The Importance of Franchisee Associations

Effective and respected independent franchisee associations that are recognized participants in a collaborative franchise culture are deserving of significant marketplace recognition. The AAFD's own purpose is fundamentally to support and empower strong effective franchisee associations. The AAFD supports scores of franchisee associations, most of which organized as chapters of the AAFD. Forming and supporting owners associations is our predominant job. Unfortunately, some associations and chapters we support involve questionable and often failing business models. The members of these franchisee associations are intent in engaging their franchisors to fix or repair faulty business models--and the AAFD Seal is used as a significant inducement to attract the franchisor to the dialogue. The AAFD Fair Franchising Seal is an important recognition of franchise systems that recognize and respect independent owners associations. The Seal, as well as AAFD Accredited Contracts, are focused on fair contracts. We don't market these recognitions as the best businesses or even the best franchising companies. Indeed the Fair Franchising Seal is really designed to improve the agreements of existing owners. AAFD Accredited Contract recipients must offer a franchise agreement that substantially conforms to the AAFD Fair Franchising Standards, including a commitment to recognize and support in independent franchisee association -- a fact my friend Mr. Webster either discounts or fails to acknowledge. My personal dream or vision for AAFD Accreditation is that we become the minimum standard a franchisor must meet to go to market--the floor all franchise systems must meet rather than a top ten list. We compare the AAFD Seal to the UL symbol that any electronic device must earn before going to market--as opposed to the Malcolm Baldridge Award for the best run companies! Just as any company that makes FTC disclosures can go to market, we intend that marketplace will not allow any company to succeed in the marketplace without AAFD Accreditation--including the commitment to recognize and support an independent association. This is not to say that the AAFD ignores the quality of a company's business model. The AAFD offers customized franchise opportunity reviews based upon the AAFD's Eight Criteria for franchise selection. These 8 criteria are available at our website and are all business considerations that the AAFD endorses. The AAFD also offers its Roadmap to Franchise Selection--our step-by-step checklist for franchise selection due dilligence. There have been many interesting questions posed on BMM which I intend to address over the next several days and weeks -- I truly don't know where some of the BMM contributors find the time! Coming soon is a detailed explanation on the AAFD's vetting process for Seal Recipients. Robert Purvin Chair, Board of Trustees American Association of Franchisees & Dealers