By Matt Haller, International Franchise Association

When franchising leaders gathered last month in Las Vegas for the 2026 Convention of the International Franchise Association, I decided to do something I had never done in my five conventions as CEO — I threw out my prepared speech.

In the spirit of our 2026 Convention theme, Evolve, it felt right to try something different. Instead of delivering traditional remarks, I opened the Convention with a “Franchise Tonight!”-style segment alongside outgoing IFA Chair Mary Kennedy Thompson. We brought a late-night talk show feel to the stage — couches, conversation, a few Vegas jokes, and some good-natured fun about networking being the “Olympics” of our industry. Behind the humor, though, was a serious message about the strength of franchising today and the opportunity ahead.

One perspective I shared with the audience was how closely franchising reflects the American economic model itself. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, I often think about how our country resembles a franchise system — 50 independent states operating under a shared framework. Each is entrepreneurial and autonomous, yet unified and protected by a common system.

Franchising has mirrored that idea for generations. Even early American innovators like Benjamin Franklin licensed printing operations across the colonies. Today’s franchise brands follow the same core principle: empowering entrepreneurs to own businesses independently, but not alone. It remains one of the most powerful vehicles for democratizing business ownership and wealth creation.

I also had the opportunity to share some encouraging data about where our industry is headed. According to IFA’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook, franchising is projected to grow by 12,000 units and 150,000 new jobs. That growth is being supported by several forces — including greater tax certainty for long-term investment, improving access to capital as interest rates ease, and growing investment in AI and technology that can strengthen productivity and unit-level economics.

Our Value of Franchising research reinforces the same point: franchise businesses generate 1.4 times the revenue of non-franchise businesses. Franchising isn’t just growing — it’s outperforming.

We also discussed what may become the most important policy development in the history of modern franchising: the bipartisan American Franchise Act. This legislation would establish a clear joint-employer standard for franchising, protecting the ability of franchisors to support their brands while ensuring franchisees receive the guidance and operational backing they rely on. Just as important, it would bring stability to a regulatory issue that has created uncertainty for nearly a decade.

Equally important over the past year has been our effort to better tell the story of franchising itself. Through a refreshed brand, a new website, and the Franchise Means Local campaign, we have focused on highlighting the entrepreneurs behind the logos. Franchising isn’t just a national brand — it’s a local owner building opportunity for their family and community.

Finally, I closed with gratitude. This was my fifth Convention as CEO and my fifteenth year with the IFA. When I joined the organization in 2010, our focus was on increasing SBA loan limits in the wake of the Great Recession. Today, franchising is stronger, more unified, and more confident about its future than ever.

That progress isn’t because of any single leader. It’s because of franchisees, franchisors, and partners who show up, advocate, and build businesses that change lives. Our annual Convention represents more than programming and networking. It represents a movement — leaders committed to evolving, improving, and protecting one of the most powerful economic models in the world.

Franchising has extraordinary economic, community, and policy power. The opportunity ahead of us in 2026 is to use that power wisely, boldly, and together.

Matt Haller is the president & CEO of the International Franchise Association.

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