The world is changing, and has been for some time as women have spent the last few decades becoming a vital addition to the workforce. Today about half of all labor in the US is female, and even the number of women in management roles is almost equal to that of men. And in the world of small business franchising, things aren't any different; in fact, women seeking to own and operate their own businesses make up one of largest demographics of clients on franchise brokering websites.



In response to these trends, an entire category of women's small businesses has been separated from the pack as being franchises of particular value in the hands of female entrepreneurs. In some cases, these businesses are precisely what you might expect from a list of business opportunities for women. Others, though, might be a bit of a surprise.

Two franchise operations that regularly appear on lists of women's businesses and come as no surprise are The Glove Lady and INTERIORS by Decorating Den. As though the name itself didn't give away exactly how well the business can do in a woman's hands, The Glove Lady is an exceptional franchise business, in a very under-saturated market, that any female franchisee could more than profit from. Ironically, the safety equipment market is always in demand and almost entirely recession-proof but isn't nearly as weighted with competition as it could be. That makes this low-overhead, mobile franchise a perfect place for any wise businesswoman to use her personal style, and of course the bright pink company van, to build a clientele who appreciate her as much as they do the gloves, goggles, and other top-notch safety equipment that she provides.

For those who prefer decorating to sales, INTERIORS by Decorating Den is another staple on the list of women's franchises. The single largest interior decorating company in America, INTERIORS by Decorating Den has more than 500 franchises serving clients across North America. Each franchisee runs most of this home based business from the back of a company vehicle, housing a wide assortment of paint, fabric, carpet, art, and lighting samples ready to show to clients in the comfort of their own home. Merchandise is developed by some of the leading designers in America and distributed at reduced prices, making everything simpler for franchisees and clients.

Not all small business franchises are quite as evidently beneficial in the hands of women, however; some wouldn't initially look like women's franchises, but in fact, they can be. Take, for instance, businesses in the staffing industry. DES Staffing may not at first look like a great business opportunity for a woman because they deal primarily with staffing in the manufacturing and light industrial sectors, which aren't typically women's industries. That, however, isn't really important, because the franchisor is able to teach everything necessary about the industries. What is important is that the staffing industry is actually dominated by women. Analysts gather that it is possibly due to the natural inclination of most women to be caretakers, something vital to the process of matching good employers with good employees, but whatever the reason is, the fact remains that women in staffing mean business.

The staffing world isn't the only unexpected place that a business for sale can profit from being in the hands of a female entrepreneur. Some professionals say that though the finance industry has long been heavily dominated by men, it may be about time for women to step up and play a larger role. In great part, this is because women are playing a more central role in the finances of the home as well as in the marketplace, and those women are likely to respond better to financially minded women who understand them than men in the finance sector who don't quite think on the same wavelength. With that in mind, here are some financial franchises that an interested businesswoman could find great success with.

In the consumer finance world, Roni Deutch Tax Centers is one of the most trusted names in tax preparation. Holding a second-place spot in the market, just behind H&R Block, this business opportunity has spread so thickly throughout the country that recent public surveys say that the company has a 33% brand-recognition rate, reflecting the amount of time and energy the franchisor puts into corporate marketing, which is only a small fraction of the services that the franchisor provides.

On the other side of the fence, in the business finance sector, there are plenty of opportunities for ambitious women. One great option is Blue Coast Financial, the name to choose if you want to help businesses recover losses and lower costs every time you interact with a client. Aside from the franchisor's practice of supplying its franchisees with clients, Blue Coast Financial demonstrates its commitment to franchise development by always providing exceptional training in areas ranging from equipment lease brokering to workers compensation review and recovery. Interestingly, they have a standing relationship with the world's largest energy company, which gives them access to one of the most comprehensive and successful energy deregulation plans for their clients. Simply the number of services this franchise offers to its clients is staggering, and with a woman behind the wheel of this work from home business, the pool of possible clients could expand drastically.

The increasing message in the world today is that women can do anything men can, and for the most part, that is entirely true, at least in business. Women are already taking steady ground because they frankly have a skill set entirely different and complementary to their male counterparts. Whether you want to start a franchise that many women already have stepped into or something relatively untouched by female hands, success is very possibly right around the corner.