In order to maintain the highest possible start-up cost and allow their franchisees to focus their resources on providing the products and/or services required by the system, franchisees may make the equipment available to a franchisee as part of a lease agreement. During the trial, the court considered the case of Earlier Capital Networks Pty Ltd v. .auDomain Administration [2004] FCA 808 for what the court described as “useful indicators” of the existence of a franchise agreement. Among these indicators were: Contact us to verify a license or distribution agreement. In Australia, franchise agreements are subject to the Conduct Franchise Code (the Code). The code uses 4 criteria to decide whether an agreement is a franchise agreement. To fall into the category of a franchise agreement, the contract must meet all 4 criteria. .