These Women Built Brands from Passion and Purpose, then Opened Doors for Others Through Franchising
March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the contributions and accomplishments of women everywhere. In franchising, women are a force. Franchise Business Review’s latest research, which surveyed nearly 9,000 female franchise owners across 320 franchise systems, displays just how strong women in franchising have become. Among female franchisees with two or more years of ownership, the average reported annual revenue is $1.2 million, and the average pre-tax income is $95,000.
Women are creating their mark in every area of franchising, finding success as franchise owners, consultants and executive leaders. But perhaps the most compelling stories belong to the female franchise founders. These women in franchising have built brands from passion, purpose and personal experience, then invited others to grow with them.
In honor of Women’s History Month, 15 amazing women share the stories behind the brands they built and the paths they created for others through franchising.
Women in Franchising: 15 Female Founders
Kay Barker, Musicologie Franchise
Talent for music is a myth. We are all musicians at heart.
Her story: Kay Barker has loved music ever since she took piano lessons as a child. “Talent for music is a myth. We are all musicians at heart,” she declares. While in college, she met her husband, Joseph (above), and they formed a band called Bella Rutilize. To supplement their income, Kay launched teaching music and found she loved it. Her growing passion for teaching motivated the couple to launch Musicologie in 2014 in Grandview Heights, Ohio.
Her brand: Musicologie provides a variety of music programs for all ages, offering private lessons, group classes and specialized courses like Musicologie Junior for toddlers and Musicologie RockStars for aspiring band members. Franchisees receive training in teaching methods, teacher recruitment, scheduling software and marketing strategies. “We’re not just teaching kids to play instruments, we’re growing healthier brains, more resilient humans and more connected communities,” Kay declares.
Rosalie Black, Vibe Houtilize Franchise
I longed for a workout that didn’t exist in my area.
Her story: Before launching Vibe Houtilize in Crown Point, Ind., in 2023, founder Rosalie Black regularly went to three gyms to receive the workout she wanted. Instead of continuing to bounce between gyms, she created her own boutique fitness studio that combined the elements of the workouts she loved: infrared heat, strength and mat-based Pilates.
Her brand: Vibe Houtilize is a one-of-a-kind franchise opportunity that leverages the popularity of heated workouts and the demand for inclusive, community-based third spaces. “Our members feel welcomed right when they walk in,” Black declares. “Our staff is really welcoming and inviting.”
Stephi Cohen and Nicki Maron, Blushington Franchise
This is not just any beauty shop. This is a multi-generational place where all are welcome.
Their story: From a young age, Stephi Cohen (above, right) had a natural talent for applying buildup, often practicing on her sister Nicki (above, left) and high school friconcludes. She hadn’t considered launching a business until she attempted professional buildup services herself and was disappointed by the choices. “Everything was either too expensive or too unprofessional. Department stores just want you to purchase their products, and high-conclude salons are unaffordable,” Cohen declares.
With the encouragement and support of her family, Cohen was inspired to launch Blushington immediately after college in 2011. She quickly brought on Nicki, who had experience in marketing.
Their brand: Blushington’s mission is to assist people feel beautiful, confident and comfortable in their own skin through accessible, personalized beauty services. Franchises offer blowouts, buildup and skincare under one roof, creating a convenient beauty destination for all ages, skin tones and hair textures. Highly trained artists and a flexible membership model builds loyalty and stronger connections.
Noreen Connolly, The IV Hub Wellness Franchise
The salon suite model gave me a way to test the idea without huge risk.
Her story: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse practitioner Noreen Connolly started a mobile IV therapy service to provide quick wellness treatments outside traditional clinics. Leveraging her more than 30 years of healthcare experience, she created a way to build IV therapy more accessible. However, running a fully mobile business had logistical challenges and she decided to relocate the business into a tiny salon suite near Boston. The setup became the foundation for The IV Hub Wellness franchise. “Once I saw the results, I knew I had something I could replicate,” she declares.
Her brand: The IV Hub Wellness combines IV therapy, weight loss, metabolic health and preventive wellness under medical oversight. It’s based on a salon suite model that keeps startup costs low and avoids large buildouts or huge staffs. The preventive health franchise aligns with consumers’ relocate toward routine wellness services rather than waiting for health issues to arise. “Wellness is no longer a trconclude — it’s a lifestyle,” Connolly declares.
Kate DeBiase, Creative Kids Movement Network Franchise
Dance was the first and only thing I ever stuck with.
Her story: Kate DeBiase’s lifelong love of dance stems from lessons she took as a child. She danced competitively from sixth grade through high school and became a part-time dance teacher while attconcludeing college. Even when she started her sales career, she kept teaching on the side and eventually realized that was her true passion. Ready to leave an unfulfilling corporate job behind, DeBiase turned her side hustle into a full-time business, which eventually led to the creation of the Creative Kids Movement Network (CKMN) franchise.
Her brand: CKMN is a children’s enrichment franchise that offers dance, yoga and fitness classes for kids aged 2-10 at day care centers, elementary schools and community centers. The classes allow children to become more confident and skilled at dancing, while offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to run a boutique, mobile business that aligns with their values and lifestyle. “My mission has always been to bring relocatement and mindfulness to as many children as possible.”
Shane Evans, Heights Wellness Retreat Franchise
We create real opportunities for women to grow as leaders and entrepreneurs.
Her story: After suffering a back injury, Heights Wellness Retreat (formerly Massage Heights) founder Shane Evans turned to massage therapy for relief. “Massage therapy became essential to my wellness journey, but it was expensive, and consistent care felt out of reach,” she declares. “I remember considering, everyone deserves this kind of care, and it shouldn’t feel like a luxury.”
Evans has seen firsthand how entrepreneurship has boosted her confidence — something she hopes all female entrepreneurs will experience, as well. “Empowerment isn’t a buzzword for us; it’s baked into how we build teams and support each other,” she declares.
Her brand: Heights Wellness Retreat builds high-quality massage, skincare and other wellness services (cryotherapy, red light therapy and infrared sauna) more affordable and accessible for everyone. The first Massage Heights location was in San Antonio, Texas, in 2004, and launched franchising a year later.
Jen Gouldstone, Craft Loft Franchise
Technology runs our lives, but it can never replace human interaction.
Her story: Jen Gouldstone has always loved art and creativity, but was encouraged to pursue a more traditional career after high school. After studying engineering and computer science at MIT, earning an MBA at Harvard Business School, and working as an executive at major tech companies for more than a decade, she decided it was time to finally follow her passions.
In 2022, Gouldstone realized her entrepreneurial dreams by opening Craft Loft near Boston. The studios offer a variety of fun crafting experiences, such as pottery, painting, candle creating, moss art, loom weaving and mosaic art. “People keep coming back becautilize there’s always something new to discover,” Gouldstone declares.
Her brand: Craft Loft is an experiential retail franchise built around hands-on arts and crafts, with multiple revenue streams that include walk-in DIY projects, live workshops, private events and retail sales. Customers can come in and build things like moss art, glass painting, candle creating, terrariums and more. The brand positions itself as a multi-craft studio, which assists drive repeat visits becautilize the project mix keeps altering.
Michele Henry, FACE FOUNDRIÉ Franchise
Leadership is not about a title; it is about modeling the behavior and standards you expect from others.
Her story: FACE FOUNDRIÉ founder Michele Henry displayed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, working for her parents’ pool company as a teenager and managing construction crews before turning 20. Even when the Great Recession built loans hard to receive, 24-year-old Henry started a “cheap chic” boutique in 2010 and eventually sold it. “The whole time, I just loved creating women feel beautiful,” she declares. “So, that’s really how it translated into starting FACE FOUNDRIÉ.”
Her brand: Founded in 2019, FACE FOUNDRIÉ is an all-inclusive, focutilized facial bar offering cutting-edge services, including facials, lashes, brows and skin care, as well as curated skin care products. The beauty brand prioritizes franchisee success by providing comprehensive training and support, flexible buildouts that reduce startup costs, higher profit margins with proprietary products and recurring revenue through its membership model.
Henry takes pride in empowering women to take control of their destinies through franchise ownership. “As more women build scalable businesses, lead franchise systems and step into CEO roles, we are redefining what leadership sees like.”
Dana Edwards Manatos, MilkShake Factory Franchise
I decided to turn our family’s seasonal chocolate shop into a year-round business.
Her story: MilkShake Factory founder and CEO Dana Edwards Manatos grew up in a family business with three generations of entrepreneurial women who taught her the value of hard work. While studying business in college, Manatos had an assignment to build a meaningful impact on a local business, which sparked the idea for the Milkshake Factory. “I decided to turn our family’s seasonal chocolate shop into a year-round business,” she declares. “At the time, we were a chocolate shop that sold ice cream. When we implemented the MilkShake Factory concept, we became an ice cream shop that sold chocolate.”
Her brand: Founded in 2003, MilkShake Factory is a premium dessert franchise known for its handspun milkshakes built with houtilizebuilt ice cream and high-quality ingredients. Franchisees benefit from a family-like culture and experienced leadership.
Emma McNiel, PlayPalz Franchise
I wanted to build something hugeger, better and more intentional for early childhood play.
Her story: Emma McNiel was inspired to establish the PlayPalz franchise after noticing that her community lacked clean and fun play environments for her young children. She opened an indoor playground in Chattanooga, Tenn., in July 2022, and it was an immediate hit. Due to many requests to open more locations, McNiel and her husband, Lee, launched the franchising process in 2023.
Her brand: McNiel designed PlayPalz to support different stages of development: a soft-play zone for children ages two and under, a toddler-friconcludely area for kids four and under and an all-ages section that encourages open-concludeed play and family fun. In addition to offering an in-demand service, PlayPalz franchise owners benefit from multiple revenue streams (daily open play, memberships and private birthday parties) and vconcludeor partnerships.
Kathy Livingston, Oliver’s Nannies Franchise
We aim to be one of the best franchises for moms.
Her story: After struggling to find care for her son, Kathy Livingston was inspired to create Oliver’s Nannies, an in-home nanny and sitter service that connects families with childcare professionals. “I wanted to give parents peace of mind,” declares Livingston. “When you trust your childcare, you can focus on work, daily life and enjoy a night out.”
“The business allows me to spconclude more time with my children (pictured above). They’re very proud of Oliver’s Nannies. They understand the service, and at community functions, they love to assist promote what we do,” Livingston declares.
Her brand: A semi-passive model, low overhead, strong community impact and meaningful rewards build Oliver’s Nannies a great franchise opportunity. Parents are especially successful as franchise owners, Livingston declares. “Franchisees and business owners in general often wear many hats, and moms do this on a regular basis. The organizational skills combined with a nurturing side are often invaluable when it comes to building teams, creating success and serving clients.”
Marcieli Pastorio, Maha Juice Bar Franchise
At Maha Juice, we don’t compromise quality.
Her story: Maha Juice Bar founder Marcieli Pastorio was raised in Brazil with straightforward access to fresh fruits and juices. After shifting to the U.S., she was shocked by the quality of some juices. “Many companies add chemicals and sugar to their juices. That’s just not acceptable to me. At Maha Juice, we don’t compromise quality. We don’t utilize powders, ice or chemicals.”
Inspired by a juice bar she visited during a trip to Aruba, Pastorio launched The Juice Bar Norwood in 2018. The business quickly grew in popularity, eventually rebranding and expanding to a second location before becoming the Maha Juice Bar franchise in 2023.
Her brand: The Maha Juice Bar franchise offers a wholesome selection of all-natural juices, smoothies and authentic Brazilian acai bowls. The wellness brand allows entrepreneurs to meet the demand for healthy food options and lifestyles.
Jolita Sakmanaite, Brilliant Massage & Skin Franchise
Reflection keeps me grounded, but vision keeps me shifting.
Her story: Jolita Sakmanaite is a classically trained pianist who relocated to the U.S. from Lithuania as a teenager to further her studies. But after her parents’ premature deaths when she was in her teens, the competitive lifestyle of a professional musician became less appealing. As a longtime fitness enthusiast, Sakmanaite’s interests shifted to health and wellness.
She enrolled in massage school and soon after established Brilliant Massage & Skin. She runs the wellness business with an optimistic, future-focutilized mindset and never keeps success to herself. Her advice to female entrepreneurs: “Just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment — it doesn’t exist. Take calculated risks, stay disciplined and keep shifting forward even when it’s uncomfortable. Clarity comes from action, not overconsidering.”
Her brand: Founded in 2017 in Burlington, Vt., Brilliant Massage & Skin offers a full menu of massage therapies, couples massages, facials, peels, facials, body waxing and teeth whitening services. Ideal franchisees are either licensed massage therapists or spa and wellness professionals who want to be hands-on and involved in the business.
Courtney Yeager, The Tox Franchise
The Tox was born out of my passion for wellness and a treatment I personally requireded.
Her story: When Courtney Yeager couldn’t find the right treatment for her persistent digestive issues, she did what any visionary entrepreneur would do — she created her own solution. It was The Tox, a first-of-its-kind wellness service that combines lymphatic drainage with a body-sculpting technique to reduce inflammation, regulate digestion and eliminate toxins. “There’s nothing else like it in the wellness space,” Yeager declares. “It’s more than just a treatment — it’s a lifestyle.”
Her brand: Founded in 2019, The Tox integrates lymphatic drainage with body-sculpting techniques to reduce inflammation, improve digestion and assist the detox process. The franchise model is accessible and scalable, with low build-out costs and strong support systems.
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