{"id":16495,"date":"2022-10-27T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T08:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/?p=16495"},"modified":"2024-05-31T12:33:37","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T11:33:37","slug":"british-franchise-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the British Franchise Association?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#what-does-the-bfa-do\" >What does The BFA do?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#how-does-a-franchisor-become-a-member\" >How Does a Franchisor Become a Member?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#why-franchisors-should-become-bfa-accredited\" >Why Franchisors Should Become BFA-Accredited<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#why-franchisees-should-become-bfa-accredited\" >Why Franchisees Should Become BFA-Accredited<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#non-member-opportunities-for-the-bfa\" >Non-Member Opportunities for the BFA<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#the-four-types-of-bfa-membership\" >The Four Types of BFA Membership<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#other-popular-franchise-associations\" >Other Popular Franchise Associations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/british-franchise-association\/#start-your-franchise-%e2%80%93-explore-franchise-local\" >Start Your Franchise \u2013 Explore Franchise Local<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>As a franchisor, receiving sufficient training and advice is critical to be both legal and ethical. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebfa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">British Franchise Association<\/a> is an association made to address these points.<\/p>\n<p>The association\u2019s purpose is to provide \u201cethical franchising in the UK\u201d while working in tandem with the <a href=\"https:\/\/eff-franchise.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Franchise Federation<\/a> (EFF) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/worldfranchisecouncil.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Franchise Council<\/a> (WFC). The BFA was established in 1977 and is now the most prominent franchising association in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s learn everything there is to know about the association and how it may apply to you and your franchise.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-does-the-bfa-do\"><\/span>What does The BFA do?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The British Franchise Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes good franchising practices in the UK, following the <a href=\"https:\/\/franchising.eu\/franchise-guide\/26\/the-european-code-of-ethics-for-franchising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Code of Ethics.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>They define themselves as \u201cthe self-regulatory body for the UK franchise sector\u201d that \u201cdefines and promotes ethical franchising practice and standards in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A BFA accreditation means elevated accessibility, reputability, and training for franchisors and franchisees.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" td-center aligncenter wp-image-16497 size-large\" title=\"image2 2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1024x714.png\" alt=\"Infographic showing British Franchise Association chart \" width=\"696\" height=\"485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1024x714.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-768x536.png 768w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1536x1072.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-150x105.png 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-600x419.png 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-696x486.png 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1392x971.png 1392w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1068x745.png 1068w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-602x420.png 602w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-1204x840.png 1204w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-100x70.png 100w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2-200x140.png 200w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image2-2.png 1809w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-does-a-franchisor-become-a-member\"><\/span>How Does a Franchisor Become a Member?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In practice, the BFA places franchisors against strict criteria before they can offer to franchisees. These include examining the business model, a view of the franchise agreement, and proof that businesses can maintain profitability.<\/p>\n<p>To break it down, the British Franchise Association looks at four overarching categories:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Viable: Is the franchise financially profitable? Will it be able to support several franchisees? Before accepting a franchise, the BFA must know whether it has the steam to sustain itself.<\/li>\n<li>Transferrable: Can a franchise share its information with a franchisee with ease? Simplicity is crucial for getting the franchise off the ground.<\/li>\n<li>Ethical: Does the franchise comply with the European Code of Ethics? Abiding by these codes is crucial when starting a franchise.<\/li>\n<li>Disclosed: Can franchisees access data and information in a simple, sufficient format? The franchising community works best with a clear line of communication.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The BFA also ensures that a franchisor complies with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hatads.org.uk\/catalogue\/advertising-controls\/29\/Advertising-Standards-Authority\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Code of Advertising Practice<\/a> and can provide any non-confidential information relating to the company.<\/p>\n<p>If a franchise passes these metrics, then and only then can it become BFA-accredited.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-franchisors-should-become-bfa-accredited\"><\/span>Why Franchisors Should Become BFA-Accredited<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Whether you are a franchisor for vending-machine-based franchises, home goods, or fast food, you will likely find benefits in the BFA. Accreditation by the British Franchise Association may lead to elevated UK franchise opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>A BFA-certified badge makes a franchise appear legal, ethical, and legitimate.<\/p>\n<p>After accreditation, approved franchisors will appear on the BFA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebfa.org\/franchise-directory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">franchise directory<\/a> \u2013 an important place for those looking for franchises for sale, which will likely lead to more business.<\/p>\n<p>Franchisors receive attendance at five annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebfa.org\/franchise-exhibitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">franchise exhibitions<\/a>. At these conferences, franchisors are encouraged to network with potential clients and other franchisors.<\/p>\n<p>The BFA\u2019s accessibility, reputation, and notoriety will likely lead to higher business and franchise opportunities in the UK.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-franchisees-should-become-bfa-accredited\"><\/span>Why Franchisees Should Become BFA-Accredited<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The British Franchise Association\u2019s benefits do not only fall to the franchisors. Franchisees looking to buy a franchise also find sufficient value and business opportunities within the BFA.<\/p>\n<p>The association offers training in everything from financial skills to office management skills. These courses may provide all you need to start your perfect franchise.<\/p>\n<p>Franchisees can meet other business owners through the BFA-offered Local Franchise Networks and other events.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"non-member-opportunities-for-the-bfa\"><\/span>Non-Member Opportunities for the BFA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to become a full member to gain value from the British Franchise Association. Individual franchisors can pursue becoming a Qualified Franchise Professional (\u2018QFP\u2019) to showcase an ethical and professional slant to their franchise business.<\/p>\n<p>Individuals can also receive a Prospect Franchisee Certificate to help their reputation for no charge at all. To obtain the certificate, the franchisee must complete online video courses that provide the skills and knowledge needed to support a successful business.<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16498 size-large\" title=\"image3 2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"BFA Meeting with Franchisor\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-696x1044.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-1068x1602.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-280x420.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2-560x840.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image3-2.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-four-types-of-bfa-membership\"><\/span>The Four Types of BFA Membership<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The BFA offers a variety of membership types.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Full Membership: To become a full member, one must \u201cprove a sustained trading, financial, and franchising record over a period of time.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Associate Membership: The requirements are the same as above but will vary depending on the franchise\u2019s duration and depth of experience. This membership is for franchisors working their way up to a successful franchise.<\/li>\n<li>Provisional Membership: BFA offers this to businesses running for more than a year and an agreement meeting the Code of Ethics. They must aim to have an Associate Membership within two years.<\/li>\n<li>UK Developer: This membership is offered to any brand with successful networks in the UK and a proven business model.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>While they have different qualifications, each tier offers potential for you and your business and will provide you with an excellent reputation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"other-popular-franchise-associations\"><\/span>Other Popular Franchise Associations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While the British Franchise Association is the most common, there is one other popular association within the UK: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchise-association.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quality Franchise Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The US-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchise.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Franchise Association<\/a> is the most prominent worldwide and may also offer success for you and your business.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"start-your-franchise-%e2%80%93-explore-franchise-local\"><\/span>Start Your Franchise \u2013 Explore Franchise Local<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Joining the British Franchise Association may be the ideal low-cost franchise opportunity for increased success. The association is the UK\u2019s most prominent franchising association, with a wide range of franchisors and franchisees alike.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you\u2019re only beginning your process, it may be beneficial to look at franchise directories and guides.<\/p>\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Franchise Local, <\/a>we offer a wide range of BFA-approved franchises. If you\u2019re looking for a part-time opportunity, franchising may be the perfect opportunity to get your foot in the door. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/industries\/childrens-franchises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">children\u2019s franchises<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/starting-a-van-based-franchise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">van-based<\/a> franchises, we offer a wealth of information and a customizable financial range to find something within your budget.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you\u2019re already in your franchise journey, it never hurts to remind yourself. Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/ultimate-guide-to-franchising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ultimate Franchising Guide <\/a>for everything you need to know about franchising.<\/p>\n<p>Remember to trust reputable, BFA-approved finances. We\u2019ll help you sort through the rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a franchisor, receiving sufficient training and advice is critical to be both legal and ethical. The British Franchise Association is an association made to address these points. The association\u2019s purpose is to provide \u201cethical franchising in the UK\u201d while working in tandem with the European Franchise Federation (EFF) and the World Franchise Council (WFC). [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":16496,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1467],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-franchise-information"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/image1-2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16495\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}