Franchisors must be on the Register

The Franchising Code of Conduct requires certain franchisors to create a franchise profile on the Register.

Franchisors are required to maintain their profiles and disclosure information on the Register within 14 days following the franchisor’s annual obligation to update their Disclosure Document.

Use Digital Identity to log in to the Register

You must have a Digital Identity to be able to log in to the Register. myGovID is the Australian Government’s Digital Identity app.

Find out more about Digital Identity at www.digitalidentity.gov.au.

Find out how to setup a myGovID at www.mygovid.gov.au/setup.

You also need to link your Digital Identity to your ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM). How to do this depends on your role. Find out more at info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/get-started.

When following the process for authorising others, ensure the:

• Representative type is Standard user
• Agency access is Full for Treasury.

Find out more about authorising others at info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/set-up-authorisations.

Franchisors can authorise a representative to access the Register

Representatives (such as lawyers) can access the Register on behalf of the franchisor.

Representatives will need to be authorised to act on behalf of the franchisor's ABN for interactions with the Department of the Treasury. Representatives will also need their own Digital Identity.

When assigning permissions to representatives, make sure to select The Treasury (full access) under agency access.

Find out how to set up authorisations at info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/set-up-authorisations.

Find out how to accept an authorisation at info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/authorised-users-and-administrators.

Franchisor Dashboard

You can access your Franchisor Dashboard after logging in to the Register using your Digital Identity. From the Franchisor Dashboard, you can

1. provide contact details to allow Australian Government administration support staff to contact you regarding the Register, and
2. create and manage a profile for your franchise.

Create and maintain a franchise profile

You can create a new profile from your franchisor dashboard.

The profile includes various mandatory and optional fields for you to complete.

You can save your franchise profile and return for future updates.

Franchisors are required to maintain their profiles.

Franchisor information that is mandatory for public listing

Basic profile information:

• Name, trading name and ABN
• Business email address and contact phone number
• Address(es) of the franchisor
• Industry division and subdivision
• Financial year on which the franchisor operates

Additional profile information must be provided by franchisors that are required to update their disclosure document:

• How long has the franchisor operated the franchise or franchise system in Australia?
• The number of franchisees in the system (including franchisor operated businesses)
• Which states/territories the franchisor currently operates in
• Does the franchise system restrict franchisees choosing suppliers?
• Information about payments and costs
• Does the franchisor’s standard form franchise agreement allow the franchisor to vary the agreement without franchisees’ consent?
• What is the standard term of franchise agreements?
• Are franchisees given the option to renew a franchise agreement?
• Are franchisees entitled to compensation for goodwill in the business?
• Are franchisees subject to a restraint of trade (or similar) clause?

These requirements are set out in the Franchising Code and the Determination.

Check for sensitive information

Franchisors must redact certain information, including personal information, prior to publishing any documents on the Register, in accordance with the Franchising Code of Conduct.

Full and complete Disclosure Documents must still be provided directly to prospective franchisees in accordance with the Franchising Code of Conduct.

Publish franchise profile and disclosure information

You can publish your franchise profile and disclosure information to the Register. ‘Published’ franchise profiles and disclosure information can be viewed by prospective franchisees and public users.

You can also unpublish and remove your franchise profile and disclosure information as needed.

Multiple franchise systems

Franchisors can manage multiple franchise profiles from the Franchise Dashboard if each franchise operates under the same business identifier (e.g. Australian Business Number (ABN)).

Franchisors with multiple brands operating under different business identifiers will need to select which business they’re acting on behalf of when logging in.

Franchisors operating on an Australian financial year

Franchisors operating on a July to June financial year will be required to confirm or update information in their profile for their franchise on the Register in accordance with the Franchising Code by 14 November each year.

This can be done by creating a new version within the existing profile, which can be drafted while the existing profile stays published. When the new profile is published the previous one will be superseded and removed from public view.

Franchisors can download a copy of their profiles in Portable Document Format (PDF) for their records.

Franchisors operating on a non-Australian financial year

Franchisors operating on a non-Australian financial year can initially create and publish a profile and provide disclosure information for their most recent financial year.

Franchisors are then required to annually update or confirm information in their franchise profile on or before the 14th day of the fifth month following the end of their financial year.

This can be done by creating a new version within the existing profile , which can be drafted while the existing profile stays published. When the new profile is published the previous one will be superseded and removed from public view.

Franchisors can download a copy of their profiles in Portable Document Format (PDF) for their records.

Exemptions

Master franchisors are exempt from having a profile on the Register if they only have one Australian subfranchisor, and no intention to grant further franchises.

For franchisors exempted from updating disclosure documents under Clause 8(7) of the Franchising Code of Conduct, they must still maintain a presence on, and update their Register profile each year.

Organisations without an ABN

The Franchise Disclosure Register authenticates franchisors using their Digital Identity. At this time, this requires businesses to have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Organisations without an ABN can email info@franchisedisclosure.gov.au for options for creating a profile.

Privacy

The Treasury administers the Franchise Disclosure Register and is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Learn more about the Privacy Policy for franchisors.