By the International Franchise Association (IFA)

Looking back, 2025 will be remembered as one of the most consequential years in modern franchising. At the outset of the year, IFA President and CEO Matt Haller dubbed it the “Year of Franchising,” aiming to go on offense to strengthen and protect the franchise business model – and that held to be true. It was a year defined by collective momentum, clarity and connection—a year when the entire franchise community – along with  policymakers and stakeholders came together to support the business model that supports nearly 850,000 local businesses across the U.S.

 February – A New Brand Identity and Website Designed for the Future

IFA opened the year with a major transformation: the rollout of a refreshed brand identity and completely redesigned Franchise.org website to better serve IFA members and serve as the centralized resource for franchise information.

The redesigned platform is designed to make it easy for members – and those looking for information about franchising – to find resources, engage in advocacy, pursue professional development and networking  and learn about franchise opportunities.

Most importantly, the website reflects the faces, stories and values of franchising itself—energetic, people-driven, and built for opportunity.

 May – The First-Ever World Franchise Show Debuts

In May, IFA launched the inaugural World Franchise Show in Miami, Florida, the first global event designed to unite franchise leaders with franchise opportunity seekers in a new format that redefined the traditional “expo.”  Thousands of attendees experienced an expansive, modern environment with multiple on-floor theaters, featuring some of the top franchising leaders sharing their expertise.

The debut event featured participants from more than 40 countries, a welcome address by the Miami Mayor’s office, and highlighted the growing role U.S. franchising plays in global markets. From international expansion strategies to cross-border regulatory cooperation, the World Franchise Show quickly cemented itself as a new pillar of IFA’s global leadership.

 April, May, June – Franchisees Bring Their Voices to the White House and on Capitol Hill

In two separate committee hearings, four IFA franchisor and franchisee members testified before Congress on the urgent need for tax relief and clarity surrounding the changing joint employer standard. Their real-world stories underscored how uncertainty chills growth, slows hiring, and increases operational costs for locally owned franchise businesses. Their message was clear and bipartisan: franchisees want certainty and to be treated as individual small, business owners.

Additionally, IFA and nine franchisee members were invited to attend an event at the White House to show their support – and the urgency – around passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which provided essential tax relief for franchise businesses. The presence of each one of these members in Washington helped set the stage for passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which included all of the provisions IFA advocated for to support franchisees, as well as major policy milestones that followed later in the year.

July – IFA and Franchise Update Media Announce Merger

On July 1, IFA acquired Franchise Update Media (FUM), combining the world’s leading franchising trade association with franchising’s most trusted source of news, data, and events.

This merger creates unmatched value for the franchising community—integrating IFA’s policy, education and events leadership with FUM’s media, research, and event platforms – especially those serving the multi-unit franchising community. Together, the unified organization strengthens everything from franchisee education to development benchmarking to major conferences such as MUFC, FCXC, and FLDC.

September – Introduction of the American Franchise Act

After setting the stage for a landmark year for franchising, September brought one of the most important policy developments in IFA history: the introduction of the American Franchise Act (AFA). A new, bipartisan legislative approach designed to codify a clear, permanent joint employer standard, the AFA protects both franchisees’ independence and franchisors’ ability to provide brand support without triggering legal liability.

The bill represents years of coalition-building by IFA, bipartisan champions in Congress, and thousands of franchise owners nationwide. Its introduction marked a breakthrough moment as it was introduced by 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats – one of the most bipartisan bills introduced this Congress. Immediately following introduction, 400 IFA advocates came to Washington to meet with their Members of Congress to push for the bill. These collective efforts have led to over 50 bipartisan cosponsors and over 100 groups announcing their support for the bill.

October – Launch of the “Franchise Means Local” Campaign

Public perception has always been central to the health of the franchise business model and franchisee success. In October, IFA launched Franchise Means Local, a multi-year $5 million nationwide campaign to reinforce that franchises are small, local businesses, rather than faceless corporations.

Through digital storytelling, local media features, influencer partnerships and grassroots engagement, the campaign is helping Americans see franchising not as a corporate structure, but as a network of neighbors: the family who owns your local gym, the veteran running your neighborhood salon, the mother of three who opened a child-care center in your town.

 November – Franchising at the Presidential Stage

In November, an IFA delegation visited the White House for a policy discussion with Vice President J.D. Vance. The meeting, with IFA President and CEO Matt Haller and franchise owners, reinforced franchising’s role in job creation, community development, and upward mobility—and underscored the need for regulatory clarity to support franchise small business owners. Later in the month, nearly 100 IFA members were invited to attend President Trump’s speech at the McDonald’s Impact Summit in Washington, where President Trump thanked IFA and our attendees for their “fantastic work.”

A Year of Progress—And a Foundation for 2026

From a revitalized public presence to historic advocacy milestones, 2025 reinforced that the franchise model works—and that it works best when our community joins together. As we look to 2026, IFA will continue amplifying the voices of franchisees, advancing pro-growth policy, strengthening the value of membership, and elevating the voices in franchising.