FASA and Absa bring franchise breakfast series to Gauteng

The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) and Absa are bringing their provincial franchise development programme to Gauteng, with a breakfast session in Fourways on 20 October 2026. The gathering will connect entrepreneurs, established franchise businesses and funders as FASA seeks to widen participation in South Africa’s franchise community.

Gauteng joins the provincial programme

The Gauteng Breakfast Session will take place at the Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre in Fourways, with an entrance fee of R150. It is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, aspiring franchisees, franchisors, investors and funders.

The event follows sessions in the Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. According to FASA, those engagements have attracted growing interest from businesses looking to enter the franchise market, secure finance or expand their operations.

Rather than focusing only on established franchise owners, the programme also brings prospective business owners into the conversation. Its stated purpose is to help participants understand how franchising works, how operations can be financed and what running a franchise requires.

FASA chief executive Freddy Makgato, who is also president of the Africa Franchise Association, describes the regional approach as a way to make franchise knowledge more accessible.

“The series aims to take franchising out of the boardroom and into regional business hubs,” he says.

A community with a substantial local base

The Gauteng gathering comes as FASA highlights the scale of franchising’s contribution to South Africa’s economy. The association puts its annual economic contribution at nearly R1 trillion and says its share of gross domestic product has risen from 10% to 15% over the past decade.

FASA’s 2023/24 survey recorded 727 franchise systems and 68,463 franchisees, collectively employing approximately 500,000 people. Those figures provide the backdrop to the association’s current development programme, rather than a new count of businesses operating in October 2026.

The survey also points to a strongly local foundation: 88% of franchise concepts originated in South Africa. That makes locally developed business models a central part of the community FASA is seeking to grow through its provincial engagements.

Employment effects extend beyond individual franchise operations. FASA estimates that every 14 direct jobs created within the franchise community support a further seven indirect jobs across supplier networks. The association uses these figures to underline franchising’s potential contribution to enterprise development and wider employment.

Practical knowledge alongside business connections

FASA’s programme is intended to serve two related audiences: people considering franchise ownership and existing businesses exploring franchising as a route to expansion. Bringing them together with established franchisors and franchisees creates an opportunity to discuss the model from both sides of the relationship.

For prospective owners, the issues identified by FASA include understanding the business model, obtaining suitable finance and meeting operational requirements. For SMEs seeking to scale, the sessions offer a setting in which to explore how franchising could support expansion.

Makgato says broader growth depends on connecting more entrepreneurs with funders and policymakers around the country. FASA also identifies a supportive policy environment and better understanding of franchising as important conditions for sustained development.

The provincial format is therefore about more than presenting the size of the market. Its stated emphasis is on direct engagement between businesses, financiers and other members of the franchise community, helping prospective participants make informed decisions.

Absa continues its support for franchise gatherings

Absa has sponsored FASA’s provincial breakfast sessions and supported national franchise gatherings, including the FASA National Conference and Expo held in Boksburg in February 2026. The Gauteng breakfast continues that partnership at provincial level.

The Fourways session is the latest announced stop in a programme that has already reached three provinces. Its broad invitation covers both businesses already operating within franchising and entrepreneurs still assessing whether the model suits their plans.

Practical takeaway: Entrepreneurs considering the R150 Gauteng session should prepare specific questions about operational responsibilities, expansion plans and financing requirements, so that conversations with franchisors and funders address their own business needs.