WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 8 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the Franchise Reopening Blueprint to provide guidelines to franchise businesses and policymakers on how to reopen safely following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report – which focuses on the automotive, commercial services, education, fitness, hotel, residential services, restaurant, salon, and senior health services sectors – aims to provide mitigation best practices for how franchise businesses can educate and protect the health of their employees, customers and communities.

“The pandemic and ensuing business closures have harmed franchises across the board. In a recent IFA survey, three out of every four franchise businesses were fully closed due to either the economic downturn or “stay-at-home” directives. With more than 733,000 franchise businesses supporting 8 million workers prior to COVID-19, it is clear the impact of the pandemic on our sector is and will be tremendous,” said Robert Cresanti, IFA President and CEO.

“While franchises have been uniquely harmed, franchises – through a focus on maintaining and executing replicable and scalable operating systems, safety standards, and employee training – are also uniquely suited to help lead the country’s economic revival. It is IFA’s hope that our recommendations can inform reopening guidelines and serve as a baseline for franchisors and franchisees as they work to reopen their franchise systems,” he added.

IFA’s participation in the President’s Great American Economic Revival task force ensures these considerations and recommendations have been delivered to the White House, as well as Members of Congress and our nation’s governors and mayors.

The full report is available online here.

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About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $787.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.

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