More female founders should consider franchising—a new event aims to help female founders scale and grow
Adelaide, South Australia– A groundbreaking new event for female founders will be hosted in Adelaide in March, aimed at helping women-owned businesses scale through franchising and licensing.
Despite the growing number of female entrepreneurs in Australia, the franchise sector remains largely male-dominated. A report by the Franchise Council of Australia in 2021 revealed that only 29% of Australian franchise businesses are operated by women.
The Scale Smarter Summit: Accelerating Business Growth for Female Founders, set for Friday, 14th March from 2pm to 6pm at the Playford Hotel in Adelaide, will bring together 100 women from across Australia to explore the potential of franchising and learn from industry experts.
The event will feature a lineup of speakers, including franchising specialists, accountants, and lawyers, who will share their expertise and practical advice tailored specifically for female entrepreneurs.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into innovative strategies for scaling their businesses, including franchising and licensing, effective business structures, and how to protect intellectual property.
Franchising expert and Adelaide entrepreneur, Helen Whait, is determined to encourage more female founders to talk about franchising.
“Franchising represents a powerful growth avenue for female founders, yet almost all female founders I speak to are unaware of its potential,” said Helen Whait.
“Our mission for this event is to spark conversations and get women excited about discovering franchising and licensing as fabulous strategies for business growth.
“Sometimes a conversation is all it takes to change the trajectory of your business. That’s exactly what happened when I spoke with my friend Mel, who owns Essential Beauty. She was telling me about the difficulties she faced running a solo beauty therapy business and how franchising had been her phenomenally successful solution. That’s when it hit me—if franchising worked for her, why couldn’t it work in occupational therapy and allied health?”
Helen’s vision led to the growth of ActivOT in late 2011, a pioneering franchise model in the healthcare sector that empowers occupational therapists to start their own businesses.
"Occupational therapists were exhausted and suffering burnout working as employees. I wanted to create a supportive network for them, where collaboration replaced competition," she explained.
Today, ActivOT boasts over 65 franchisees across five states, supporting more than 10,000 clients and allowing franchisees to earn, on average, 97% more than traditional roles while maintaining the flexibility to set their own schedules.
Reflecting on her business journey, Helen said, “If I didn't have that conversation with Mel, I might never have seen the incredible possibilities that franchising could offer. That’s exactly why we’ve created this event.”
“We also know that female founders aren't getting their fair share of venture capital investment, which impacts their ability to scale their businesses.”
"Women are ready to scale; they just need the right knowledge and support. This summit is designed to provide both, along with an environment where they can connect, collaborate, and flourish."
“It’s not just about introducing them to strategies for scaling; it’s also about helping them avoid the mistakes and pitfalls that can derail their growth—especially since much of the information in this space isn’t easily accessible,” Helen emphasised.
Timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Scale Smarter Summit invites female founders to join Helen in discovering the potential of franchising as a powerful tool for business growth and empowerment.
