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Research Details
Martha Matilda Harper: Mother of Franchising
Abstract
Born into poverty in 1857, Martha Matilda Harper faced a life of domestic service, starting at the age of just 7. Yet she conquered the odds to become a pioneering businesswoman and the founder of the franchise model for business growth. With her life savings of $360 and a secret formula for "hair tonic" that promoted hair and scalp health, Harper built an empire of hair salons that were owned and operated by young women who paid Harper a franchise fee and who were trained in the elaborate Harper Method of hair care. This first franchise model was directly inspired by Harper's goal of lifting young women out of poverty and domestic service to become business owners themselves.
Type
Case
Author(s)
Niko Matouschek, John Masko
Date Published
04/06/2024
Citations
Matouschek, Niko, and John Masko. Martha Matilda Harper: Mother of Franchising. Case KE1307.