What is the history of franchising?
“How did it all start?” Few people really know the exact answer. According to definition, the word “franchise” comes from old French, meaning privilege or freedom. Some say franchising began with an effort to collect taxes, as governments would select certain people to gather fees within a given geographical area. These “collectors” as they were called, kept a sizeable portion of the monies collected and remit the balance to the Pope. Other historians say franchising started with a privilege bestowed by the local sovereign — or lord – giving merchants the right to hold fairs, market their wares, trade, run local ferries or hunt on their lands. Essentially, this was an endorsement of a monopoly on commercial ventures. This common practice was perpetuated throughout the Middle Ages, and eventually became part of European Common Law. Franchising continued its evolution in the economies of the world. The most sited example occurred in Germany in the 1840’s when major ale brewers granted e
