In Show 034 – Difference between a Franchise and a License originally broadcast on Facebook Live on Monday 20 November 2017 we explore this interesting topic.
Show Notes
Today we are going to discuss the difference between franchising and licensing. It’s an important distinction that you need to understand while considering expanding your business. This is a really detailed part of the law and you need good advice before proceeding.
The franchise model was developed in the United States and other Western countries to allow entrepreneurs to expand a business by essentially leasing the intellectual property to another operator. The IP and branding remains under the control of the original businessperson while the new business is operated by the franchisee. The Franchising Code of Conduct details how the relationship between the franchisor and franchisee should operate. If you fail to live up to those standards there could penalties. Royalty fees will be paid to the franchisor each month and there are other fees during the start-up phase.
Licensing, meanwhile, allows another businessperson access to your IP and branding. The difference is that the original owner maintain very little control over the new business. If you are going to license your IP to a new business but demand a lot of control over that new business you are actually a franchisee. You can be liable for any disputes in the future. It can be tempting to get around the franchise fees by using a license but that is risky. You can end up paying a lot more in penalties.
More about this Show
We started Business Legal Lifecycle to create a simple way for you to understand complex legal terms. Most importantly we want to help you to develop a plan to take your business successfully into the future. There’s a startling statistic the underscores the importance of developing a solid plan. The majority of business owners are just seven months away from losing everything. A single aspect of your business that is not set-up correctly can shut down your whole operation very quickly. Legal advice is not cheap and even when you can afford it there is often a divide between lawyers and their clients. We want to close that gap once and for all. We want to put legal knowledge and tools into your hand to prevent the worst from happening to you.
Twice a week we are going to deliver those tools right to your home or office with Business Legal Lifecycle TV. We’ll start the week with Fast Fix Monday, a short 5-10 minute video that will tackle a single issue that businesses have to deal with. Then on Wednesday’s our main show will feature with more fulsome discussions and interviews all delivered in a straightforward and easy to understand format.
