BFA Code of Ethics
BFA code of Ethics
Membership of the BFA only provides a guide to the history and operation of the franchise and does not guarantee that a franchisee will be successful if he buys a particular franchise. All members have to adopt the BFA’s code of ethics, which is summarised below:
1. The BFA’s Code of Advertising Practice shall be based on that established by the Advertising Standards Association and shall be modified in accordance with alterations notified by the ASA.
The BFA will subscribe fully to the ASA Code unless, on some specific issues, it is resolved by a full meeting of the Council of the BFA that the ASA is acting against the best interests of the public and of franchising business in general on that specific issue; in this case the BFA will be required formally to notify the ASA, setting out the grounds for disagreement.
2. No member shall sell, offer for sale, or distribute any product or render any service, promote the sale or distribution thereof, under any representation or condition (including the use of the name of a ‘celebrity’), which has the tendency, capacity, or effect of misleading or deceiving purchasers or prospective purchasers.
3. No member shall imitate the trade mark, trade name, corporate identity, slogan, or other mark or identification of another franchisor in any manner or form that would have the tendency or capacity to mislead or deceive.
4. Full and accurate written disclosure of all information material to the franchise agreement shall be given to prospective franchisees within a reasonable time prior to the execution of any binding document.
5. The franchise agreement shall set forth clearly the respective obligations and responsibilities of parties and all other terms of the relationship, and be free from ambiguity.
6. The franchise agreement, and all matters basic and material to the arrangement and relationship thereby created, shall be in writing and executed copies thereof given to the franchisee.
7. A franchisor shall recruit only franchisees who, upon reasonable investigation, possess the basic skills, education, personal qualities and adequate capital to succeed. There shall be no discrimination based on race, colour, religion, national origin or sex.
8. A franchisor shall exercise reasonable surveillance over the activities of his franchisees to the end that the contractual obligations of both parties are observed and the public interest safeguarded.
9. Fairness shall characterise all dealings between a franchisor and its franchisees. A franchisor shall give notice to its franchise of any contractual breach and grant reasonable time to remedy default.
10. A franchisor shall make every effort to resolve complaints, grievances and disputes with its franchisees with good faith and good will through fair and reasonable direct communication and negotiation.
