A large retail franchisor just paid $19,800 in fines because their Franchise Disclosure Register entry was out of date. The website the ACCC runs for prospective franchisees to research franchise brands. The one almost no prospect actually uses.
That is where the franchise industry sits in 2026: real fines for not updating a website no one reads.
In this interview, Jay Westby, CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia, walks through the changes franchisors and small business owners need to know about right now. You will hear the honest assessment of the Franchise Disclosure Register, including why the FCA believes it is not serving franchisees or franchisors.
You will hear what the surcharge ban from 1 October means for the 1.4 billion dollars in annual surcharge costs currently carried across the Australian economy, and why the RBA's decision leaves Amex untouched while restricting Mastercard and Visa.
Jay also covers the unfair trading practices legislation sitting in the lower house, the status of unfair contract terms compliance in franchising (FCA's survey shows 100%), and what to expect at the National Franchise Convention in Canberra this October, including the Hall of Fame dinner at Parliament House.
If you run a franchise, own a small business, or are researching franchising in Australia, this is the regulatory and economic update you need before the next quarter starts.
Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome back Jay Westby from the Franchise Council of Australia
00:33 - Franchise Industry Awards: 17 June at Brisbane Convention Centre
02:00 - The $19,800 fine for a franchisor that missed a website update
04:08 - What the Franchise Disclosure Register was supposed to do
05:01 - Why the FCA wants control of the disclosure register
07:58 - Unfair Trading Practices legislation sitting in the lower house
09:25 - Unfair Contract Terms: 100% compliance in franchising
10:21 - The Reserve Bank surcharge ban from 1 October
11:27 - Who actually pays when surcharges disappear
13:14 - New franchising code: how the dust settled
14:02 - Fuel crisis and electricity bills hitting franchisees
15:51 - National Franchise Convention in Canberra this October
16:33 - Parliament House Hall of Fame dinner
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Jim’s Group is Australia and New Zealand’s largest home services brand with over 580 divisions. Our franchisees complete 5 million+ jobs every year.
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