Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice (“Notice”) applies to personal data International Franchise Association (“IFA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects. This Notice also covers rights and choices related to your personal data.

Data We Collect

We collect data about you in different ways. For example, we collect data:

• Directly from you. This includes when you create a profile in our app, sign up to get our emails, send messages through our services, or contact us.
• This includes through cookies, server logs, and other tools on our website or apps.
• From other sources. These can include our affiliates, vendors, partners, publicly available sources, and other companies.

The following are a few examples of our collection and use of data:

 

Context	Examples of Personal data	Primary Purpose and Legal Basis
Association Participant Information	We collect the name and contact information of our community members and their employees with whom we may interact.	We have a legitimate interest in contacting our community and communicating with them about business activities such as projects, services, and billing.
Conference and Events Mobile App	If you download a mobile app that we provide as part of your conference or event experience, you may create a profile that includes your name, age range, employment information, contact information, and potentially a bio or photo. If you use this app to comment on forums, we collect information from your posts.	We have a legitimate interest in providing mobile engagement opportunities for people who attend our events. Engagement opportunities like accounts and comments increase the value of the services we offer.
Demographics	We collect personal data, such as your age or your region.	We have a legitimate interest in understanding our users and potential customers better.
Email Interactions	If you receive email from us, we use tools to capture when you open our message, click on links or banners in it, or make purchases after receiving an email.	We have a legitimate interest in understanding how you engage with our messages.
Event Registration	If you register for a conference or event, we collect your name, contact information, and payment information, as well as your company name and job title. We may collect information about your age and preferences related to the event.	We have a legitimate interest in understanding our community. In some cases, we have a contractual obligation to process registrant data in order to deliver event-related services.
Feedback/Support	If you provide feedback or contact us for support, we collect your name and email, as well as other content that you send.	We have a legitimate interest in receiving and acting upon feedback.
Mailing List	When you sign up for our mailing lists, we collect your contact information and company name.	We have a legitimate interest in sharing information about our industry events and services. Where required by law we will ask for your consent before communicating with you.
Mobile Devices	We collect information your device broadcasts when you visit our website or use our mobile app.	We have a legitimate interest in identifying unique visitors and understanding how users engage with us on their mobile device.
Order Placement	We collect your name, billing and email addresses, phone number, and credit or debit card information when you place an order.	We use your information to perform our contract to provide products or services.
Partner Promotion	We collect data that you provide as part of co-branded promotions and events with other companies.	We have a legitimate interest in fulfilling our promotions. Note that many co-branded promotions involve the collection of information by us, and the other company identified in the promotion. Where data is jointly collected, your information may be submitted, or sent, to both companies. This privacy notice applies to our use of your data. You should review the privacy notice of the other company identified to understand their use of your data.
Public Health and Safety	We may collect data from employees, guests, and others who attend our events. This may include body temperature, symptoms of illness, and underlying health conditions.	We have a legitimate interest in protecting the health and safety of our employees and guests. In some jurisdictions we may be required by law, regulation, or government order to collect and retain data related to public health and safety. We have a legal obligation to comply in such areas.
SMS/Text Messaging	If you opt in to receive text messages, we collect your mobile phone number.	We will use your number solely to send messages (either directly or through our service providers that assist us in delivering text messages on our behalf) to the purpose for which you consented, such as informational, transactional, event-related or promotional communications. We do not sell, rent, or share mobile phone numbers with third parties for their own marketing or promotional purposes, even where you have consented to receive text messages.
Surveys	We collect data you share through surveys. If a third-party offers a survey, the third party’s privacy notice also applies to the collection, use, and disclosure of your data.	We have a legitimate interest in understanding your opinions.
Use of Our Website	We use technology (e.g., a cookie or a pixel) to learn how you engage with our websites. This may include which links you click, what you type into our online forms, or how long you visit our site. We may also track your IP address, the website that referred you to us, and data about your device.	We have a legitimate interest in making our website operate. We also use it to understand how you interact with our websites, gather analytics, improve our websites, and learn your preferences. We may also use this data to help detect and prevent fraud. Where required by law, we base the use of technologies upon consent.
Use of Our App	If you use an app we provide for events, we may collect information about your device and IP address, your language preferences, your activities within the app, and the duration of your use.	We have a legitimate interest in making our mobile app operate. We also use it to understand how you interact with our offerings, gather analytics, improve our services, and learn your preferences. We may also use this data to help detect and prevent fraud. Where required by law, we base the use of technologies upon consent.
User Communications	If you use our Site to contact a franchisor (directly or through a request to us) about franchising opportunities, we may collect your name, address, contact information, financial information related to a franchise investment, and preferences related to franchise locations.	We have a legitimate interest in understanding your interest, and in some instances, we have a contractual obligation to process this information.
User Content	If you choose to engage in forums, blogs, or other similar public features offered by us, we may maintain records about the content you post. This might include comments, reviews or questions as well as metadata associated with your content.	We use this data to understand your opinions and foster a safe environment on our websites.
Website Targeted Advertising Technology	We may let third parties place tracking technology on our websites (e.g., a cookie or a pixel). The third party might also collect data over time and across other websites. Among other things, they may use this data to serve ads tailored to your interests, which may include ads about our products or services.	Where required by law, we base the use of third-party tracking technologies upon consent. Users should see our Cookie Preference Center for more information. You can also find more information about your options with regard to this technology in the Your Choices section below.

How We Use Data

We also use data to:

• Identify you when you visit our sites and events.
• Complete transactions.
• Improve or create services and products.
• Conduct analytics.
• Connect with you (e.g., addressing your requests, inquiries, issues, or feedback).
• Market our products or services.
• Market the products or services of our business partners.
• Find and prevent malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity.
• Find and prevent security incidents.
• Enforce our policies and agreements.
• Debug, find, and fix errors that impair our website and services.
• Comply with legal or regulatory obligations.
• Establish or exercise our rights.
• Defend against legal claims.
• Manage our relationships.
• For other reasons with your consent.

The sections above describe our main purposes in collecting your data, but often we have multiple purposes. For instance, if you make an online purchase, we may collect your information to perform our contract with you. We also have a legitimate interest in maintaining that data so that we can easily address questions about an order. As a result, our collection and processing of your data is based in different contexts on your consent, our need to perform a contract, our legal obligations, and/or our legitimate interest in conducting our business.

How We Share Data

In addition to the specific situations discussed elsewhere in this Notice we may share personal data in the following situations:

• Affiliates and Acquisitions. We may share data with our affiliates (e.g., parent company, sister companies, subsidiaries, joint ventures, or other companies under common control). If a company acquires or enters negotiations to acquire, our company, business, or assets, we may share data with that company.
• Other Disclosures without Your Consent. We may share data to cooperate with law enforcement, participate in a legal process, or for legal compliance. We may share your data to establish or exercise our rights, to defend against legal claims, to investigate, prevent, or act on possible illegal activities, threats to safety of person or property, or a violation of our policies.
• Public. Some of our websites may allow for comments or reviews in a public forum. If you post on these pages, what you share may be publicly available.
• Service Providers. We share your data with service providers. Service providers help us to run our website, conduct surveys, provide technical support, process payments, fulfill orders, and more.
• Professional Services. We may share personal data with our professional service providers, such as auditors or lawyers.
• Other Disclosures with Your Consent. We may share your data with third parties when you consent or direct us to.

Your Choices

Some jurisdictions allow you to make the following choices:

• Access. You may request access to your personal data or confirmation that we have data about you. In certain limited cases, you may ask to receive access to your data in a portable, machine-readable form.
• Change. Our website and app allow you to change your account profile. If our website or app does not permit you to update or correct certain information, you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data by contacting us at the address below. We may keep historical data in our backup files as permitted by law.
• Deletion. You may ask us to delete your personal data. If required by law, we will grant such a request, but note that in many cases, we must keep your personal data to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, or for other business purposes.
• Opt-out of Website Targeted Advertising. You may change your preferences related to online targeted advertising (e.g., cookies) by clicking the cookie settings link here or on our homepage. Note that if you change browsers or devices, or if you clear your browser’s cache, you may need to click the link again to apply your preference. We recognize Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals broadcast from web browsers. However, if there is a conflict between the GPC signal and a manual choice that you have made on our website regarding targeted advertising, we will honor your manual choice. We do not recognize the “Do Not Track Signal.”
• Objection to or Restriction of Certain Processing. In certain circumstances, you may object to the processing of your personal data, or ask that we restrict processing of your personal data. To do so, follow the instructions below.
• Promotional Emails. You may provide us with your email address to allow us to send newsletters, surveys, offers, or other promotional content, as well as targeted offers from third parties. You can stop receiving such emails by following the unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of those emails. If you choose not to receive such emails, we may still send you service-related communications.
• Promotional Text Messages. If you get a text message from us that has promotional content, you can opt-out of future text messages by replying “STOP.” After opting out, you will no longer receive such text messages from us unless you subsequently re-enroll. For help or additional information, you may reply “HELP” or contact us using the information in the Contact Information section below. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.
• Revocation Of Consent. Where we process your personal data based upon consent, you may revoke consent. Note, if you revoke consent for processing personal data, we may no longer be able to provide you with some types of services.

Not all the choices above are absolute rights, and they do not apply in all circumstances. We may limit or deny a request because the law permits or requires us to. We will not discriminate against individuals who exercise a privacy right.

Submitting Requests

You may exercise the above rights by contacting us via the contact information below. If you disagree with our denial of a request, you may appeal our decision by contacting us with the subject line “Appeal.”

We will require you to prove your identity when making most types of requests. We may verify your identity by phone or email. Depending on your request, we will ask for information such as your name, the last item you purchased from us, or the date of your last purchase from us. We may also ask you to send us a signed declaration confirming your identity.

In some circumstances, you may designate an authorized agent to exercise rights on your behalf.

How We Protect and Retain Data

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is fully secure. While we use reasonable efforts to protect personal data, we cannot guarantee its security. If we are required to inform you about a security incident, we will do so electronically, in writing, or by phone, as the law permits.

Some portions of our website and app permit you to create an account. You are responsible for selecting a unique and complex password and keeping it confidential. You are responsible for any access to or use of your account by someone who has obtained your password, whether or not you approved of such access or use. Notify us of unauthorized use of your password or account immediately.

We keep your personal data for only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes in this Notice unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. This includes the purposes of satisfying legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the data. We also weigh the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of the data, the purposes for which we obtained the data and whether we can meet those purposes through other means, as well as applicable legal requirements.

Transmission Of Data To Other Countries

We may process your data in a country with less stringent privacy laws than the laws in the country that you reside. Where possible, we treat personal data using the same privacy principles that guide the law of the country in which we first receive your data. By submitting your personal data to us you agree to the transfer, storage, and processing of your data in a country other than your country of residence including, but not limited to, the United States. For more information on our attempts to apply the privacy principles applicable in one area to data when it goes to another, contact us using the contact information below.

Third-Party Applications/Websites

We may provide links to websites and other third-party content or services that we do not own or operate. We have no control over the privacy practices of websites or services we do not own. For details about such third parties’ privacy practices, see their privacy notices.

Changes To This Privacy Notice

We may change our Notice and privacy practices. New notices will be published on our website. If changes are material, the Notice that was in place when you submitted personal data to us will generally govern that data unless you consent to the new Notice. Our Notice shows “effective” and “last updated” dates below. The effective date is the date the current version took effect. The last updated date is the date the current version was last substantively changed.

Contact Information

If you have questions, comments, or complaints on our privacy practices, or if you need to access this Notice in a different form due to a disability, please contact us. We will try to address your requests and provide you with additional privacy-related information.

info@franchise.org
1201 New York Ave NW Suite 300 A, Washington, DC 20005
202-628-8000

If you are not satisfied with our response and are in the European Union or United Kingdom, you may have a right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

Last Update: 04/23/2026