Franchise Association of South Africa

What Franchise Association of South Africa does

The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1979 and headquartered in Midrand, South Africa. It is the only officially recognised representative body for the franchise industry in South Africa and serves franchisors, franchisees, and professional service providers across more than 800 franchised systems, 70,000+ franchisees, and 500,000+ employees in the sector. FASA's mission is to protect, lobby, promote, and develop ethical franchising, underpinned by a Code of Ethics and Business Practices — one of the first in the world — and accreditation processes that verify Consumer Protection Act compliance for franchise agreements and disclosure documents.

FASA's offerings span a portfolio of interconnected membership tiers (Accredited Franchisor, Preliminary, Franchisee, and Professional Service Provider / Goods Supplier), digital platforms (Franchise Directory, Franchisee Self-Assessment Tool, Franchise Help Desk), publications (annual Franchise Manual in print and eBook, survey reports, educational eBooks), and events (annual Conference & Expo, IFE Franchise Expo, Golf Day, Virtual Networking sessions). It also operates the longest-running franchise expo on the African continent (IFE) and, in collaboration with Services SETA, launched the SAQA-registered Advanced Occupational Certificate: Franchise Manager (SAQA ID 121690).

FASA's revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions, publication sales, event registrations and sponsorships, and benefits such as free mediation services. Pricing is primarily quote-based for membership tiers, with discrete unit pricing for events (e.g., Golf Day 4-ball at R6,800) and publications (R150–R1,500). Distribution is direct, supported by a broadly distributed go-to-market across events, newsletters (30,000+ recipients), social media, and affiliations through the World Franchise Council (47 countries), SAUBC, and SBI.

Name

Franchise Association of South Africa

Legal name

Franchise Association of South Africa

Website

https://fasa.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FASA is the only officially recognised non-profit trade body for franchising in South Africa, founded in 1979. It accredits franchisors, supports franchisees, and connects professional service providers across 800+ franchise systems and 70,000+ franchisees through membership, events, publications, and digital directories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from franchisors, franchisees, and professional service providers generate recurring revenue. Accredited franchisor membership, preliminary membership, franchisee membership, and service provider supplier membership tiers are available.
2. Publications and Products: Sales of FASA Franchise Manuals (hard copy and eBook), Annual Reports, Survey Results, and eBooks including 'How to Franchise Your Business' and 'How to Evaluate a Franchise Business'.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from conference attendance, expo exhibitions, golf day events, and virtual networking sessions.
4. Member Sponsored AVE: FASA generated just over R32m in advertising value equivalent (AVE) on behalf of its members in 2018 through events, sponsorships, and publications (source NewsClip).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

FASA is the only officially recognized representative body for the franchise industry in South Africa, operating as a non-profit membership association since 1979. It sells four membership tiers (Accredited Franchisor, Preliminary, Franchisee, Professional Service Provider/Goods Supplier), the annual FASA Franchise Manual (hard copy and eBook), the Annual Franchise Survey results, educational eBooks, and tickets to conferences, expos, golf days and virtual networking events. Members additionally receive Code of Ethics accreditation review, free mediation services, the bi-weekly Newsflash newsletter, and inclusion in the online Franchise Directory.

Product overview

The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) operates as a non-profit membership organization and the sole recognized representative body for franchising in South Africa since 1979. Rather than a single unified product, FASA offers a portfolio of interconnected membership services, publications, events, and digital platforms. The core offering includes an online Franchise Directory connecting prospective franchisees with accredited franchisors, a Franchisee Self-Assessment Tool for investment readiness evaluation, and a Franchise Help Desk providing foundational guidance. Supporting this, FASA publishes the annual Franchise Manual (available as hard copy or eBook) and conducts annual Franchise Surveys providing industry statistics (800+ franchised systems, 70K+ franchisees, 500K+ employed). The membership program comprises four tiers: Accredited Franchisor (with Code of Ethics compliance verification), Preliminary (for prospective franchisors), Franchisee, and Professional Service Provider/Goods Supplier memberships. Members receive benefits including free mediation services for dispute resolution, access to the bi-weekly Newsflash Newsletter (30,000+ recipients), preferential rates at events, and marketing platforms including listings in the Franchise Manual and online directory. Events form a key pillar—FASA organizes the annual Conference & Expo (sponsored by ABSA, Nedbank, Services SETA), the IFE Franchise Expo (Africa's longest-running franchise expo), FASA Golf Day, and Virtual Networking events via Microsoft Teams. FASA also collaborates with Services SETA on the Advanced Occupational Certificate: Franchise Manager (SAQA ID 121690), an occupational qualification for skills development in the franchise sector. The association's purpose is to protect, lobby, promote, and develop ethical franchising across all sectors in South Africa with specific focus on transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FASA Franchise Directory Online directory of accredited franchisors available for purchase in South Africa, Africa, and globally. Prospective franchisees can browse and search franchise opportunities by sector and brand; serves as the association's flagship member-visibility platform.
• Franchisee Self-Assessment Tool Online self-assessment test enabling prospective franchisees to evaluate their suitability for franchising before committing capital to a franchise business.
• Franchise Help Desk Information resource covering the basics of investing in a franchise, providing guidance and support for prospective franchise investors.
• FASA Franchise Manual Annual publication available in hard copy or as an eBook, serving as a comprehensive source of information on franchising in South Africa. Distributed at franchise expos with free copies provided to members for prospective franchisee interviews.
• FASA Annual Franchise Survey Annual survey conducted among franchisors and franchisees since 2012, providing industry statistics and market insights including franchised systems count (800+), franchisee count (70K+), and employment figures (500K+) from the 2023 survey.
• How to Franchise Your Business eBook Digital publication guiding business owners through the process of converting their business into a franchise system.
• How to Evaluate a Franchise Business eBook Digital publication helping prospective franchisees assess and evaluate franchise investment opportunities.
• FASA Virtual Networking Events Regular networking events hosted on Microsoft Teams and other platforms enabling franchise industry professionals to connect, share knowledge, and build relationships.
• FASA Conference & Expo Annual flagship conference and exhibition bringing together franchise industry leaders, franchisors, franchisees, investors, and service providers with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
• FASA Golf Day Annual golf day event for members to network in a casual setting, with padel options for non-golfers, prize-giving, and dinner.
• IFE Franchise Expo Longest-standing franchise expo on the African continent, owned and managed by FASA as a major marketing platform for franchisors to secure franchisees.
• Free Mediation Services Voluntary dispute resolution process provided by experienced franchise mediators, with the association covering mediation session expenses for accredited members.
• Accredited Franchisor Membership Full accreditation membership for franchisors, requiring written undertaking to abide by the association's Code of Ethics, with franchise agreements and disclosure documents reviewed for Consumer Protection Act compliance.
• Preliminary Membership Entry-level membership tier for businesses considering franchising, providing access to initial benefits and resources before pursuing full franchisor accreditation.
• Franchisee Membership Membership category for franchisees operating within accredited franchise systems.
• Professional Service Provider and Goods Supplier Membership Membership category for professional service providers and goods suppliers interested in building clients and networks within the franchise industry, with annual fee of R22,947.43 excluding VAT.
• FASA Newsflash Newsletter Bi-weekly newsletter sent to over 30,000 recipients, featuring industry news, member announcements, and franchise-related updates.
• Advanced Occupational Certificate: Franchise Manager (SAQA ID 121690) Occupational qualification registered with SAQA, developed in collaboration with Services SETA, aligned with Outcome 4 of the National Skills Development Plan 2030 to enhance access to occupationally directed programmes in franchising.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ franchised systems represented
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TEA (Themed Entertainment Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026FASA and TEA have forged a landmark partnership, hosting preparatory webinars for African entrepreneurs preparing for FRANEX 2026 (CEO Drawing Board 8.0) in Cairo to connect with Saudi and Middle East investors.
• World Franchise CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979FASA is a long-standing member of the World Franchise Council, providing members with networking contacts and information in 47 countries around the world for international expansion opportunities.
• Small Business Institute (SBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFASA is a member of the Small Business Institute and together with nominated members supports industry representation by serving on SAUBC committees to influence government on matters affecting small business.
• South African United Business Confederation (SAUBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFASA supports industry representation by serving on SAUBC committees to raise important issues, canvass opinions from members, and influence government structures on matters that affect small business and franchising.
• Services SETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough ServicesSeta, FASA has secured a seat on the business chamber and submitted an application for funding for 1500 learnerships over three years offered to interested members, reducing labour costs and providing tax rebate benefits.
• Proudly SAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProudly SA offers FASA members a 10% discount on first year's membership fees and 20% discount for two-year membership sign-ups, promoting local procurement and South African business.
• LWO Employers OrganizationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLWO specializes in labour law compliance and representation at CCMA, offering FASA franchisors 20% discount on joining fee and preferential rates on annual membership for employment law support.
• ABSAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerABSA is a sponsor of FASA Conference 2026, providing support for the annual franchise industry event.
• NEDBANKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNEDBANK is a sponsor of FASA Conference 2026, supporting the franchise industry event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• African Franchise Association: Emerging continental body representing franchise associations across Africa. Relevant as a potential peer/coordinating body for FASA's pan-African ambitions, though its specific corporate identity and URL are not confidently known.
• Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore): Singapore's national franchise and licensing association. Comparable trade association structure and member services, but serving Southeast Asian markets rather than competing directly with FASA.
• Franchise New Zealand: New Zealand's national franchise association providing accreditation, events, and advocacy. Operates in a similar role as FASA but in a different geography.

Direct peers

• European Franchise Federation: Umbrella federation of European national franchise associations, providing a pan-European Code of Ethics framework. Comparable as a federated franchise body that FASA interacts with through the World Franchise Council.
• British Franchise Association: The UK's national franchise trade association, providing accreditation under a Code of Ethical Practice, mediation, events, and publications. Closely mirrors FASA's structure and service mix in a different geography.
• International Franchise Association: The leading US-based trade association for franchising, offering accreditation, advocacy, education, and events. Directly comparable as a national franchise trade association serving franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers.
• Canadian Franchise Association: Canada's national franchise association providing member services, education, advocacy, and a Code of Ethics. Functionally analogous to FASA in scope and value proposition.
• Franchise Council of Australia: Australia's peak franchising body, offering the Franchise Excellence Awards, education programs, and a Code of Practice. Comparable to FASA as a national franchise association with accreditation, events, and advocacy mandates.

Emerging players

• Entrepreneurs' Organization: Global membership community for entrepreneurs, including many franchise owners. Comparable as a membership-driven community serving SME/franchise operators with peer learning and networking, though not franchise-specific.

Others

• World Franchise Council: Global umbrella of national franchise associations. Not a direct peer — FASA is a member — but the closest institutional reference point for FASA's international role and governance model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fasacoza
• Xx.com/franchisingSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FranchiseAssociationSouthAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1198862

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franchise Association of South Africa