Australian women turn to franchising for flexibility

Women are likely to look to franchising because of the flexibility and challenges it provides, a new survey has found.

According to Mortgage Choice's Best in the Mortgage & Finance Industry report, potential female franchisees see the ability to control their own time and movements as the most important aspect of running their own business.

Stimulation, challenge and personal achievement are almost as important.

Mortgage Choice's national manager of corporate affairs, Warren O'Rourke, said the fact that many Australian women juggle career and family duties made franchising a more attractive option.

"Many studies show that females are more likely to carry out the majority of home duties within a family household, so it makes sense that setting up, running and growing their own business is an attractive option," he said.

A balance between work and home life was particularly important to women, O'Rourke added.

"The concept of working to live rather than living to work continues to build in importance for Australian women," he noted.

"They're still working hard, but place less importance on working long hours and striving for the best pay possible because they know that can mean sacrificing important aspects of their life, as well as feelings of personal accomplishment."