1851

Today, 12 million American women own businesses, representing about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fundera.com/resources/women-owned-business-statistics?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important-2721351" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">40% of all businesses in the United States</a>. That number marks a 114% increase over the same statistic a couple of decades ago. And many of those women have found success through careers in franchising.&nbsp;One of the organizations that have supported this growth is the International Franchise Association’s (IFA)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchise.org/about-us/women-in-franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important-2721351" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Women's Franchising Committee</a> (WFC). The WFC is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging women in franchising by creating a network of business professionals dedicated to strengthening the success of women in franchising.&nbsp;The mission of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/womensfranchisecommittee/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important-2721351" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WFC</a> is to promote women’s participation in franchising by providing international networking opportunities for the exchange of ideas, resources and experiences. The vision of the WFC is committed to providing resources for women seeking career growth opportunities in franchising. The committee serves an important role in creating initiatives and building a network of support for women in franchising.&nbsp;WFC has created several programs and resources to achieve its goals, ranging from "how to" guides and conferences to local networking chapters. Ways to get involved include:&nbsp;<h4>The Women’s Franchise Network (WFN)&nbsp;</h4>These local networks are designed to develop relationships with women franchising professionals and to address issues, share ideas and offer solutions related to franchising. The first WFN was launched in May 2002 in Denver and now includes markets across the United States and Canada. More information about the WFN and how to establish a chapter can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchise.org/committees-and-forums/womens-franchise-network?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important-2721351" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.&nbsp;<h4>The ‘Her Success’ Podcast</h4>“Her Success: The Stories of Female Franchise Leaders” is a monthly podcast and video series. Women in franchising share stories of workplace challenges and share insights on everything from how to be an effective leader to the mentors who inspired them.&nbsp;<h4>Women in Franchising on Clubhouse</h4>The Women in Franchising Club on the app Clubhouse is a space to engage in conversations, ask questions and develop one another as franchise industry professionals. The club is intended to mentor, build and grow relationships among women in the franchising world.&nbsp;Each week, the committee hosts a Women in Franchising discussion on the app that highlights some of the major topics of interest in the franchising community from operations, marketing, training and development.<h4>The Annual Leadership Conference</h4>There is also the opportunity to attend the Annual Leadership Conference held at the annual IFA convention each year. All programming is developed by the IFA Women’s Franchise Committee.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2022-11/WFC_roster_as_of_Nov_2022.pdf?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important-2721351" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a> for a list of committee members and to follow the WFC on LinkedIn.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What is the Women's Franchise Committee, and Why is it Important?

1851 Franchise

There are more resources than ever for women in franchising, with the Women’s Franchise Committee leading the way. 

what-is-the-womens-franchise-committee-and-why-is-it-important

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Right at Home

Right at Home® Named a 2025 Top Franchise Brand for Multi-Unit Owners by Entrepreneur Magazine

right-at-home-named-a-2025-top-franchise-brand-for-multi-unit-owners-by-entrepreneur-magazine

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite -Tips-to-Ease-Dog Anxiety-for-4th of July- July-2025

Dog Training Elite Shares Tips To Ease Dog Anxiety for 4th of July

tips-to-ease-dog-anxiety-fireworks-4th-of-july

Melting Pot

Photo of interior of Melting Pot restaurant

Lexington Herald Leader: This Restaurant Chain Eyes a Return to Lexington After 10 Years

melting-pot-return-to-lexington

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke's Breakfast Cafe - John and Kimberly Ehrhard - 1851 Franchise

Empowering Leadership, One Pancake at a Time: How John and Kimberly Ehrhard Are Building a Franchise Legacy with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

john-kimberly-ehrhard-kekes-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

What is the Women's Franchise Committee, and Why is it Important?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS