Franchising, in its various forms, continues to present businesses with one way of achieving profitable and successful international growth without the need for either substantial capital investment or a broad managerial infrastructure.
In sectors as diverse as food and beverages, retail, hospitality, education, health care and financial services, it continues to be a popular catalyst for international commerce and makes a strong and effective contribution to world trade. We are even seeing governments turning to it as an effective strategy for the future of the welfare state as social franchising gains still more traction as a way of achieving key social objectives.
Given the positive role that franchising can make in the world economy it is important that legal practitioners have an appropriate understanding of how it is regulated around the globe.
As will be apparent from the chapters of this book, there continues to be no homogenous approach to the regulation of franchising around the world. Some countries specifically regulate particular aspects of the franchising relationship. Of these, a number try to ensure an appropriate level of pre-contractual hygiene, while others focus instead on imposing mandatory terms upon the franchise relationship. Some do both.
The inexorable march towards franchise regulation continues as countries such as Argentina, which has previously not specifically regulated franchising, have adopted franchise specific laws over the last twelve months.
