A huge part of building on gender relations is breaking down and questioning the misconceptions that can separate the two groups. Spending time analysing why these myths are unfounded is vital in challenging traditional gender stereotypes. One common misconception in franchising is that lifestyle franchises are more suited to women. This can be damaging for both men and women who may be put off a lifestyle franchise due to this unfounded myth. However, in the experience of Petpals – the UK’s largest multi-service pet-care franchise – its lifestyle business model offers opportunity and profitability for all.
Here’s some expert insight from the team at Petpals on why owning a lifestyle franchise is for everyone – an inclusive business opportunity that has the potential to yield incredible results for those from all walks of life.
A flexible approach that suits all
More and more people want the option to build their working life around their home life, and lifestyle franchising offers this – essentially, gender has nothing to do with the unquestionable appeal of a flexible business model. The working-from-home revolution has been a growing trend since the changes made by many businesses during the pandemic. As a result, owning a business that you can run from your home has never been a more sought-after quality for many prospective franchisees.
At Petpals, we have created an established network that now offers both managerial and lifestyle options, so you can build the business in a way that suits you. If you aspire to care for the pets yourself or to develop your own network that you will manage, we have the options and the support available for you to achieve your goals. The managerial option is something that has developed as our territories and market share increased. Due to this success, it became apparent to us that there’s real value in offering Petpals with both the option to launch as an owner-operator model or as a management model. This is an exciting new phase for Petpals, as we bring in more talented people who will support us in reaching our full potential.
Everyone needs a supportive network
The support offered by a franchise such as Petpals is a universal need. Having a business is complex, and it’s widely known that many new businesses fail within the first five years. The journey of an entrepreneur can be a lonely place if you don’t have the right people around you. The beauty of being part of a franchise network is that it gives you the flexibility to be your own boss whilst also having access to a whole network of likeminded business owners. Even if you are working from home in a lifestyle franchise network, you are never alone. Access to ongoing training, conferences and franchisee forums are all ways to keep you connected to a broader community. Mental health is an important consideration that has rightfully gained more focus in recent years. No matter who you are, feeling heard and valued is a big part of fulfilment in your working life.
At Petpals, when things are difficult, you have a family of franchisees to call for advice and support. You will often find that the problem you have is something that another franchisee has also come across and has worked out a solution for. Fundamentally, even though being a franchisee gives you the flexibility of running your own business, you are never in a position where there is no one to offer you a helping hand.
Family is vital to all
One significant benefit of a lifestyle franchise is how it offers the flexibility to spend more time with your family. Family is important to all, and it can be damaging to suggest one gender is more suited to working from home to be closer to their loved ones. Removing the need for a regular commute can make a huge difference in freeing up time for your personal life. Also putting a structure in place to support your growth saves a huge amount of time and effort. The time you save every day through utilising systems will quickly add up and free you to be more involved in your home life. Having a central team that supports your marketing and administrative needs can also make a powerful difference to your work-life balance. As a franchisee, the usual energy spent drafting materials for marketing campaigns and navigating sector regulations can be utilised elsewhere. A well-structured franchise creates a work-life balance that suits all by offering a comprehensive and winning system. In 2021, wanting more than a traditional career is a widespread right, and the flexibility of lifestyle franchising certainly provides this.
At Petpals, we often find that family members end up working together as they love the business model so much. Seeing how the structures in place in our network supports family collaboration makes us incredibly proud. This is not something that you have to do as a franchisee, but it does highlight how a lifestyle franchise model can offer the flexibility to fit around the everyday needs of family life.
Years of success
Whilst we do have many successful female franchisees in our network, we do also have a long history of successful male franchisees. Our Director, Kevin Thackrah, has played a crucial role in building a culture of contribution and growth enjoyed by all.
“We’re really all very blessed to be part of a network that accepts all,” said Kevin. “We truly believe that Petpals is for anyone who loves pets and is passionate about providing industry-leading pet-care. I think the idea that lifestyle franchising is suited to a particular group of people is rather outdated and I’m proud to say that the model we offer is inclusive to all. Pet ownership has massively increased since the start of the pandemic, and this means that there is a huge market out there for prospective franchisees with the right skillset. I don’t think wanting to work from home, with the tools to build your own business, in an established network is necessarily suited to any group or gender. Instead, we look at the traits of the individual in front of us to see if they fit in with what we have worked so hard to build at Petpals.”
