Edition One Hundred and Thirty-eight of The Insider

Delivering franchising news and opportunities since 2005

Hello and welcome to The Insider.

Each week we source business, franchise and finance news from across Australia and around the globe - this week's edition is packed with all the latest.

In today's Feature articles:

Consumer or Franchisee?  The FCA joins us today with its comments regarding the Government discussion paper which is proposing a consumer law change that could dramatically affect some 60,000 business-to-business contracts made between franchisors and their franchisees.  This is a must-read for anyone in the franchise industry.

And in today's Quick Shots news:

We tell you what these ...

                                     have to do with the Government stimulus package!

Plus

~  We have a special message for some of our international subscribers;

~ Find out which franchisees have average store sales of almost $1 million

and

~  Details of an initiative which we think is out of the box!

These stories and many more in today's edition of The Insider.

Enjoy!

From the Inside Franchising Team

ps.  Scroll down to the end of this newsletter for details about the chance to win a diamond for your mum this Mother's Day

PLUS

Details of a Free $50,000 Franchise Giveaway

Click here to view today's newsletter at our website

Buying:  Click here to find the latest available Franchises for Sale pages - there are hundreds of franchise locations to choose from ! 

Selling: Click here to Contact Us for more information on how Inside Franchising can help to get your Brand out into the www marketplace.

Browsing: View a full list of franchise for sale opportunities on our homepage, and for your convenience, we have included the links for all of our franchise and small business opportunities in this edition

A Federal Government discussion paper on consumer law proposes to redefine some small businesses as consumers, creating the possibility that franchisees could be classed as consumers, the FCA said today.

FCA Executive Director Steve Wright said this was likely to be an unwelcome development for both franchisees and franchisors, who, under the unique terms of franchising, contract with each other, business to business.

“We believe the majority of the sector’s 1100 franchisors and 63,000 franchisees also support the general thrust of the discussion paper as it applies to fair treatment of consumers,” Mr Wright said.

“However, there is a risk legislation could inadvertently trap franchisees.  At least, we believe there is a risk of serious confusion if the matter is not clarified.

“What the current discussion proposes could effectively redefine franchisees as consumers.  The FCA does not believe franchisees or franchisors want this to happen.

“Franchisees and franchisors are involved in a business-to-business contract, covered by a sector-specific code -- the Franchising code of Conduct.   The relationship is much more akin to a business partnership than a business-consumer relationship.  To try to overlay a consumer code on top of the Franchising Code is a recipe for costly, unproductive confusion.

“We need any legislation to be clear that it does not apply in business-to-business relationships, or we need an accompanying memorandum to any legislation which clearly notes that a franchisor-franchisee relationship is not included in the application of the revised law.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called on all Senators to protect Australian jobs by recognising the unique workplace requirements of small business.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the Fair Work Bill discriminates heavily against working families building small businesses that are the essential core of all Australian communities.

"Smaller retailers will not cope with the collective pressure of increased labour and compliance costs in the modern retail award and the Fair Work Bill. They will restructure their workforce (82 percent)*, shed staff (over 65 percent)* or close shop.

"The one-size-fits-all approach of the Fair Work Bill is heavily skewed towards the practices of large employers and ignores the need for flexibility within a small retail business struggling to survive and maintain staff," Evans said.

"The labour movement shows no understanding of small business needs or how they manage staff. The industrial relations bias towards mass labour worksites was confirmed when the Minister spoke of unions meeting staff in a lunchroom - most small businesses don't even have lunch rooms.

The ARA is calling on Senators to consider job losses and the impact on small retail businesses as a result of:

. The redefinition of small business for exemption from unfair dismissal laws
. Collective bargaining for low-paid workers
. Increased compliance and labour costs associated with the award modernisation and the Fair Work Bill

"Smaller retail employers are working families already battling a crisis of confidence. Under the Fair Work Bill they will be confronted with: an industrial relations environment which pays lip service to employer' rights; provides unprecedented power to unions who have no union members in a retail establishment; and will drive up direct and indirect labour costs.

"Small business is the engine room of the modern economy and small retailers simply cannot afford another blow in this tightening economic climate. They need certainty and stability before they can cope with wage and compliance cost increases," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.5 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

Since it’s formation in 2001, Human Rhythms have been using music and rhythm to inspire and motivate teams of people. Over 100,000 people around the world have experienced Human Rhythms at a conference, seminar, workshop or product launch.

Human Rhythms prides itself on being at the leading edge of the corporate team building industry. We have a truly unique product that, due to its non-verbal nature, is relevant to all cultures and all ages.

Today Human Rhythms has offices throughout Australia, NZ, Asia and South Africa. In 2007 Human Rhythms commenced franchising and the company has ambitious plans to expand throughout the world.

Once you understand our vision, we hope you will want to share in the excitement of being part of our inspiring team.

Human Rhythms prides itself on being at the leading edge of the corporate team building industry. We have a truly unique product that, due to its non-verbal nature, is relevant to all cultures and all ages. Our systems are leading edge, and our branding new and fresh.As a Human Rhythms franchisee you will be on stage in front of thousands of people. You get to inspire others to achieve great things and in turn you reach beyond your own expectations … and this is your job.

Interested?  Click here for more information about Human Rhythms franchising opportunities

Inside Franchising Featured Franchise and Business Opportunities

Each week we will bring you a selection of franchise opportunities available.

Click on any logo below for more information on these franchises

or click here to visit our website to view the entire list

For Sale and Available Now

>Click here to check out more than 750 Franchises for Sale opportunities

Click on any logo for more information and opportunities available today

"There are some predictable factors that can lead to a surge in franchise sales activity -- and many of them are pointing to a franchise boom on the horizon" *

*Click here for this story

Lenard’s, Australia’s largest specialty chicken retailer, has reported the average annual operating profit of each franchise rose 16 per cent in the six months ended 31 December 2008, while the average store sales were reported at just under $1 million.

Click here for more about this story

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David Jones Chief Executive, Mark McInnes has told The Australian newspaper: "We used the boom of 2006 and 2007 to prepare for the downturn, and today our company is in excellent shape."  DJ’s announced a 2.4% increase in profit to for the 6 months up to January.

Click here for more about this story

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Hey Big Spenders!

One of the big sellers was the humble BBQ – three times the usual number of sales have been made in a week ~ presumably local butchers everywhere are smiling too!!

Click here for more about this story

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SYDNEY FRANCHISING EXPO - 20-22 March

Here are just some of the opportunities you will see at the Expo (see local guides for more information):

bb's Cafe

Brumby's

Billboard Express

Donut King

Embroidme

KwikKerb

Michel's Patisserie

Sign*a*Rama

Wendy's

Can't get to the Sydney Expo? 

No problems, simply Click here to visit our website to find out about these, and many more, opportunities and locations available today

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Workplace Ombudsman Report

A Wagga retail business is backpaying more than 100 staff a total of almost $90,000 after an investigation by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman.

Click here for details of this story

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Inside Franchising Google Search Success

Find www.insidefranchising.com.au

on the first page for searches with

Key word: "Franchising"

Key phrase: "Franchise for Sale"

and Premier positioning (#1 - #2) for many of our advertisers **

with prospective franchisees looking for information on opportunities available, now is the time to get your advertising organised

Click here to Contact Us for more information on our economical all-inclusive advertising package

Here at Inside Franchising we sometimes hear about great initiatives being undertaken by a franchise, this is just one of them ...

Leases are the largest expense franchise owners incur, so one franchise has established three teams to renegotiate stores leases in accordance with current marketts, at no cost to franchise owners.

Click here for more about this story

Click here to tell us about a great business initiative that you think our readers should know about!

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The Hooters Australian franchise has closed one of its restaurants, with two others being overseen by an administrator.  A creditors meeting is scheduled for next Friday.

Click here for details of this story

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Crust Gourmet Pizza Bars has been recognised in the 2009 Slimming & Health Healthy Eating awards. Crust’s Gluten Free takeaway pizzas and range of six Heart Foundation Tick approved Pizzas have been voted by readers to be winner of the Allergy-Free category, and highly commended in the New Healthy Food category respectively.

Click here to request more information about this opportunity

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Franchise charity initiatives

Click here for stories about the charitable projects currently being supported by franchises around the country

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WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Did you know ...

Inside Franchising newsletter subscribers reside not only here in Australia, but also in countries around the globe including New Zealand, France, India, Malaysia, Italy, Greece, China, South Africa, the UK and the USA and more? 

To our Irish subscribers:

We hope you had a very happy St Patrick's Day !

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Everyone knows that Diamonds are a girl's best friend and to celebrate Mother's Day,

Howards Storage World is giving away five diamonds valued at $2,500 each.

So you could be giving Mum a lot more then she expected this Mother’s day!

Click here for information about the Howards Storage World Franchise Opportunity,

links to their website for store locations and great gift ideas and competition details

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click here for details of a $50,000 Franchise Giveaway

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Do you have News for us or are you interested in advertising with us?

Please click here to contact us about having your

article published

_________________________________________

Ever wanted to know more about a particular franchise? How much does one cost?

Is there an opportunity available? What kind of experience is needed?

Simply visit us at Inside Franchising

to view our full list of opportunities or click one of the logos included in this newsletter.

www.insidefranchising.com.au

There is always a lot to see and do !

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Send all enquiries to:
webmaster@insidefranchising.com.au

*The content of all news items published in this newsletter are published in good faith and are reproduced from information provided by the individual companies or their agents, the subject of said news items. News items from other publications are linked to original source. Inside Franchising Pty Ltd takes no responsibility whatsoever for information and content being true and correct. Inside Franchising does not endorse specific franchises. See our disclaimer for full information.

** using particular search word criteria

NEWSLETTER EDITION 138 - FIRST PUBLISHED 19 MARCH 2009

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