Business Ideas for Women

Zelma T. García-Cordero



Here are some great ideas specifically written with women in mind. These are businesses that women will love starting and growing.

A businesswoman is not a taboo idea as it used to be. Many women today are choosing to open a business because this gives them the opportunity to do what they love. Some businesses, such as a bridal shop, can be done from the home which also gives women the flexibility that they want to balance work and family. For other women, a franchise opportunity in which they make fresh fruit bouquets allows them to tap into their originality and creativity while not having to start a business from zero.


Great Business Ideas for Women

Become a doula– Doulas are expected to provide support and advice to mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrival of their child. A lot of times their job continues after the birth because they help the family through the first few weeks of the baby’s life. The difference between a certified nurse midwife and a doula is that the former assists during childbirth, while the latter assists the woman more generally in her life as a mother.

Since relaxation of the mother is very important during her pregnancy, birth and postpartum period, doulas often use holistic practices instead of traditional medicine. Massage and aromatherapy are very popular among doulas and they provide simple, non-chemical methods of calming the mother and reducing her stress during this time. There is no official doula certification. The training is for broadening knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth.

Open a bridal shop– The person who is interested in going into this business should become familiar with the latest trends. They should read fashion and bridal magazines and watch FTV. They need to understand cuts, materials and patterns of wedding dresses and about veils, gloves, shoes, and jewelry. This business is related in some ways to wedding consulting.

It is very important to have a website because it will bring a lot of people through the doors. This type of advertising also reaches people from out of town. It is marketing and every business owner today should have one. Having a website gives the business owner a huge advantage over those who don’t have one.

Keeping a portfolio of women wearing bridal dresses is also a great idea. A dress will look different on every woman according to her physical characteristics. Having an album that brides can leaf through will be of great help to them. Also, a good tip is to organize several albums according to price, styles, designers, etc.


Franchises for Women

Get in Shape for Women– This is a new small group, personal training concept that hadn’t been done until now. One personal trainer works with a group of 1– 4 women, in a private and upscale training studio for $19– $29/session. Each session consists of 30 minutes of strength training and 25 minutes of cardio.

The founder has been operating personal training studios for over 15 years. He has gone through the start up of over 75 studios. The process of opening and growing this business consists of selecting a franchise territory, site selection, lease negotiation, studio design, studio build out, pre–opening marketing, and franchise school, among others. The minimum investment required is $93,400.

Edible Arrangements– This is a very original and creative type of business. Edible Arrangements creates high quality, artistically designed fresh fruit arrangements. These are great for birthday parties, anniversaries, or as a thank you or sympathy acknowledgment. They are also great for holidays and make beautiful center pieces for bridal or baby showers and gifts for retirement parties or business associates.

Edible Arrangements supports franchisees through the phases of business development from operations and marketing to accounting and technology. They also provide continued support and guidance after opening day with quality control and operational compliance, among other things. The minimum investment required is $146, 846.


Smart Business Ideas for Women

There are plenty of opportunities for women interested in starting a business. They don’t have to be traditional business ventures, either. Becoming a doula gives a woman the opportunity of being with other women during one of the most important moments of their lives. That is also the case of owning a bridal shop, but with the added advantage that it can be done from the home.

A franchise is a good option for women that would like to own a business but don’t want to start from zero. Those who love fitness can become franchisees by owning a Get in Shape for Women training studio and if anyone is interested in doing something original, Edible Arrangements is a fun business and a chance to be one’s own boss while creating beautiful things. All these great opportunities and many more out there, show businesswomen to be that it is time to go after their dreams!

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Do You Know How Women Should Dress for Business?

The Experts Can't Seem to Agree

Clothes talk. In fact, they never shut up. What you wear speaks volumes about who you are. Those of us who aspire to leadership must think carefully about what we wear. Like it or not, we're in the business of getting others to think the way we want them to think. Clothes can help or hinder our goals.

For men, conservative business suits are still the wardrobe of choice. But what about women? Fashion editors and image consultants offer conflicting advice for the female executive.

John Malloy, in his 1979 Woman's Dress for Success Book, urged women to wear a dark, skirted suit with a light blouse. He offered convincing research to back up his advice that a woman's credibility and status decreased when she wore anything else. Since then, with more women in executive positions, fashion writers have urged women in business to be more individualistic in their attire.

A dizzying array of opposing viewpoints swirls around the issue of business dress for women. Rather than add to the confusion by presenting all the conflicting opinions, we have sought to find areas of agreement. What follows are recommendations based on a broad consensus of opinion gathered from articles and interviews with fashion critics and consultants.

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Do's

• Always look professional
• Dress to fit your audience, the company you represent, yourself
• Strive for a flattering silhouette and a tailored look in choosing your clothing
• Dress for a look and also for your comfort and confidence
• Know what colors work for you in your environment
• Wear heels (up to 1 1/2 to 2 inches) that you find comfortable and easy to walk on
• Do wear one or two pieces of appropriate jewelry (larger pieces if you are presenting)
• Hair that looks styled (not haphazard)
• Wear hose that are skin color or darker
• Carry an extra pair of hose (in case of runs)
• Wear conservative business make-up, stressing eyes and mouth. (If you're making a presentation, make-up should be more pronounced.)
• Check for lipstick on teeth
• Simple manicure (no jewels on nails or exotic colors)
• Mild fragrance

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Dont's

• Wear outfits that look haphazardly thrown together
• Busy prints or plaids
• Belt if you are heavy in the waist or short
• Open-toed shoes
• Heels so high that you are unsteady
• Clothing that is overly revealing or overly dowdy
• Too short or too tight a skirt
• Wear hose that are white or colorful
• Let hair block eyes, fall in face
• Clothing, accessories, or hairstyles that requires continual adjustment
• Loose watch strap, bangle bracelets, long earrings
• Wear jewelry that is large or gaudy
• Take off your shoes (It's flirtatious)
• Over-accessorize
• Bright blue eye shadow
• Distract listener with physical habits (twirling hair, playing with jewelry, etc.)
• Excessive perfume or perfumed hair products (no smell at even a short distance or lingering after you've left the elevator)

Your industry, age, geographical location, position in the corporate hierarchy, and personality will contribute to your determination as to what is appropriate. In future issues of PS for Business Communicators we will explore some of these issues in detail.

careerplanning.about.com

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5 Tips for Working With Family

How Three Women Family Members Run a Successful Business Together

By Lahle Wolfe, About.com Guide

How to Survive So You Can Thrive In a Woman-Owned, Family-Run Business

Contributed By: Veronica Arrendol, Co-Founder and CEO, Athyr Beauty™

Some of the challenges you will face in a family business are unique, but add to this "women owned" and that contributes to the need to address special circumstances that may not exist otherwise.

Doing business with family can be both perilous and rewarding to your family and business relationships.

When we began we searched and received an abundant amount of advice. The following tips are what we at Athyr Beauty™ have found vital to ensure our success for surviving the first year in business:

1. Start With the End in Mind! You need an exit strategy that allows you to end the partnership without risking your family ties. Remember all things eventually come to an end, so whether you sell your business or pursue other opportunities, when you end a family business, your family ties live on.
2. R-E-S-P-E-C-T! The way you speak to each other as family business partners can be very different than how you speak to your other colleagues, but should it be? Make it a priority to promote a work atmosphere that is more professional and less personal.
3. Communication is KEY! To avoid misunderstandings you must have clearly defined time commitments and responsibilities. Understand what each of you is signing up for and only renegotiate those agreements with everyone at the table.
4. Avoid Playing the Blame Game! As the company grows and the work piles up, you must avoid the tendency to have everyone handling everything. In your desire to help one another you can end up duplicating effort and working inefficiently.

   Frustration can mount and lead to finger pointing when you are pressured to meet deadlines. Make sure you have clearly defined work responsibilities and a good communication plan – this will ensure that your actions match your agreements.

5. Don’t Blur the Lines: As family and business partners you can often mix ‘love and praise’, versus ‘respect and feedback’. There can be too much emphasis on personal feelings and too little on metrics and goals; you need to keep personal feelings from dominating the office place for the sake of the business.

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Accomplishments of Black Women in Business of the Decade

From 2000 to 2009 Black Women in Biz Contributed Significantly

By Lahle Wolfe, About.com Guide

Between 2000 and 2009, black women made significant accomplishments and contributions to the business world. This list is meant to be all-inclusive, but here are some highlights of extraordinary African American achievements and business women of the decade.

First in African-American Business Women History

• 2003 - First African-American Female Billionaire: Sheila Crump Johnson became the first Black female billionaire in the United States, even before Oprah Winfrey became a billionaire. Johnson was also the first African-American woman to build a luxury hotel in the U.S.
• 2008 - First Bust of Black Woman in U.S. Capitol: In October 2008, the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) delivered the bust of Sojourner Truth to the U.S. Capitol. Sojourner Truth 1797 - November 26, 1883) was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist.

  Truth became the first Black woman to be honored with a bust in the U.S. Capitol. Her bust is located in the Portrait Monument along side Susan B. Anthony and others who worked for the right for women to vote and towards abolishing slavery.

• 2009 - First African-American Woman to Received Goncourt Prize: In 2009, Marie N'Diaye became the first black women to win France's top literary prize, the Goncourt Prize. In addition to her remarkable literary achievements, N'Diaye has been an outspoken critic of that she believes President Nicolas Sarkozy created an "atmosphere of a police state" in France.
• 2009 - First Black-Woman CEO: July 1, 2009, Ursula Burns became the first black woman CEO to head a FORTUNE 500 Company. Taking over the helm of Xerox, Burns joined the list of four other Black CEOs (all men) for 2009.
• 2009 - First Black-Woman Mayor in Utah: In November 2009, Mia Love was elected as the first Black mayor in Utah (Saratoga Springs, UT.)
• Oprah Winfrey The Most Frequent "List" Black Woman of the Decade: Oprah Gail Winfrey became the wealthiest African American of the 20th century. During 2000-2009 she remained one of the highest paid celebrities in business. The last episode of her famous talk show is scheduled for September 2011. Her final season will mark 25 years on the air.

  Throughout the decade Winfrey repeatedly appeared Forbe's Top 10 Most Powerful Women in the World, Most Powerful Celebrities, and Richest Women in the World lists. A few of the awards Winfrey received during the decade include: 2000: Television Producer of the Year (200); Bob Hope Humanitarian Award (2002); AAP Honors Award (2003); Global Humanitarian Action Award (2004); NAACP Hall of Fame (2005); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Hall of Fame (2005); and Freedom Award (2005).

Impressive Growth Rate of Black Woman Business Owners

Black women started businesses at three-to-five times the rate of all other new businesses between 2006 and 2009.

According to the most recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau (2002 Survey of Business Owners) thirty five percent of all black women entrepreneurs own a business related to health care or social assistance. And, black business women significantly out-pace all other races of women and male business owners in the number of health care or social assistance businesses started and owned.

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The Mommy Track - Will It Lead You to Career Paradise or Purgatory?

How to Chart Your Mommy Track in a Positive Direction

By Katherine Lewis, About.com Guide

Mommy track. You've probably heard the phrase before. Maybe it sounds like a welcome respite, after grueling years of long hours and travel for your job. Or perhaps you foresee boring projects, no respect in the office, and the end of professional advancement. So what is the mommy track?

The answer depends on your career field and office culture. Those two factors will determine whether you can achieve a healthy work-life balance, or become sidelined professionally after your child is born. It can be a tougher road than simply quitting your job.

Here are some questions that will help you sort out how to safeguard your career, while also stepping back from the 24-7 demands of many workplaces. In other words, to make sure your mommy track is a positive one.
What's Your Organization's Mommy Track?

Start by looking at your company in the context of the industry. Is it more hard-core than others? Is the field particularly demanding? Is there a related employer that does similar work but in a less intense way?

We've all been raised in a competitive society where students want to go to the best school possible, and graduates want to work for the most prestigious company. But when it comes to work-life balance, there can be an advantage to working for the number 3 or 4 in a field. A sleepier employer can mean a more relaxed working life.

This is not to say that you should try to take a step backwards or stifle your ambitions. But at least question why you would want to work for the industry leader, and what the work-life implications would be. And look hard at the culture of the various companies that might employ you.
How Are Other Involved Parents Treated?

The most reliable indicator of your future is how your employer treats working moms already in the organization. Do they get interesting work? When they leave early for a soccer game, does it count against them?

In some workplaces, new motherhood can even be an opportunity for a promotion, if managerial jobs have more regular hours and less travel. Ask other working moms in your company what worked and didn't for their career. You can learn from their successes and mistakes alike.

Don't be afraid to be a trailblazer. If your organization has a tendency to bypass working mothers for travel or challenging projects, make sure you seek out these opportunities. You may further your professional goals simply by correcting an assumption that you don't want demanding work.

Document your efforts, in case you ever need to prove to human resources (or a judge) that you were passed over simply because you are a mother. It's called parental status discrimination, and it's as illegal as pregnancy discrimination.
What Are Your Boss's Attitudes About Working Moms?

Sometimes, the worst supervisor for a working mother is a man with a stay-at-home wife. He can't understand that not everyone can devote all their waking hours to the job. If your boss is especially hard on working parents, seek a transfer. Explain that you want experience in a different division of the organization, so as not to burn bridges.

Or perhaps your manager is a decent sort, flexible with time off when the workload permits. Then you may want to wait a few years before putting in for a promotion that would land you in a different work group.

More often, your superior is in the middle. Again, the guidance of other working moms is invaluable. Does your boss want to hear that you're leaving early for a pediatrician’s appointment? Or is it better to just say you need personal time, without giving an explanation?
How Much Will You Give Up?

Realistically, you probably have to make some career tradeoffs in order to spend the kind of time with your family that you feel is needed. But if you research your company and industry carefully, you'll develop a clear picture of exactly what you're giving up.

Look at the people in the higher-up positions you hope to fill in 5 or 10 or 15 years. Do they have the kind of work-life balance you want? Are they travelling more or working longer hours than you would accept? You may need to revise your desired career path. It's okay to curb your professional ambitions when you see they’d take you away from your family.

Try to isolate the most valuable experience and skills in your field, or for the career path you want. That's what you should focus on achieving, even if you have to pass up some other opportunities.
How Can You Get the Flexibility You Want?

There are a number of different strategies to balance work and life. But you want to be smart about your choices, and pick a method that won't negatively impact your career.

At some organizations, everyone works from home periodically. So telecommuting one day a week would let you see your family more, and catch up on laundry, without any stigma.

Part-time work can be especially loaded. Some companies think nothing of it. In others, part-time or contract employees are in a category that you don't take seriously, and will never advance.

If your boss is especially understanding, and your work fairly independent, you may be able to get the flexibility you need informally. One friend of mine works almost completely without supervision, so if he needs to leave early to pick up a sick child, he doesn't tell anyone. He simply checks his Blackberry for urgent emails, and catches up on work after the kid is in bed.

In the end, whether the mommy track is a positive or negative path depends on you. Plan wisely, and it can be the route to a balanced life and a rewarding career.

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Self-Care Tips for Working Moms

Taking Care of Yourself – Why It’s Important

By Katherine Lewis, About.com Guide

Of all the tips for working moms, top of the list has to be taking care of yourself. Mom's needs often seem to come last. After your kids, their dad, your job, the pets, and endless errands, that is.

There’s just not enough time in the day to get everything done, so your running shoes or novel or bath salts or strappy sandals just gather dust.

But you can’t always stay on the back burner. Here are four reasons it’s important for working moms to take care of ourselves:


Working Moms Tip 1: If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy

When mom’s stressed or burnt out, everyone in the house suffers. Even a baby gets fussy when his mother is upset. Older children may respond to a tense mom by acting out.

If you take an hour or two to yourself, for whatever nourishes you, the rest of the day (or week) will be easier and more fun. Your family will enjoy having an energetic and refreshed mom, even if they complain about your absence. Bottom line: by paying attention to your own needs, you’ll actually be better at meeting everyone else’s.


Working Moms Tip 2: Stress and Sleep Deprivation Make You Fat

Stress and sleep deprivation release cortisol into your bloodstream, which triggers fat storage around your waist. No wonder it’s so hard to lose that pregnancy weight while getting up every three hours with a new baby!

Not only is it demoralizing to carry more weight than your ideal, it increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis, among other conditions. And we all want to live long enough to play with our grandkids, maybe even see them get married, right?

So the next time you’re tempted to stay up until midnight sorting, folding, and putting away everyone’s laundry, go to sleep instead. You can just dress the kids out of baskets of clean laundry. Similarly, taking your work lunch break to exercise can actually give you a burst of energy and make the afternoon more productive.


Working Moms Tip 3: Other People Are Capable, Too

So many working moms fall into the Superwoman trap, thinking we have to be in charge of everything because we’re the only one who will do it right. That mentality not only overloads you with work, it doesn’t give enough credit to your other family members. Even worse, it prevents them from learning skills that can lighten your load and make them feel more capable.

Try leaving the kids with their dad or grandfather for a Saturday morning while you have brunch with your girlfriends. He may not change the diapers as often as you would, or feed them perfectly balanced meals, but I bet they’ll have fun. And not only will he feel rightly proud of his caregiving ability, your children will develop independence, seeing that they’re all right without mom hovering nearby all weekend.

At work, see if there’s a junior employee looking to advance to whom you can delegate some tasks. Again, they won’t be completed the way you would, but you’ll have more free time for yourself. You’ll also be mentoring someone who could use the experience.


Working Moms Tip 4: Life Is for Living

This is your life, right now. Would you rather spend it rushing around to finish your to-do list, or actually enjoying yourself? Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’ll relax once you reach the bottom of the list – there will always be something more to do. Instead, ruthlessly prioritize and eliminate tasks that don’t absolutely have to get done.

If you’ve having trouble carving out time for yourself, start small. Say you always wanted to meditate: wake up five minutes early for some deep breathing and visualization. Or if you miss exercising regularly, schedule a once-a-week power walk during lunch. If it’s on your calendar, you can plan work around it.

And the next time you have some breathing space, don’t fill it with errands. Instead, just breathe.

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6 Reasons Working Mothers Say Thanks (part 2)

Working Mothers Love the Quiet Commute and Adult Interaction

By Katherine Lewis, About.com Guide


Working Mothers Earn a Pay Check

It doesn't make you greedy to relish the weekly or monthly pay check you bring home. That money feeds and clothes your family, and helps provide for their financial security in the future.

Like it or not, our society runs on money and recognizes it as proof of accomplishment. If you make a choice to give up that pay check, you are opening your family to the risk of financial instability down the road.

Hopefully, we are all putting a little money into a college savings fund and a retirement fund. Both of those funds will help our children with the education they will receive and freedom from supporting elderly parents.

For many working mothers, the pay check provides some of the extras in life, whether a regular dinner out, nice vacations or extracurricular activities for the kids. And even those in the most loving marriage recognize that earning money puts them on equal footing with their husbands -- and protects them in case that marriage ends.


Working Mothers Set an Example

As a mother of daughters, I am keenly aware that my life choices will be their first model when they venture out into the world. They may choose differently, but their point of comparison will be the decisions I made about my career and family.

So while I hope they understand that family is my top priority, I also love that they see me having a professional life that is rewarding and important. It's healthy for children not to be the only focus of their mom's life -- that's way too much pressure. They need the room to make mistakes and learn from them without mom always hovering nearby.

The same holds true for moms of boys. If boys are going to grow up to respect women as equal contributors to the workplace, it helps for them to see their mom in that role.


Our Children Learn Independence

Someone recently asked me why daycare children are so confident and outgoing. While I don't feel that statement is universally true, I do believe that being in child care helps kids to develop independence and confidence. Every day they separate from their moms and dads, and things turn out okay.

It's wonderful to see children develop loving relationships with their caregivers, and learn different things from them than they would have learned from their parents. Exposure to multiple perspectives -- both caregivers and other kids -- makes children more resilient and able to interact with a range of people as they grow up. That's a recipe for success in life.

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