Legal Brief with Alan Tate of Harris Tate www.harristate.co.nz

The next meeting of the Bay of Plenty branch of the Franchise Association of New Zealand on September 15 will provide really useful information on how the banking sector views franchised businesses.

It will also be a chance to learn how you, as either a franchisor or a prospective franchisee, can best arrange to obtain access to bank funding.

This is information that is extremely useful in these times where many banks seem reluctant to fund businesses.

Sean Dwyer from The National Bank's head office in Auckland is a senior manager - franchise and has a wealth of knowledge about franchising and financing for franchising. He is a frequent visitor to Tauranga and is a popular and knowledgeable member of the franchise community.

The recent annual conference of the Franchise Association in Wellington was an outstanding success. The amount of knowledge given to attendees was commented on, in particular by the Australians who attended. Emphasis was put on ensuring that franchise systems are modelled correctly and run correctly to ensure profitability for franchisors and franchisees alike.

If you are running a franchise or are part of a franchise system that is suffering at the moment, it may be that the system needs an overhaul or, at the very least, a review – to ensure its survival.

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Peter Bassett, co-founder of the large and successful Laser Group (Laser Plumbing and Laser Electrical). Peter was a valued member of the franchise community and had a passion and inspiration for franchising, business and life in general.

He is survived by his wife, Tania and their five children.

If you would like to attend the meeting on September 15, phone Jessica at Harris Tate, 07 578 0059.