Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 19 October 2026

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19 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise networks often include small business franchisees who can be caught by modern slavery reporting thresholds, especially where turnover is aggregated across the network. Cutting the paperwork burden would help franchisees who currently wear compliance costs that are disproportionate to their size. Franchisors should keep a close eye on any legislative changes, because simplified reporting could also reshape expectations around how supply chain due diligence is handled at the network level.

19 October 2026 • The Age (Australia)

NAB is a major lender to franchise businesses across Australia, and large scale restructuring at a big four bank can affect relationship banking, loan servicing, and credit availability for franchisors and franchisees alike. Fewer staff may slow approval times for franchise finance applications or lead to shifts in lending appetite for small business. Franchise operators who rely on NAB facilities should assess whether their banking relationships and access to credit could be disrupted.

19 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise systems are increasingly rolling out AI tools for customer service, ordering, and operations, but low consumer trust in AI is a real commercial risk for brands that depend on a consistent customer experience across outlets. Franchisors thinking about mandating AI tools through operations manuals or supplier arrangements need to weigh the reputational risk carefully. Franchisees may also push back on technology levies or fees tied to AI systems that consumers simply do not trust.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013. Its Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, has practised as a franchise lawyer since 2008.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 7 October 2026

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7 October 2026 • MST Lawyers (Australia)

Franchise systems commonly use automated tools to screen job applicants, assess customer credit, approve applications, or suspend accounts. This new obligation under Australian privacy law means franchisors need to audit their systems and update privacy policies across the network before the December 2026 deadline. Non-compliance could expose both franchisors and franchisees to regulatory action by the OAIC, making this a priority compliance item for franchise operations manuals and disclosure documents.

6 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

This approach reflects a maturing franchise strategy that puts unit-level economics front and centre, a key concern under the Franchising Code’s good faith obligations and disclosure requirements around earnings information. Prospective franchisees benefit when franchisors can show that expansion decisions are grounded in network profitability rather than royalty-driven growth. The model may also reduce the risk of disputes related to encroachment and territory saturation, issues commonly litigated in Australian franchise relationships.

7 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchisees are predominantly small businesses and are hit hardest when macroeconomic pressures reduce the capacity to recruit staff. Labour constraints directly affect service quality and revenue, which can flow through into disputes with franchisors over performance benchmarks. Franchisors should factor in these conditions when enforcing operational standards or considering renewal and termination decisions under the Franchising Code.

5 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

QSR franchise networks in Australia depend heavily on high-frequency, value-oriented consumers. A sustained decline in visits from lower-income households signals revenue pressure at the unit level, raising the stakes around franchisor pricing mandates, marketing fund expenditure, and earnings representations in disclosure documents. Franchisors mandating promotions or capital expenditure during a period of declining foot traffic could face good faith challenges under the Franchising Code.

6 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Many franchise networks, particularly in food service, retail, and cleaning, rely on migrant workers to fill frontline roles. Restrictive migration settings that do not account for small business labour needs can constrain franchisee operations and push up wage costs. Franchisors should consider how workforce availability affects the viability of new territories and the accuracy of financial information provided during the pre-entry disclosure process.

7 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

Strong retail turnover in food services is a positive signal for food-related franchise systems, potentially supporting franchisor expansion plans and franchisee confidence. However, the data should be read alongside declining visit frequency among lower-income consumers, suggesting that growth may be price-driven rather than volume-driven. Franchisors using this data in marketing or recruitment materials should ensure representations are balanced and comply with Franchising Code disclosure obligations.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013. Its Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, has practised as a franchise lawyer since 2008.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 5 October 2026

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5 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Many franchisees use credit cards to bridge cash flow gaps around BAS and PAYG instalments, and losing that option means finding alternative short-term funding that may cost more or risk late payment penalties. Franchisors should think about whether affected franchisees need adjusted payment schedules or extra working capital support during the transition.

4 October 2026 • The Age (Australia)

The surcharge ban is disrupting payment infrastructure that franchise businesses depend on well beyond the retail point of sale. Franchisees who accept credit card payments or use platforms that pass on surcharges may need to restructure their payment systems, absorb processing costs, or find alternative arrangements. This development shows the ban’s ripple effects can reach lease and supplier payment channels used right across franchise networks.

2 October 2026 • The Age (Australia)

The rising failure rate in Australian retail highlights the structural pressures facing brick-and-mortar franchise systems, including climbing occupancy costs, shifting consumer behaviour, and margin compression. Prospective franchisees should scrutinise disclosure documents for network financial health indicators, while franchisors in retail sectors face heightened obligations to ensure earnings information and risk disclosures under the Franchising Code remain accurate and current. The trend also raises serious questions about the viability of long-term lease commitments commonly required in franchise agreements.

5 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

International expansion by Australian franchise brands raises important considerations under the Franchising Code around master franchise agreements, territorial rights, and how marketing fund contributions are allocated across jurisdictions. Franchisees in existing domestic networks should understand whether international growth could divert franchisor resources or dilute brand focus. The move also shows continued appetite for Australian QSR concepts in overseas markets despite domestic economic headwinds.

5 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

AI adoption is becoming a genuine competitive differentiator for franchise operations in areas like inventory management, customer engagement, and workforce scheduling. Franchisors who mandate or recommend specific AI tools need to ensure those requirements are clearly set out in franchise agreements and that associated costs are transparent under Franchising Code disclosure obligations. Franchisees investing in AI should check whether their franchise agreement allows independent technology choices or whether the franchisor controls system specifications.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013. Its Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, has practised as a franchise lawyer since 2008.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 12 October 2026

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12 October 2026 • MST Lawyers (Australia)

Franchisees are directly on the hook for general protections claims, and just one pre-termination complaint can spiral into expensive, drawn-out legal proceedings. Franchisors need to make sure their compliance frameworks and operations manuals cover termination procedures that reduce this exposure. The breadth of the general protections gateway makes robust workplace relations training across the entire franchise network essential.

12 October 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Slower wage growth may ease labour cost pressures for franchisees in the short term, but it could also point to weakening consumer spending power, which hits turnover. Franchisors reviewing financial benchmarks and disclosure documents under the Franchising Code should factor current wage trends into earnings information and viability assessments for prospective franchisees.

12 October 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Fuel costs are a major input for franchise systems that depend on delivery, logistics or mobile services, and elevated prices eat directly into franchisee margins. Franchisors should review whether marketing fund contributions tied to delivery promotions remain viable and whether cost-sharing arrangements in franchise agreements properly address volatile input costs. Sustained high fuel prices also dampen discretionary consumer spending, directly affecting retail and food franchise revenues.

9 October 2026 • ASBFEO (Australia)

Franchisees who rely on credit cards to manage cash flow for ATO payments, including GST and PAYG obligations, will benefit from the delayed start date. This reprieve gives franchise networks breathing room to transition payment methods, but franchisors should get on the front foot and communicate alternative payment arrangements to their franchisees before the ban eventually kicks in.

12 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

The entry and expansion of major international QSR brands into Australia shows continued franchisor appetite for the local market despite ongoing cost pressures. For existing franchise systems, increased competition makes territory protections and non-compete provisions in franchise agreements more important than ever. Prospective franchisees should carefully scrutinise disclosure documents for market saturation risk when international entrants ramp up store rollouts.

12 October 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

Yo-Chi’s corporate-owned growth model is a notable counter-trend in an industry dominated by franchising, raising real questions about the comparative advantages of each expansion strategy. For franchise systems, it highlights that retaining operational control is a key motivator for some brands, which may influence how franchisors structure agreements around operational discretion and brand standards. Prospective franchisees evaluating opportunities should consider whether a brand’s long-term strategy favours corporate ownership over franchise expansion.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013. Its Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, has practised as a franchise lawyer since 2008.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 14 September 2026

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14 September 2026 • ACCC (Australia)

This outcome shows the ACCC will step in where a dominant platform locks small business operators into restrictive arrangements. Franchise networks in real estate and related sectors should review their own supplier and platform agreements for exclusivity clauses that could attract regulatory scrutiny. The ACCC has made it clear that restrictive dealings affecting small businesses, including franchisees, remain a compliance priority.

14 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise systems in sectors caught by the expanded AML regime, such as professional services, real estate, and financial services, may need to update their operations manuals and compliance frameworks. Franchisors have obligations under the Franchising Code to provide adequate training and support, and this additional regulatory burden could push up costs for both franchisors and franchisees. Networks should consider whether centralised compliance tools can reduce the per-unit burden on individual operators.

14 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Labour availability is an ongoing concern for franchise networks, particularly in hospitality, food service, and retail where frontline staffing depends heavily on migrant workers. Any reduction in the migration intake could sharpen wage pressures and recruitment challenges for franchisees already working on thin margins. Franchisors should keep a close eye on policy developments and build workforce planning strategies that account for a potentially smaller labour pool.

13 September 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

A major franchisor pulling back from heavy discounting has real implications for franchisee profitability, given that deep discounting typically compresses unit-level margins. Under the Franchising Code, franchisors must act in good faith, and pricing strategies that erode franchisee returns can become a flashpoint for disputes. This shift reflects a broader trend among large QSR franchisors toward sustainable unit economics, something prospective and existing franchisees should factor into their financial modelling.

14 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Rising fuel costs directly affect franchise businesses that rely on delivery fleets, food transport logistics, and drive-to customer traffic. For delivery-heavy franchise models, higher fuel prices push up operating costs at the unit level unless franchisors adjust pricing or delivery fee structures. Franchisees should review their financial forecasts and any contractual arrangements around delivery cost-sharing with their franchisor.

13 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise systems need to make sure both franchisors and franchisees are meeting evolving workplace health and safety obligations around psychosocial risks such as bullying, burnout, and overwork. Franchisors who provide operations manuals and workplace guidance may need to update those documents to reflect the new legal standards. Failing to address psychosocial safety could expose individual franchisees to regulatory action and put the broader brand at reputational risk.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 23 September 2026

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23 September 2026 • ACCC (Australia)

ACCC merger decisions are a clear signal of how aggressively the regulator will enforce competition law, and that matters directly to franchise networks considering acquisitions or market consolidation. Franchisors in insurance, financial services, or adjacent sectors should take note that the ACCC is prepared to block deals where competition would be substantially lessened. Any franchisor looking to acquire a competing network needs to engage with the ACCC early and come prepared with robust competition arguments.

23 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Further rate rises hit franchisees directly by increasing borrowing costs for fit-outs, working capital, and equipment finance, making new franchise entries more expensive and squeezing the margins of existing operators. Franchisors should expect that prospective franchisees will find it harder to secure affordable finance, which could slow network growth. Disclosure documents and financial projections provided under the Franchising Code should be stress-tested against a higher-rate environment to ensure they remain realistic.

23 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchisees injecting personal funds to stay viable may be masking financial distress, and that raises real risks of non-compliance with franchise agreements, reduced royalty payments, and potential insolvency. Franchisors have obligations under the Franchising Code to act in good faith, so awareness of systemic franchisee financial stress should prompt proactive support or restructuring discussions. This trend also reinforces why accurate financial information in pre-entry disclosure is essential, so incoming franchisees understand realistic capital requirements from the outset.

23 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Payday super requirements compress cash flow cycles for labour-intensive franchise businesses such as food, retail, and cleaning. Franchisees face reduced working capital to meet franchisor supply obligations and marketing fund contributions. Franchisors should consider whether their business models, payment terms, and supply chain arrangements need adjustment to help franchisees manage this additional compliance burden without tipping into financial difficulty.

22 September 2026 • Franchise Business (Australia)

As one of Australia’s largest franchise systems, Domino’s growth strategy is a bellwether for the broader QSR franchise sector. Network expansion during a period of rising costs and tighter consumer spending tests the adequacy of pre-entry disclosure, including earnings information and territory allocation under the Franchising Code. Prospective franchisees should scrutinise unit-level economics carefully before committing to new stores in an environment of cost inflation and discounting pressure.

23 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Rising fuel costs directly affect franchise systems with delivery, logistics, or mobile service models, increasing operating expenses for franchisees and potentially eroding profitability. Franchisors that mandate delivery services or require franchisees to source from centralised distribution centres should monitor whether fuel surcharges are being fairly allocated across the network. Higher transport costs can also push up supply prices, making accurate cost disclosure under the Franchising Code even more critical for incoming franchisees.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013. Its Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, has practised as a franchise lawyer since 2008.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 21 September 2026

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21 September 2026 • ACCC (Australia)

The ACCC keeps cracking down on misleading price representations under Australian Consumer Law, and strikethrough pricing is firmly in its sights. Franchise systems that advertise discounts, whether centrally or at the store level, need to make sure any “was/now” or crossed-out price genuinely reflects a price at which the product was offered for a reasonable period. Franchisors should audit marketing guidelines and point-of-sale material across their networks to avoid copping similar penalties.

21 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

This is not a franchising matter, but it reinforces the strict disclosure and directors’ duty obligations under the Corporations Act that apply equally to publicly listed franchisor parent companies. Officers of franchisor entities must ensure material information, including potential conflicts of interest, is properly disclosed. The case is a sharp reminder that personal conduct at the executive level can trigger regulatory proceedings with serious reputational and legal consequences for the broader brand network.

21 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise systems investing in AI-driven operational tools, such as demand forecasting, rostering, or supply chain management, stand to gain real, measurable productivity improvements. As the Productivity Commission frames AI as central to economic growth, franchisors who embed AI into their operations manuals and franchisee support frameworks may secure a genuine competitive edge. Franchisees should also be aware that franchisor-mandated technology investments are likely to increase, raising important questions about cost allocation under franchise agreements.

20 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

A sustained higher interest rate environment directly hits franchise financing costs, from fit-out loans to working capital facilities. Franchisees face increased debt servicing burdens that can squeeze margins, particularly in food and retail sectors where profitability is already thin. Franchisors should stress-test their financial models and disclosure documents to make sure prospective franchisees understand the long-term cost-of-capital environment before signing up.

21 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Declining real incomes reduce consumer discretionary spending, which directly impacts franchise sectors such as QSR, retail, and personal services. Franchise networks relying on volume-driven revenue models may need to reassess pricing strategies and value propositions. The BCA’s call for productivity reform also signals ongoing policy discussions that could lead to regulatory changes affecting labour costs, training requirements, or workplace flexibility, all of which carry direct implications for franchise operations.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 16 September 2026

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16 September 2026 • ACCC (Australia)

Franchise networks that restrict independent access to technical information risk entrenching anti-competitive behaviour and driving up costs for consumers, which can attract scrutiny under the Franchising Code and competition law. This action shows the ACCC is willing to investigate supply-chain information restrictions, and that is directly relevant to automotive franchise systems and any franchise model where proprietary technical data locks out third-party service providers. Franchisors across all sectors should review whether their information-sharing practices could draw similar attention.

15 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Franchise systems that market a uniform national membership but allow individual franchisees to charge different access fees risk breaching the Australian Consumer Law’s prohibitions on misleading or deceptive conduct. This scenario highlights the tension between franchisor-level brand promises and franchisee-level pricing autonomy. Both franchisors and franchisees should ensure marketing representations accurately reflect the terms consumers will encounter at every location, as ACCC enforcement in this area can result in penalties, corrective advertising, and serious reputational damage.

16 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Many franchise operations in Australia are structured as family businesses or small proprietary companies, and a minimum tax rate of 30 per cent could reduce after-tax returns for franchisees, particularly those using trusts or other structures common in franchise ownership. This is especially relevant for franchisees whose margins are already tight. Prospective and existing franchisees should model the potential impact on cash flow and discuss structural adjustments with their advisors before any changes take effect.

16 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Fuel franchise networks and independent fuel retailers face direct margin and supply-continuity risks when terminal access is constrained. Under the Franchising Code, franchisors have disclosure obligations regarding supply arrangements, and franchisees reliant on franchisor-supplied fuel should assess whether force majeure or supply shortfall provisions in their franchise agreements adequately protect them. This development also underscores broader cost pressures on any franchise system dependent on logistics and transport.

16 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Mandatory work-from-home entitlements would have had significant implications for franchise businesses that rely on in-person staffing, particularly in retail, food, and service sectors. While the proposal has been paused, its referral to a parliamentary committee signals ongoing regulatory interest in flexible work mandates. Franchise systems operating in Victoria should continue to monitor developments, as any eventual legislation could affect rostering, staffing models, and compliance obligations under both employment law and the Franchising Code’s operational requirements.

16 September 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

Franchisor-mandated proprietary technology systems are a significant consideration under the Franchising Code, which requires disclosure of obligations to use particular IT systems and any associated costs. When a franchisor builds bespoke operational software, franchisees need to understand the cost-sharing model, data ownership implications, and lock-in effects. This trend toward in-house technology control gives franchisors operational agility but also heightens the importance of transparent disclosure in franchise agreements.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 10 September 2026

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10 September 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

QSR and casual dining franchisees could see average transaction values drop as a growing segment of consumers actively cuts back on portion sizes and alcohol purchases. Franchisors should consider whether menu innovation, such as lighter or higher-protein offerings, needs to flow through to updated marketing fund strategies and financial disclosure documents. Franchisees negotiating new agreements should build this demand shift into their financial modelling from the outset.

10 September 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)

Non-traditional venues like hospitals are becoming a growing frontier for franchise expansion, and they raise practical questions about site selection obligations and territory definitions under the Franchising Code. Franchisors piloting kiosk models in institutional settings must ensure their disclosure documents accurately describe the format, fit-out costs and any operational restrictions unique to the site. Existing franchisees should check their agreements to understand whether this type of expansion affects their exclusive territory protections.

7 September 2026 • Franchise Business (Australia)

Under the Franchising Code, franchisors have ongoing obligations to deliver the support and training described in their disclosure documents. Pre-contractual representations about support can give rise to misleading conduct claims if the reality falls short. Prospective franchisees should compare promised support against the detail in the disclosure document and franchise agreement before signing, and franchisors that market heavily on support need to make sure their operational capacity matches their promotional claims.

10 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Sustained oil prices above US$100 flow directly into franchisee operating costs through fuel, freight and supply chain expenses, while also raising the prospect of an RBA rate increase that would tighten consumer spending and lift debt servicing costs. Franchisors should review whether the financial benchmarks and earnings information in their disclosure documents remain realistic under these conditions. Franchisees entering or renewing agreements should stress-test their financial projections against a higher-rate, higher-cost environment.

9 September 2026 • Franchise Business (Australia)

A significant format change within a franchise system can trigger disclosure obligations under the Franchising Code if it alters the business model, capital requirements or risk profile described in the original franchise agreement. Prospective franchisees considering a large-format outlet should make sure the disclosure document addresses the specific costs and operational differences of the expanded model. Franchisors broadening their format types need to update their disclosure documents so there is no gap between what is represented and what is actually delivered.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013.

Franchise & Competition Law Briefing • 7 September 2026

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7 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

Franchise systems that currently pass card payment costs on to customers through surcharges will need to overhaul point-of-sale systems and pricing structures across every franchised outlet. The ACCC’s enforcement focus means franchisors should update their operations manuals and ensure compliance right across the network to avoid penalties under the Australian Consumer Law. Franchisees who end up absorbing the cost may face real margin pressure, making this something that warrants proper disclosure and good faith negotiation within the franchise relationship.

7 September 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)

A large number of franchise networks in Australia are structured as family owned enterprises or involve family trusts holding multiple franchise units. When tax policy uncertainty deters restructuring, it can delay generational succession planning and transfers of franchise agreements, which typically require franchisor consent under the Franchising Code. Franchisors should keep a close eye on these developments, because stalled succession can affect network stability and growth pipelines.

7 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

This highlights broader competition concerns around manufacturer control of aftermarket repair access, a theme the ACCC has examined under its right to repair advocacy. Franchise networks in automotive servicing, including independent mechanic and parts franchises, are directly affected when OEMs restrict parts supply. The issue reinforces the case for competition law reform to make sure franchised independent repairers can access the inputs they need to compete.

6 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Interest rate settings directly affect franchise viability. Higher for longer rates increase the cost of fit out finance for new franchisees and reduce consumer discretionary spending across retail and food franchise networks. Franchisors preparing disclosure documents under the Franchising Code should make sure financial projections and risk warnings reflect current rate expectations, and prospective franchisees should factor sustained borrowing costs into their due diligence before committing to a franchise agreement.

6 September 2026 • The Age (Australia)

Franchise networks in automotive retail, servicing, and fuel retailing are facing a structural market shift as the vehicle fleet transitions to electric. Fuel based franchises need to plan for declining petrol volumes, while automotive service franchises must invest in EV capable training and equipment. Franchisors updating disclosure documents should address how EV adoption affects the long term viability of territories and business models offered to franchisees.

Minerva Law has acted for franchisors and franchisees across the full franchise lifecycle since 2013.