By Brittney Lincoln
After graduating from college with a business degree in 2009 I had trouble landing a job due to the downturn in the economy. With the help of my mom I got hired as a receptionist at an insurance company but quickly learned I didn’t want to work in the insurance industry. I knew sitting behind a desk wasn’t going to fulfill me so I quit my position to start my own business and it was the best decision I ever made.
At first being an entrepreneur & business owner of a retail gift boutique was everything I dreamed of more. But my dream quickly turned messy when we experienced flooding multiple times in our first few months of being. In the aftermath of that I also faced the reality that friendship & business don’t always mix when my business partner asked to part ways.
Closing our store was devastating at the time but I can now look back on the experience with a tremendous amount of gratitude. The experience & learnings that came from starting & running my own business are priceless. After that I fell into the franchise industry where I‘ve worked for the past 13 years representing brands across home service, health & wellness, boutique fitness, medical, & beauty.
I currently work as a Partner & VP for Limitless Franchise Growth, an FSO (franchise sales organization) that helps emerging franchisors scale & unlock their growth potential. I love what I do because I get to help others achieve their dream of business ownership and feel that magical feeling of being an entrepreneur. I’ve also formed tons of amazing relationships over the last 13 years as the franchise industry is very welcoming & collaborative.
The passion I have for franchising led me to want to become a business owner again with the formation of my new venture Females In Franchising; a members only networking platform curated for women in the franchise industry. I recognized that while there are tons of platforms dedicated to supporting female executives or female entrepreneurs, they aren’t designed to support the unique nuances of the franchise industry.
I’ve also been lucky to have amazing female colleagues for the last 6 years and they were my inspiration for starting Females In Franchising. My mission with Females in Franchise is to help connect, empower & elevate women who work in the franchise industry. I’d also like to shine a light on franchising as a way for female founders to scale their business.
Franchising can also be a great investment opportunity for women looking to diversify their portfolio or who want to become a business owner without having to start from scratch. I like to view franchise ownership as entrepreneurship “light” as you are still going to enjoy the accomplishment & freedom/flexibility of being your boss while not having to go it alone. In franchising we like to say, “you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself”.
However, if you want to consider investing in a franchise I’ve got a few pieces of advice:
First, I recommend anyone considering a franchise work with a franchise consultant as they will be your guiding light. When you work with a consultant, they will educate you on franchising and they will take the time to get to know you & your goals. Once they understand you & what you’re looking for they will present you with franchise opportunities that they’ve vetted and are a good match for you.
Think of them like your franchise real estate agent, it doesn’t cost you anything to work with them, but they are in your corner and there to help guide you through the process as you investigate franchise opportunities.
Second, be sure you are open & honest with your consultant about the time you can commit to a franchise and whether you are just focused on seeing a financial return or looking for a passion project.
In my experience there are two types of franchise candidates
- The candidate who doesn’t care what the business is as long as it meets their financial goals.
- The candidate who needs to be passionate about the business or be a consumer of the business or they can’t invest in it. Neither is right or wrong it really comes down to personal preferences and being introspective.
Lastly I’d like to offer advice to any female founder who wants to consider franchising your business.
There are 3 things you need to ask yourself before you should consider franchising your business:
- Is your business profitable? Prospective franchisees want to invest in a business where they will see a positive ROI.
- Is your business repeatable? Can your business be replicated by other people in other markets or is its success tied to you as the founder?
- As the founder do you have a strong personal brand? This matters because prospective franchisees want to buy into a founder/brand that they believe in and want to get behind.
If your business checks these boxes you may want to consider franchising to scale your business. Franchising your business will be a capital-intensive and a labor-intensive venture but it’s also very rewarding as you’ll help other people become business owners.
Brittney Lincoln, Franchise Connector, is the CEO and Founder of Females in Franchising, a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering women in the franchising industry. With over 13 years of experience spanning home services, beauty, and medical franchises, Brittney has built a reputation as a connector, educator, and strategist in the franchising world. She is passionate about providing a space for women to collaborate, learn from industry experts, and grow both personally and professionally. Her expertise lies in helping business owners understand franchising, scale their brands, and take their locations from one to 100.
Brittney brings firsthand experience to the table, having owned her own retail business before transitioning into a successful corporate sales career. She specializes in merging and launching brands, developing scalable franchise strategies, and ensuring responsible franchising that benefits both franchisees and the industry at large. With her extensive background, she is a sought-after expert on topics such as how to develop a franchise, scaling from five to 50 locations, and setting franchisees up for success. You can follow Females in Franchising on Instagram and Linkedin.
Beyond her professional achievements, Brittney holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Business and Management. Most importantly, she is a dedicated mother to two children, ages 11 and 5, and cherishes time spent traveling and creating lasting memories with her family. Brittney’s mission is to educate and support business owners looking to scale through franchising, ensuring they have the knowledge and resources to succeed.
