Could the franchise sector play a leading role in closing the gap on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders? 

Federal and State governments are implementing progams to facilitate the growth of Indigenous-owned businessses and there could be synergies with franchisors seeking to grow their networks.

The most recent Franchising Australia 2014 report reveals that while only seven percent of franchisors have an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander franchisee more than half (51 percent) would like to get involved in a program to promote Indigenous franchisee recruitment.

According to Griffith University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence, the Indigenous Business Australia organisation has, over the past five years, helped Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders to finance a franchise purchase in networks such as Anytime Fitness, Harvey World Travel, Snap Printing and The Coffee Club.

Dr Kerry Bodle of the Griffith University Business School is the chief investigator of a landmark study on the influence of cultural factors on the franchisor/Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander franchisee relationship.

Dr Bodle said “It’s objectives are to identify the cultural factors influencing the franchsiee-franchisor relationship from the Indigenous franchisee perspective and also to develop a conceptual model of effective franchising relationships between a franchisor and Indigenous franchisees.”

The research project is seeking assistance from the franchising community. If you have any franchisees who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, any senior management member can complete the franchisor survey for the Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence.