As a partner in the BEST Procurement Programme, the Leicester Community Action Network looked at social franchising and enterprise replication as a way of encouraging growth in the social enterprise sector, with particular focus on those enterprises that already held public contracts. They worked with several social enterprises over a two-year period to get them to the stage where they were ready to replicate or franchise their business model. The process of social franchising potentially offers social enterprises growth without the risks associated with traditional investment in areas such as extra staff, bigger premises or new management.

This guide aims to highlight the issues that need to be considered before franchising and replicating.