On 7 May 2024, the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Julie Collins MP, released the Australian Government's response to the Independent Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct. In this article we consider the recommendations of the Independent Review together with the Government's response.

One of the disadvantages of buying a franchise is the lack of independence or autonomy in operating the franchise, and the restrictions on decision-making [The advantages and disadvantages of franchising]. How much autonomy a franchisee has in operating their franchise business, will depend on the franchisor, the business operation that the franchisee is wanting to do differently and the reasons why the franchisee is wanting to depart from the franchise offering. While there is a case to be made for some franchisee autonomy, this needs to be balanced with brand consistency . 

What is Franchise Autonomy?
Can Franchisees Adapt Operational Procedures?
Are Franchisees Able to Introduce New Products or Services?
What Level of Autonomy do Franchisees Have in Local Marketing?
Can Franchisees Negotiate with Suppliers Independently?
Challenges of Franchisee Autonomy
Strategies for Balancing Autonomy and Consistency
The Future of Franchisee Autonomy 

Explore the importance of social media policy for franchisees and how it can benefit their businesses.

Restraint of trade clauses are common in franchise agreements and are designed to protect the franchisor's legitimate business interests.

It is important for franchisees to carefully review and understand the restraint of trade clauses in their franchise agreements to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal issues.

On 8 February 2024, the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Julie Collins MP, released the Independent Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct by Dr Michael Schaper. In this article we consider the key findings and recommendations of the Independent Review.

This article was updated on 17 May 2025

In this guide we consider the franchise disclosure document, the importance of franchise disclosure document compliance, and best practices to ensure compliance as a franchisor in Australia.

1- The Importance of Franchise Disclosure Documents
2 - Key Components of Franchise Disclosure Documents
3 - Common Disclosure Document Issues for Australian Franchisors
4 - Best Practices for Franchise Disclosure Document Management

Our firm specialises in franchise law. It's pretty much all we do. As a consequence, I have spent a lot of my working life dealing with conflicts that arise between franchisors and franchisees.

What happens when a franchisee is not living up to expectations?

In this article I explore the challenges of poorly performing franchisees and how they can impact the overall success of a franchise.

On 23 August 2023, the Government released the Consultation Paper for the 2023 review of the Franchising Code of Conduct.