Franchise education programme for prospective franchisees - free and online.

Free pre-entry franchise education will soon be available for prospective franchisees, developed by Griffith University's Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence , a franchise education & training provider.

Delivered online, this pre-entry franchise education program will be funded by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), a provision Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence Director, Professor Lorelle Frazer, says the free franchise education program would not be possible without.

“With funding from the ACCC we can offer the pre-entry franchise education program free, which combined with its online delivery, will maximise its accessibility and reach,” Professor Frazer said.

“The program is in line with our research which suggests improved pre-entry education can reduce conflict in the franchise sector, as well as with Federal and State Franchise Inquiry recommendations, and the Government’s aim to create a sector where people enter franchising with more realistic expectations,” added Frazer.

ACCC Deputy Chairman, Dr Michael Schaper, said the Expert Report on the Franchising Code identified early education of potential franchisees as a critical factor for their business success and Code compliance.

“The pre-entry education program will provide potential franchisees with a better understanding of their rights and obligations under the Franchising Code, and some of the practical issues they could face as a franchisee,” Dr Schaper said.

The pre-entry franchise education program will be delivered as five modules, one a day direct to a participant’s inbox. Each module will take about 45 minutes to complete and consists of video, audio and text documents, as well as additional resources and a self-assessment quiz, including a Certificate of Completion.

Topics covered include:

• an overview of franchising
• disclosure
• agreements
• royalties
• finance
• support services
• site and territory selection
• leasing
• franchise marketing funds
• intellectual property
• the operations manual
• franchisor-franchisee relationships
• dispute resolution
• questions to ask franchisors and existing and former franchisees
• useful business skills; and assessing individual suitability to become a franchisee.