Franchising World September 2011
By: Barbara Moran
With the upcoming International Franchise Association’s 12th Annual Public Affairs Conference, the franchising community will once again have the opportunity to engage members of Congress and tell the story of franchising. IFA’s annual grassroots event in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13-14, facilitates face-to-face meetings between franchise representatives and your elected officials. Research shows that the best way to influence a member of Congress is an in-person meeting with a voter from back home. While IFA’s Government Relations team can help guide the conversation year-round, it is critical that lawmakers hear from members of the franchise community directly on matters that affect their businesses during these 36 hours in the nation’s capital. The industry needs to educate Congress about franchise businesses and make sure they understand how the votes they cast can impact franchising’s ability to develop a product, hire workers, and, ultimately, turn a profit.
The Voice of Franchising Reinvented
One of the most important aspects of the Public Affairs Conference is that the industry as a whole comes together to speak with one voice. Over the past decade, IFA has been reinventing itself as the voice of franchising. Studies and data collected on the profound economic power of franchising revealed that there are nearly 825,000 franchised businesses across the country, contributing $2.1 trillion to the U.S. economy annually. Whether an organization is a franchisor, franchisee or a supplier, the message to deliver to Capitol Hill is one that will benefit all of franchising. The IFA’s Public Affairs Conference successfully serves as a forum to maximize ways for franchisors, franchisees and suppliers to work together, engage in a positive dialogue and minimize disagreements which should be handled outside the legislative process.
As the Chairwoman of the IFA’s Franchise Relations Committee, I know firsthand the efforts that are made to bridge any perceived rift between franchisor and franchisee. The committee works tirelessly on ways to promote best practices and foster better franchise relations. As most members of the IFA understand, we’re all in this together. When we visit Capitol Hill this month, the conversation will not be about issues between franchisee and franchisor, or about problems within a particular franchise system. The conversation will be about how:
• Together we can increase opportunity for all business owners.
• We as business owners can work together with our members of Congress to create a pro-growth regulatory environment.
• Franchising can be a catalyst to economic recovery.
• Franchising is responsible for one out of every eight jobs created.
Franchising is in the midst of challenging public policy battles and your association needs the engagement of franchise activists through a multitude of advocacy efforts. The more these lawmakers learn about franchising—and more importantly the people in franchising—the greater the opportunity to make a powerful difference at the local, state and federal levels. Therefore, when presented with a legislative or political decision that will affect the small-business community, lawmakers will consider the views of the franchise leaders in their district.
Remaining Engaged
Those who have participated in past Public Affairs Conferences already understand this, but for those who may be participating for the first time or those who were unable to join in this year’s event, the Public Affairs Conference should only be one method in building a relationship with your elected officials. Delivering a message to your congressman or congresswoman in Washington, D.C. is a start, but alone it may not be sufficient to move a lawmaker’s position on an issue.
Conference attendees may want to follow up their visit with a letter to thank their lawmaker and congressional staff for their time and reiterate what was discussed. Some IFA members have been successful in inviting their member of Congress to tour their business, to meet their employees and to see firsthand what obstacles small businesses face on a daily basis. Despite each elected official representing approximately 700,000 citizens, with a strategy of active engagement, it is not too difficult to have you, and your company, stand out.
For those who enjoy this sort of relationship building with elected officials, the IFA runs an incredibly effective initiative called Franchise Congress. In 2009, the IFA created this unique advocacy program that will harness the strengths of the franchise business model to increase the awareness of franchising and effectively communicate with lawmakers, thereby protecting, enhancing and promoting the industry. While Franchise Congress involvement is intended to require a manageable amount of time since members have businesses to run and other obligations, recruitment is focused on attracting and retaining reliable and politically active members to participate. Members of Congress and policymakers only fear and respect organizations that can deliver significant grassroots. Through Franchise Congress, strong relationships are facilitated and cultivated, making this initiative one of the most cohesive and high-quality advocacy campaigns among business community associations.
Advocate for Veterans Legislation
IFA will launch an expanded campaign during its Public Affairs Conference to raise awareness among veterans about opportunities for franchise small-business ownership when they return to civilian life. The expanded campaign will include advocacy for the IFA-supported Help Veterans Own Franchises Act and education about IFA’s VetFran program, which offers financial incentives to veterans. VetFran has enabled more than 2,100 veterans to purchase a franchise business since the program’s relaunch in 2001. Visit the IFA Web site at
www.franchise.org
, “Franchise Opportunities,” and “Franchises for Veterans” to view the list of participating VetFran companies and the incentives they offer.
Moving the Industry Forward
IFA’s annual Public Affairs Conference gathers franchise business leaders in Washington to inform Congress how public policy affects the economic health of the franchise industry. IFA recently outlined its “Solutions for the Economy,” the franchise business community’s public policy goals that encourage economic recovery and job growth. Conference attendees will be communicating these goals to lawmakers throughout the conference.
“IFA supports pro-growth public policies that encourage economic recovery and job growth in the franchise business community,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira, CFE. “These include initiatives that increase small-business access to credit, eliminate tax uncertainties, reduce the cost of health insurance and support veterans and minorities as small franchise business owners.”
IFA will name two Legislators of the Year, one member of Congress from each side of the aisle who has supported a pro-small business agenda, as well as host the Franchisee of Year Awards to recognize outstanding franchisees who have helped to move the industry forward during the conference.
IFA’s Public Affairs Conference is supported by Founding and Franchisee of the Year Awards Sponsor ADP. Additional sponsors include Dunkin’ Brands, The UPS Store, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Valpak, BeneTrends, Inc., Guidant Financial Group, BrightStar LifeCare, Coverall and Franchise Finance America.
For more information or to get involved in IFA’s key advocacy initiative, contact IFA Director of Advocacy Meredith Nethercutt at
mnethercutt@franchise.org
or 202-662-0760.
Barbara Moran, who is CEO and president of Moran Industries, Inc., is active in IFA, serves on the association’s Board of Directors, the FranPAC President’s Council and as chairwoman of the IFA Franchise Relations Committee. For more perspectives on franchise relations, visit IFA’s Web site,
www.franchise.org
, and select “Resources” for franchise relations documents. She can be reached at 708-389-5922 or
bmoran@moranindustries.com
.