BFANEWS
Voice of UK franchising
The bfa: franchising’s kite mark for ethics, standards and credibility
T
he British Franchise Association (bfa) was formed in 1977 by eight franchisors seeking to differentiate themselves and others as ethical operators. Since then,
the not-for-profit association has become the voice of ethical franchising across the UK and a lynchpin of franchising around the world – including being founder members of both the European Franchise Federation and the World Franchise Council.
Gaining bfa membership involves
accreditation against a strict set of criteria, which primarily relate to the franchise agreement; financial sustainability; franchisee support offered; and full and fair disclosure of relevant information to prospective franchisees. Make no mistake, it’s not as simple as turning up with a cheque and you’re in –
“ Franchisees
have peace of mind in knowing that the opportunity they’re considering investing in has chosen, voluntarily, to put itself up against these checks, and passed them
which is precisely why franchisors take such pride in being able to display the bfa logo as members of the association.
”
The bfa membership logo is a kite mark for ethics, standards and credibility within
the franchise sector, recognised both nationally and internationally. Knowing that the industry’s standards body has examined a business’s franchise model, and confirmed that it operates ethically and for the sustainable benefit of its franchisees, is a powerful tool for recruiting prospects and growing a successful network. This puts a stamp on your business that says: “We’re proud of our franchise model and how it supports our franchisees, and have chosen to put it up against the toughest industry standards to affirm that.” What message could be stronger if you want to reach the cream of the crop in the field of franchisee recruitment? Franchisees have peace of mind in knowing that the opportunity they’re considering investing in – your franchise opportunity – has chosen, voluntarily, to put itself up against these checks, and passed them. However, there’s a lot more that comes with those standards than just appealing to the best franchisee prospects. The major banks involved in franchising all respect that membership logo, too. They understand the accreditation process, the quality needed to gain it, and look more favourably on a franchise that has already passed checks conducted by the bfa. That, in turn, puts your brand in a better position to offer financial assistance to franchisees and fund your head office support growth and expansion... and so the cycle goes. The media, too, recognise the bfa as the voice of franchising in the UK, with frequent requests for editorial content and advice as well as significant PR opportunities for members. National and local newspapers and publications, TV programmes, radio shows and some of the biggest business websites and magazines in the UK, all work with the Association because they know that we represent the best to be found in franchising – and understand how to avoid the worst. The history, evolution and standards of the bfa make its members stand out in a growing and competitive marketplace. Should you be doing the same? If you’re proud of your business and want to be represented by the bfa and all it stands for, then contact us now by emailing
paulstafford@thebfa.org or call us on 01235 820 470. We’re not interested in impersonally asking you to fill out forms without getting to know you; get in touch and we’ll arrange to come and see you, take the time to understand your business and talk to you about the joining process. n
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