What Are The Franchise Associations in the UK?

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As a franchise owner, you will often find yourself needing to keep several balls in the air at any given time. Similarly, as a brand owner looking to franchise your business, there’s a lot to keep in mind in terms of finance, legality and day-to-day running.

Thankfully, there are a few franchise associations in the UK that are dedicated to offering guidance and support to franchisors and franchisees.

Why should I choose a franchise association?

These can be incredibly useful to both franchisor and franchisee as, once you become a member, they will represent your interests within government and your local community – offering much-needed support, particularly for those who are new to the business.

What do franchise associations do?

There are several benefits to getting on board with a franchise association, and these are as follows:

Accreditation – One of the main benefits of associations is that they offer accreditation to franchisors which helps them with credibility with consumers and franchisees. Think of accreditation as a stamp of approval for brands that are franchising their business.

Industry certification – This benefit also speaks to authority and credibility in offering professional certification based on assessments. Certification tends to add a layer of trust to a business and is, therefore, very much valued.

Advice and literature – Franchise associations offer a treasure trove of information and advice – which is particularly useful for those just starting out. Your chosen association will be able to provide you with lots of literature and guidance, whether you’re a franchisor or franchisee, to help you start on the right foot.

Quality listings – Franchise associations keep and maintain lists of franchisors with accompanying quality scores. This is an essential resource for the wannabe franchisee as it allows for an informed decision based on the quality and credibility of the brand.

Franchise associations in the UK

There are three main franchise associations in the UK, and in this section, we’ll take a look at each of them:

The British Franchise Association

Founded in 1977, the British Franchise Association is responsible for setting high-quality standards for franchising in the UK – standards that comply with the European Code of Ethics for franchising. Offering support and guidance to its members, the BFA is committed to operating fair business models and promoting business opportunities.

The company offers a comprehensive education portfolio to its members to ensure that they have all the information that they need to succeed. The British Franchise Association also has a strong focus on PR, allowing its members to gain vital press and media coverage.

Membership in the British Franchise Association is available to franchisors and franchisees and those interested in becoming either.

The Approved Franchise Association

In 2012, the AFA was created as a self-regulatory, voluntary body that supports the UK franchise industry, including future franchisees. The company holds regular regional support meetings in Bournemouth, Manchester, Northampton, Exeter, York and Milton Keynes and is proactive in supporting its members. In 2019, the AFA held its first-ever annual conference, which included the newly set up Franchise Awards.

The AFA utilises the Code of Ethics from the European Franchise Federation, which it adheres to strictly.

To become a member of the AFA, potential franchisors must satisfy some quite strict criteria to prove that their business is sustainable, ethical and shared – something which is an integral part of the AFA process. To this end, franchisors need to prove that they meet standards and demonstrate that their products and services can support a franchise network.

Having successfully become a member, franchisors enjoy comprehensive guidance and support as well as straightforward advice.

The AFA offers three different membership options with prices ranging from £585 to £985 per year.

The Quality Franchise Association

Founded in 2019, this relatively new not-for-profit organisation hails itself as the forward-thinking, positive voice of franchising. The QFA is committed to ethical franchising and offering support to businesses and individuals who agree to follow its code of conduct.

Joining the QFA gives you access to a huge amount of information and support, which can significantly impact the success of a franchise. As well as guidance and resources, the QFA offers free premium advertising to its members and access to its 25,000 strong social media followers.

To become a member of the QFA, applicants are vetted by a franchising professional and membership costs £350 per year.

What kind of support can you expect from an association?

As mentioned, there are lots of benefits to getting on board with an association, and once you become a member, you can expect to enjoy many benefits, including:

Self-exploration – If you’re just putting out feelers in terms of franchising, joining an association is a really good start. Associations can help you figure out if franchising is right for you and how to use your existing skills and experience to help you succeed.

Find franchise opportunities – Associations can provide you with lists of suitable franchise opportunities within your area and nationwide to help you find the right fit for you. These lists also allow you to delve deeper to find out more about a particular opportunity to let you examine the brand’s credentials, successes and ethics codes.

Funding and financing – One of the biggest stumbling blocks with franchising is, of course, the financing. A franchise association can help you work out how much you need to get started and then offer real advice to find a lender or investor for your franchise business.

Market research – Becoming a member of a franchise association can take a lot of the strain out of performing market research for your business. Franchise associations offer lots of really helpful resources to save you time and money as you begin your franchise journey.

Conclusion

You can, of course, buy into a franchise or franchise your existing business without signing up to a franchise association. Becoming a member of a franchise association means that you have an organisation on your side to help with setting up your franchise as well as the day-to-day running and troubleshooting of issues. While membership in an association requires an initial investment, it will absolutely pay for itself in the long run through expert guidance, support and networking opportunities.

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