I am a former franchisee of a UK-based global rebounder fitness brand, who has experienced firsthand the imbalance of power between franchisors and franchisees in the UK.  Unlike many other countries, in the UK, there is no specific legislation governing franchising. The lack of such laws sadly left me vulnerable, powerless and victimised following a lengthy, time consuming, and emotionally laborious dispute with my franchisor. This is a situation that many others find themselves in due to this regulatory grey area, and one I am committing to spearheading positive change in.

As the UK lacks comprehensive statutory regulation specifically tailored to franchising, franchisees may find themselves in highly vulnerable positions - just as I did. This can be particularly evident if the franchisor has greater bargaining power or if there are disputes regarding a Franchise Agreement - which are typically crafted heavily in favour of the franchisor. Some argue that the absence of specific regulations can lead to power imbalances and unfair practices, potentially leaving franchisees exposed to risks such as unfair contract terms, inadequate disclosure of information, or disputes over territory or intellectual property rights.

The lack of regulations and laws to protect franchisees from potential exploitation by powerful franchisors desperately needs to be reviewed. According to the British Franchise Association, there are over 48,000 franchises operating in the UK as of 2018 (British Franchise Association). This means thousands of individuals like me are potentially at risk.

The need for tighter regulations is clear - we must discourage imbalances of power within this sector. We call on lawmakers to implement stronger regulations specifically designed for franchising in order to protect those involved from exploitation.

Please sign this petition if you believe that everyone deserves fair treatment within their business dealings and help us bring about much-needed change within the franchising sector.