By Pip Wilkins, Chief Executive, British Franchise Association
Legend has it that Groucho Marx, the American actor and comedian, once resigned from the Friars’ Club of Beverley Hills, saying: “I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.”
Although I couldn’t swear to it; I’m not aware that any of our British Franchise Association (BFA) former members have used this as a reason for leaving, but, never say never.
Before we tackle the main subject of this article, BFA membership and why it’s important, we need to look at ethical franchising.
The BFA and ethical franchising are different ends of the same ‘beast’. Without one, there would be no other. It would be like the see without the saw, Pooh without Piglet, and Superman without Lois Lane. They are a team. They go together. The one makes the other one work. The BFA is here to support ethical franchising, and ethical franchising is the base on which the association is built.
So, to understand the importance of BFA membership, first you must understand about ethical franchising.
What is ethical franchising?
If you are new to franchising, or indeed, if you’ve just started reading this article, you may be wondering what ethical franchising is, what it looks like, why it’s so important to you, to the franchisor and to the entire franchise industry.
• To read the full article, view Franchise World Autumn 2026 issue, page 15.