This course examines the nature, operation and regulation of franchising – a business strategy which is of increasing significance both domestically and internationally. Australia has nearly 1,025 business format franchisors that, either personally or via franchisees, operate 69,900 units which employ over 400,000 people and turn over $128 billion/ann. (in 2009).

All consumer goods and services and most B2B services can be distributed through franchise systems in Australia. Quasi-professional and government services are increasingly franchised, with varying degrees of success.

The course examines:

• the nature and operation of franchising as a business model;
• the ways the model is evolving;
• the legal implications of the franchisor/ franchisee contract based relationship;
• a range of legal issues in the context of franchising (eg: intellectual property, retail leases, insolvency);
• the regulation of franchising under the Franchising Code of Conduct prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act (Cth) 2010;
• state level regulation;
• the commercial realities of the franchise relationship;
• the development of franchise systems.