If you are involved in franchising in any way, shape or form then participating in the 2008 Excellence in Franchising Awards can help your business.

Organised by the Franchise Council of Australia, the 2008 Excellence in Franchising Awards is the pinnacle of franchise recognition in Australia.

For the first time, suppliers to the franchise sector consultants, lawyers, finance companies, IR companies, software companies, etcetera will be recognised for their vital contributions to franchising success through the introduction of the Supplier of the Year Award.

The revamped 2008 awards now also offer a greater opportunity for franchisees to be recognised for their hard work and business success.

The Franchisee of the Year Award has been extended to allow franchisees to self-nominate for this category.

Regional winners will be announced for each state, and these winners will compete for the national award.

Greg Nathan, International Educator and managing director of Franchise Relationships Institute, was heavily involved in developing the criteria for the Franchisee of the Year Award, and openly proclaims this award as a great example of international best practice.

"Franchisees that participate have a lot to gain in terms of raising their awareness of what drives a successful business," he said.

Winners from the 2007 awards include:

Another benefit of participating is using the awards nomination process itself to evaluate your business against the scientific indicators in the various categories.

This can, on its own, create a valuable assessment of your business practices, and may even highlight areas for improvement.

The diversity of participants and real world benefits of success illustrates the inclusive nature of the awards and shows their attraction to the entire sector.

This year awards will be presented in the following categories: