Silicon Valley Microfinance Network presents "Franchising in Microfinance." While microfinance has helped local entrepreneurs expand their businesses several limitations have become apparent. A good portion of microfinance clients are "forced entrepreneurs" who have no alternative for generating income. In addition, only a small number of microenterprises ever grow into small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that offer significantly more job opportunities for non-entrepreneurs. Finally, financing SMEs in a sustainable, scalable way has proven to be fairly elusive.

Is the franchise model an answer to these challenges? Proven, turnkey solutions with the potential to scale with support from the franchisor would seem to address these issues. Are there examples of successful, sustainable microfranchises? What are the key elements for success? What challenges have been encountered in the execution of a micro-franchise strategy?

David Lehr and Chuck Slaughter bring their rich, practical experiences in micro-franchising to answer these questions and others.

David Lehr is Senior Advisor, Social Innovations at Mercy Corps where he works to develop sustainable businesses in the failed and fragile states of the world that create employment and economic growth. He has broad experience in microfranchising and is developing a franchise network of sustainable health stores in Guatemala.
Chuck Slaughter, founded TravelSmith Outfitters and turned it into the #1, brand in travel wear with $100 million in sales. Now he devotes his time to the world of micro enterprise. Chuck founded Living Goods to build fully sustainable networks of mobile health entrepreneurs for defeating the diseases of poverty in Africa. He currently serves on the boards of Three Day Blinds, BRAC-USA, Living Goods and The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and is a member of the Initiative for Global Development and Technoserve.

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