Forging Ahead: Female Founders Embrace the Entrepreneurial Spirit

By: M. Scott Morris | 2,183 Reads | 7 Shares

Featured in: Franchise Update Magazine: Issue 1, 2025

%3Cp%3EThe+entrepreneurial+spirit+will+find+a+way.+It%26rsquo%3Bll+jump+through+hoops%2C+go+to+work+early%2C+and+stay+late.+It%26rsquo%3Bll+see+the+dream+through+despite+the+many+obstacles.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26ldquo%3BIn+the+late+1980s%2C+I+went+to+apply+for+a+business+loan+in+New+York+only+for+management+to+inform+me+that+I+must+return+with+my+husband+and+allow+him+to+co-sign+the+loan%2C%26rdquo%3B+says+Sharon+Arthofer%2C+founder+and+CEO+of+Sip+Fresh.+%26ldquo%3BWhile+this+was+a+barrier+I+didn%26rsquo%3Bt+originally+anticipate%2C+I+didn%26rsquo%3Bt+let+that+deter+me+from+pursuing+a+career+in+entrepreneurship.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EArthofer+is+one+of+17+female+founders+featured+in+this+edition+of+Franchise+Update.+In+addition+to+growing+their+brands+from+initial+ideas+to+thriving+businesses%2C+these+leaders+developed+their+team+members+and+served+their+communities.+They+also+chose+franchising+as+the+perfect+way+to+bring+their+visions+to+life.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26ldquo%3BI+mean%2C+what+could+be+better+than+creating+a+system+where+people+who+are+just+as+passionate+as+I+am+can+join+and+grow+something+amazing+in+their+communities%3F%26rdquo%3B+says+Amy+Neary%2C+founder+and+CEO+of+Prime+IV+Hydration+%26amp%3B+Wellness%2C+which+has+more+than+155+open+spas+and+more+on+the+way.+%26ldquo%3BFranchising+lets+us+spread+wellness+far+and+wide%2C+and+it%26rsquo%3Bs+a+win-win%3A+Franchisees+get+a+proven+model%2C+and+together%2C+we+get+to+make+a+bigger+impact+than+I+could+ever+do+alone.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWhen+Andrea+Levey+and+her+husband+wanted+to+bring+the+taste+of+Philadelphia+to+their+California+neighbors%2C+they+insisted+that+their+Philly%26rsquo%3Bs+Best+sandwich+restaurant+would+use+only+the+best+ingredients.+Before+franchising%2C+they+worked+hard+to+streamline+processes+so+that+customers+could+get+the+same+flavorful+experience+at+every+location.+She%26rsquo%3Bs+been+excited+to+see+franchisees+join+the+team+and+grow+their+businesses.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26ldquo%3BOn+the+flip+side%2C+managing+the+complexities+of+scaling+while+ensuring+consistency+across+all+locations+has+proven+to+be+more+challenging+than+I+imagined%2C%26rdquo%3B+the+co-founder+says.+%26ldquo%3BAs+we+grow%2C+it+takes+constant+communication%2C+training%2C+and+support+to+ensure+every+location+upholds+the+same+high+standards.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EDenise+Fenton+and+her+husband%2C+Rusty%2C+worked+together+to+open+their+first+Rusty+Taco+in+2010.+It+had+been+his+dream%2C+but+she+came+to+love+it+as+they+created+a+welcoming+space+that+felt+like+part+of+the+community.+Years+after+he+passed+away%2C+she%26rsquo%3Bs+keeping+the+dream+alive+as+brand+director.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%26ldquo%3BThe+transition+from+founding+to+leading+the+brand+came+down+to+building+strong+teams+and+surrounding+ourselves+with+people+who+shared+our+vision%2C%26rdquo%3B+she+says.+%26ldquo%3BBy+focusing+on+the+long-term+future+of+Rusty+Taco%2C+we+were+able+to+step+into+leadership+roles+that+allowed+the+brand+to+grow+and+evolve.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFounding+a+business+and+growing+its+footprint+go+beyond+dollars+and+cents.+Passion+is+at+the+heart+of+achievement%2C+and+the+drive+for+freedom+is+an+essential+element+of+the+entrepreneurial+spirit.+Whatever+barriers+they+faced%2C+the+women+featured+in+the+following+pages+persevered+and+excelled.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EBeing+a+woman+%26ldquo%3Bwas+a+disadvantage+in+that+I+was+often+underestimated+or+talked+down+to+in+various+settings%2C+especially+on+construction+sites%2C%26rdquo%3B+says+Denise+Tran%2C+founder+and+CEO+of+Bun+Mee+Vietnamese+Sandwich+Eatery.+%26ldquo%3BHowever%2C+I+also+liked+being+underestimated+because+I+saw+this+as+an+opportunity+to+bring+my+A+game+when+others+least+expected+it.%26rdquo%3B%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: March 17th, 2025