Being a mom myself, I used to wonder if it’s possible to have a career while also spending time with the family. I mean one always suffers, right? Well, I was in for a big surprise. I learnt from friends that franchising could be a great way to start off on a business while having enough spare time to spend with the family. Besides a little extra cash never hurt anyone!

Whoever said that being a mom meant giving up on a career, was probably talking through their hat! I believe franchising hasn’t really been explored by moms till now. The usual apprehensions of ‘what if it doesn’t work’ and ‘there’s so much money needed’, usually deter moms from trying it out. But from my personal experiences, I can tell you that franchising has done me a world of good. Apart from all the income I get, there’s also a profound sense of fulfillment I feel. It’s almost as if I’ve been empowered to do something fruitful with my life and my time. So all you moms out there, it’s time you explored more about franchising.

There’s something about being a mom that is so absolutely out of this world. Your whole life seems to center around your baby. When it isn’t changing diapers, it’s making baby sounds to your child, playing with them and interpreting their sign language. I can tell you it’s tough to be a mom and I’m saying this because I’ve been there myself. But nothing beats the feeling of being a mom.

I always wanted to do more with my life, while also being a mom. I wanted an identity of my own, as a working woman and not just as another homemaker. To carve out this identity for myself, I began looking for ways to pursue a career without sacrificing family time. I was in for a big disappointment – no offence to the numerous jobs on offer, but none of them had the flexibility I was looking for. I mean, once you’re a mom, things are not the same, right? Your priorities change.So I was basically looking at a job that would:

Approximately 4.1 million women own or operate businesses in America

Most people will quickly tell you that ‘Franchising is predominantly a man’s world with little scope for creativity’. And there’s no doubt this saying was coined by a man himself. Why else would it sound so discouraging to women? Contrary to what men think, more and more women like you and me are choosing franchising over other forms of business.

The reason is plain and simple. As a woman, it would be very weird if I said I have never encountered any gender bias in my office. Even though all companies will say they are equal opportunity employers etc., fact is women are still not given their due when it comes to a career. But in franchising, there is no such thing as a gender bias because you are essentially competing against yourself. You need to make more sales for your own benefit. You are in total control of not just your business but also your life in general. That really boosts your self esteem and you definitely feel this amazing sense of empowerment. Something that no 9 to 5 job can ever provide you. The best part is it provides loads of flexibility in terms of the work timings and the number of hours you put in every week. I have found this great because I get to spend more time with my family and kids. Whenever I ask women around what they think of franchising, they usually come up with a positive perception. It’s just a matter of time when women will rule franchises!

Franchising has helped me maximize my professional and personal life. You might think this is a pretty bold statement until you consider the tremendous benefits involved. Being a mom, I have experienced that franchising is great for me. Imagine having all the backing and support you need for a business to be successful, without having to do the running around yourself? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Franchising has provided me an amazing infrastructure along with a steady network of suppliers whom I can contact for anything I may need. The amazing thing is that I’ve gotten to be a part of a large organization that has a great brand image. People know these guys and therefore I never had to worry about advertisements or publicity. These guys take care of everything! And all of it comes with a small initial investment. They chalk out the business plan, the strategy etc. and provide me all training needed for this. Even if it’s in the middle of the night, I can count on these people to help me out with any problems I’m having about the business.

I always had an entrepreneurial streak in me – you know always thinking of business opportunities from the most mundane scenarios. I did try going my own route but I soon burnt my fingers in it simply because both financially and from the business standpoint, there wasn’t enough to sustain success. Through franchising, I don’t have to do any running around, no worry on the publicity etc. With just a few hours a week, I’m able to earn more than a ‘decent’ income.

Imagine a life where you got to keep your job and spend time with your family too? I mean, I always used to wonder ‘Can one really have the cake and eat it too’. By ‘cake’ I refer to the proverbial work life balance. Being a mom is no small feat – multitasking gains a whole new meaning once you’re a mom. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get to have a steady flow of income!

I have been into franchising for the last 3 years now and I can say for a fact that it has helped me in more ways than just the financial aspect.

• For one, it has given me a sense of control. I get to fix my work timings and the pace at which I want to work.
• Sense of fulfillment. Franchising has helped me realize that I’m doing something worthwhile and useful with my life.
• This has translated into the quality of our family life. I get to spend more time with my husband and kids because of more time at hand.
• I’ve learnt to prioritize and delegate tasks more effectively. Funny how my earlier job didn’t teach me these skills as well as a franchising opportunity did. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m in charge of my business that’s made me do these things more effectively.
• I get access to ready supplies of inventory, training and support from my parent company. They’re just a phone call away if I need any help.
• I don’t have to bother with the big picture of the business plan and strategizing etc. That’s all taken care of by my franchisor.
• I don’t have to worry about brand recognition and advertising for the products and services I’m offering – I’m part of a well established organization which everyone knows about.
• This makes sales so much easier! People buy my products because they know I’m selling a reputed brand.

I’ve always wished that I could spend more time with my baby. And as I see one more day slipping by, I know my baby is a day older. The best thing about being around my baby is listening to my baby cackle and making those oh-so-endearing sounds…I mean, baby sounds are some of the most soul stirring sounds I’ve ever heard. They seem to strike a chord somewhere deep down. And nothing is ever worth giving up on that. None of us mothers would want to be taken away from the joy of watching our children grow, right?

But I’ve also wondered if it is also possible to hold on to a career while not giving up on family time. And believe me, I’ve found the solution. Picture this. Imagine yourself getting to have a job and stay at home and actually getting more time to spend with the family…and when I say a job I mean your own business – entrepreneurship. This is the real deal - be your own boss…no more reporting to someone else, no more taking orders, no more of the 9-5 grind. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it?

Franchising really does enable me to accomplish all that and more. You’ve heard of franchising in the ads, the newspapers and the Internet. For those of us who have tried franchising, we know its benefits. But then there are those of us on the crossroads, still figuring out if franchising could be our one way ticket to success.

With franchising I’ve truly begun to enjoy a work life balance – which wasn’t always possible in my earlier 9-5 job. And the way franchising has helped me is:

• I’ve experienced that franchising contains a much lower risk factor as compared to an independent business
• I’ve been able to leverage an existing network of suppliers, contacts etc. which I would not have access to in a business of my own
• I’m part of an already established organization. That means no more running around trying to get publicity for my products/services
• The business plan and strategy is laid out in detail by the franchisor. Which makes it easier for me! I mean I don’t have to do the groundwork.
• All this means more time for my family and a better quality of life

Haven’t we all always loved cosmetics – be it lipsticks, blushers, eyeliners, mascaras – you name it and we love it! Right from the time we were kids, trying out our mother’s lipstick in front of her dressing table, to this day, women will be women.

Now what if I told you that you could get a job where you dealt with cosmetics day in and day out and made great income from it? Doesn’t it sound great? Well, I know the surprise is killing you all, so I’m going to tell you which job this is. It’s a franchise opportunity for the world renowned cosmetic brand called Color Me Beautiful. All of their cosmetics are based on the seasonal color theory to suit every skin tone and type. Started by Steve Diantonio, Color Me Beautiful franchises offer great income with just a few hours every week. Plus they’re fun because you get to sell something you love – cosmetics!

You can get the details of this unique opportunity here: http://www.bizymoms.com/fran_opp/beautiful.php

If recent statistics are anything to go by, you’ll know the Mortgage landscape is changing. The house market doesn’t seem to be doing too well. But if there is one profession that continues to grow and flourish, irrespective of what the market situation is, it is interior decorating.

If you have a passion for home decorating, are driven by results, if you have the spark in you to start a business in interior decoration, then we have just the solution for you. Presenting Decor&You – a unique home based opportunity, where you get to provide interior decoration for residential as well as commercial clients. All training and support is provided via classroom styles of teaching, seminars, one on one instruction and video sessions. All in all there’s enough to get you started. You get to network and develop your business in a fun and interactive way.

To know more about this opportunity, click here:
http://www.bizymoms.com/fran_opp/decor.php

Haven’t we always wanted to be business consultants – I mean helping provide business solutions is no mean feat! Right from business plans, to strategizing to helping raise profitability, it can all be a piece of cake for all of you moms. How? Simply by being a part of Business Advisers International’s (BAI) franchising opportunity.

BAI has a unique franchising opportunity known as ‘AdviCoach’ through which all required support and training will be provided to help shape you into a professional business consultant. The best part? You get to be associated with the reputed brand of BAI. You can choose to act as a business consultant, a coach or mentor, a trainer or even a facilitator. That’s one of the amazing things of this franchise – you get to work in different profiles and capacities.

The perks of this program include the freedom to choose your work hours, choose the business you work with, choose the income you desire etc. Best of all, you get to start a professional business consulting practice right from the comfort of your own home! All training and support is provided, replete with access to BAI’s research resources and case library. We know you can’t wait to get started. To get the complete details, click here: http://www.bizymoms.com/fran_opp/bai.php

Who doesn’t remember the famous character ‘Mary Poppinz’? We all have! Including the very fun yet eccentric song ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!’ Phew, what a song that was. Well, here’s a Poppinz with a difference: It’s about Nannies. And what a great franchising opportunity it is!

For all you moms who are wondering what I’m rambling about here, Nanny Poppinz is a unique franchising opportunity which has been created for moms by moms for providing nanny services. It understands a mom’s concerns and requirements and that’s why it’s so unique. With two highly successful franchise models to choose from – residential and commercial franchises – you just can’t go wrong. You get all the support and training needed to operate this franchise and in a very short span of time, just 90 days from the start date, you get to start your very own home based business. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? To know more about this franchising opportunity, click here: http://www.bizymoms.com/fran_opp/nannypoppinz.php