Buying a franchise is one of the biggest investments that anyone can make; not just in terms of money, but also in terms of time and commitment, so making the right choices early on in the process are crucial to future success.

One of the most important decisions to make will be which franchise to join. This requires thorough research into the various franchise opportunities that are available, what they involve, and the markets they operate in.

This stage of research is one that you should never try to cut corners on, however there is one key aspect that can give prospective franchisees a much higher level of confidence.

The British Franchise Association (bfa) is the not-for-profit voice of franchising in the UK. It operates to accredit and promote ethical franchising and is therefore ideally positioned to differentiate the good, from the bad and the ugly.

Marketing manager Tom Endean said: “In order to become a member of the bfa, a franchisor must undergo and successfully complete a strict accreditation process. This looks closely at all aspects of the franchise operation to make sure that it is proven, protected, ethical, sustainable and free of ambiguity and misleading statements.”

During the early stages of researching the various franchise options, membership of the bfa can provide extra confidence and reassurance to potential investors, however, it should not be seen as a guarantee of success, or as a replacement for thorough research of the franchise industry and individual franchise opportunities within it.

Mr Endean said: “Franchising remains one of the most successful forms of starting your own business, with extremely high success rates and much more security than starting out on your own without the proven system, support and brand.”

For more information on franchising and a full listing of bfa members visit www.thebfa.org