December News


The World Franchise Council

The World Franchise Council (http://www.worldfranchisecouncil.org.) was founded in 1995 to act as a forum where both national and supranational franchise associations/federations (such as the EFF) meet on a level playing field to essentially share information, views and experiences on matters of interest to franchising nationally and internationally, and as the case may be, to decide on a common position or course of action on specific issues.

Decision process

Any common position or course of action to be decided requires the unanimous approval of each member. This approval may be achieved in the course of the WFC bi-annual meetings if all members are duly represented or as a result of the approval (active or passive by non-disapproval) by each member of the Minutes which record the decision to be approved.

Membership and membership procedures

Its Members are national and supranational franchise associations/federations that comply to the membership conditions defined in the Constitution/Statutes.

1) Supranational associations and their national members:
For example, a supranational association is the European Franchise Federation, a regional federation of national associations from Europe.
by virtue of acceding to the membership of the EFF, each of its individual national association becomes a member of the WFC, and contributes to its annual fee which is distinct to that of the EFF’s membership fee (see annual fees below).
This membership is activated by a formal and separate procedure to that of the EFF’s.
Termination of membership to the EFF terminates membership to the WFC.

2) Direct individual national membership:
Countries may apply individually and directly to the WFC except for countries within the EU, or future members of the EU who must first become members of the European Franchise Federation.

Annual Fees

Annual membership fees are determined according to a step structure.

Principles of Ethics

In 2003, the WFC adopted a set of Principles of Ethics. In effect, these are a set of “best practice” recommendations regarding the practice of franchising in the world which were compiled from the best practice ethics of the individual members of the WFC. The WFC also adopts new and original principles which serve as a guide to each of the members.

Constitution/Statutes

Secretariat and Structure

Conceived as a forum of discussion and reflection, the WFC’s operating structure is light. It has a Secretariat whose activities are run by a member association or federation on a rotating basis every few years by common and unanimous decision. Part of the activities within Committees or Vice-Secretariats are delegated or shared with volunteer members.

Vice Secretariats: there are 3

1. Vice–secretariat for Legal Affairs:

Prepares the legal report for each meeting a report which highlights particular affairs of a legal nature which if of interest to the franchising community in the world
Currently run by the Mexican Franchise Association

2. Vice–secretariat for Communication:

Manages the WFC web site which also serves as the “forum” between meetings
Currently run by the Franchise Council of Australia

3. Vice–secretariat for Finances:

Manages the membership fees and the WFC finances
Currently run by the International Franchise Association (USA)

Committees:

 Membership
 Ethics
 Membership list

Until March 2007, the Secretariat is run by the European Franchise Federation