. Matching the needs of local people looking for music lessons with skilled music teachers, you get to work from home, manage your own referral business, and learn from the knowledgeable franchisor who helps you start out every aspect of your business. Alternatively, if you prefer working with machines, perhaps your own Vendstar franchise would be more your style. It may seem like it would be hard to make a living a quarter at a time, but consider that when enough machines are places in the right areas, Vendstar franchisees can earn in excess of $70/hour.

Breaking New Ground

If you're that risk-taker, and would like to invest in a home based franchise that exists in more of a non-traditional market, here are some more fresh franchise ideas that are untapped and could have a higher pay off for those who go from the ground up.

ElizaJ specializes in renting out high class outhouses for outdoor weddings. It may not be the most idyllic portion of the wedding proceeding, but the toilet certainly helps things along, and this is a franchise in a class by itself, as very few companies provide the air-conditioned, stereo-equipped portable restrooms that ElizaJ does. It really sits in a class of its own.

If you're looking for something a little more traditional on which to spend the next period of your professional life, Vehicle Tracking Solutions or Air Advantage Franchise Group are excellent options as well. Vehicle Tracking Solutions is one of only a handful of companies that provide other firms with automatic vehicle tracking services via GPS devices in their delivery vehicles. With 93% of delivery vehicles untracked by their owners, the market is wide open for any franchisee willing to step out and sell this tracking product. But another untapped market that the right businesswoman can break into is the wireless internet business. It may seem like “untapped” is the wrong term to use when everyone these days has wireless internet, but that's only everyone in the city. What franchisees with Air Advantage Franchise Group do is sell wireless broadband services to rural areas that otherwise can't get wireless or landline internet service. Standing alone in an industry that they pioneered, this business is becoming a household name in the areas it has already touched, and there is almost infinite room to.

Women today are a financial force to be reckoned with, and single women in particular are becoming a more independent and vigorous group in the marketplace. Whether you're a seasoned businesswoman looking to jump ahead in business or a young college graduate just starting out, the right franchise can easily propel you into the world of financial freedom. None of these are really women's franchises, per se, but with smart businesswomen behind them, they are all but guaranteed to succeed.