“She didn’t just launch a salon—she changed the rules of business forever.”
📺 Watch this short documentary to meet Martha Matilda Harper:
▶️ The Woman Who Invented Franchising | PBS
✨ Who Was Martha Matilda Harper?
Martha Matilda Harper (1857–1950) was a Canadian-born servant turned self-made businesswoman who founded the first modern salon franchise system, giving rise to over 500 Harper Method Hair Parlors worldwide. She is widely credited as the inventor of modern franchising, a system that helped launch brands like McDonald’s decades later.
📚 Her Story: From Scrubbing Floors to Global CEO
- Early Life: Born into poverty in Ontario, Harper was forced into domestic service at age 7. One of her employers was a physician who taught her about hair and scalp care, even giving her a proprietary hair tonic formula.
- The Big Break: In 1888, at age 31, she opened her first salon in Rochester, New York—the first public hair salon of its kind.
- Harper Method: She pioneered personalized service, reclining shampoo chairs, and a holistic approach to beauty and well-being, well ahead of her time.
🚀 Business Legacy: Inventing Franchising to Uplift Women
- First Franchise: In 1891, she offered the first franchise opportunity—to another woman who had also worked as a servant. Harper insisted that her franchisees be women of limited means, creating a global network of empowered female entrepreneurs.
- Global Reach: By the 1920s, there were over 500 Harper salons, including in Europe and South America.
- High-Profile Clients: Her clientele included Susan B. Anthony, Jacqueline Kennedy’s mother, and British royalty.
💡 Lessons for University Students and Entrepreneurs
- Start With What You Have
Harper used $360 in savings and a borrowed recipe—but built a legacy. Start where you are. - Empower Others as You Rise
She built her business model on helping other women escape poverty. - Focus on Innovation
She invented customer-focused salon experiences that are now standard in the beauty industry. - Stay Authentic
Harper refused to allow men to manage her business, and insisted on quality, wellness, and care.
🏛️ Lasting Honors
- First Woman in Rochester Chamber of Commerce
- Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (2003)
- Subject of Biography: “Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream” by Jane Plitt
- Recognized by PBS & Smithsonian for her contribution to franchising and women’s entrepreneurship
📖 Bible Verse for Encouragement
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
– Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
🔗 Sources & Further Reading
- PBS: The Woman Who Invented Franchising
- Wikipedia: Martha Matilda Harper
- Women’s Hall of Fame Profile
- Jane Plitt’s Biography of Harper
