What’s a franchise association’s role?

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Designed to help the entire franchise community, a franchise association provides information, resources, networking opportunities, and advancement programs to assist franchise member businesses. Through a franchise association, a small business owner can network with business peers and suppliers and gain information designed to help individuals who are starting or operating a franchise. Franchising associations also organize trade shows, conventions and conferences with meetings, speeches and lectures aimed at helping franchise-related businesses navigate the world of franchising.

A franchise is a business opportunity where a business seeker purchases the right to supply already established goods or services under the name of an existing successful business. An owner of a franchise is called a franchisee. Franchises are common in many types of businesses, including discount retail stores, clothing stores, and especially fast food restaurants. The benefit of a franchise is that it gives franchise owners an already recognizable name that they can use to build a successful business. A number of disadvantages, including high upfront costs, ongoing rights, and a lack of control over the business, prevent some prospective small business owners from getting into the franchise business.

Budding franchise owners can find help starting a franchise on a franchise association’s website. For those just starting out with franchises, franchise association websites provide information to explain franchises, break down the cost of operating a franchise, and provide advice on how to maintain a successful franchise. This type of association can be useful because it provides a central location to find a variety of information intended for business owners who manage or work with a franchise.

While the names are similar, a franchise association is different from a franchise association. A franchise association is an organization of people who have purchased a franchise. This type of association exists to assist franchisees with business questions and to provide advice, legal resources, and help during disputes with the company that sold the franchise, called a franchisor. While a franchisee association only accepts franchisees as members, a franchise association will include franchisors, franchisees, and franchise providers in the organization.

Many franchise owners find themselves with more franchise questions than the franchisor has time to handle. When franchise company help is not available, the franchise association can assist a franchise owner with general questions and issues associated with operating a franchise. This type of organization can also help affiliates establish contact with mentor affiliates in their area who can help provide specific business advice suited to the surrounding region.

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