Franchising fight

Almost a year after Liberal maverick Peter Abetz proposed contentious reforms to WA's franchising laws, the issue is still causing division in the industry.

THE largest franchise operator in Western Australia says the resources boom, coupled with the reluctance of banks to lend, has resulted in fewer people venturing into the sector.

WARM summer weather and the robust state of the local economy are two of the reasons behind a new front in the fight for Western Australians' discretionary spend – and it's all about the ice-cream.

IAN and Irene Hughes hadn't planned on owning their own small business, let alone becoming the largest franchisees in the country of pool and spa care network, PoolWerx.