Issues

Protecting Brands: IFA supports policies that ensure franchise brand standards are protected so that franchisee investments are protected and consumers can expect the same safety, consistency, and quality regardless of the business’ location.

Enhancing Opportunities: IFA supports policies that expand access to business ownership and enable franchise business employees to increase their skills, advance their careers, and prosper economically.

Improving Tax Policy: IFA advocates for reasonable, permanent, and common-sense tax policies that can help small businesses, including pass-through businesses, can open new locations, hire more workers, and better contribute to their local communities.

Promoting Healthcare Coverage: IFA supports policies that allow for quality, affordable health care coverage for franchise business owners and employees.

Small Business Relief

IFA has urged Congress to expand and extend programs to provide franchise businesses with increased avenues to access capital, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enhancing Opportunities

Franchise Discrimination

IFA not only advocates for the interests of its members at the federal level, it also advocates at the state and local levels including, opposing discriminatory minimum wage increases and predictive scheduling laws.

Protecting Brands

Qualified Improvement Property (QIP)

By supporting a commonsense fix to the technical glitch in the tax law allowing for immediate depreciation on the costs of eligible remodels, renovations, and improvements, IFA seeks to improve the bottom-lines of thousands of franchise businesses throughout the United States.

Improving Tax Policy

Minority Business Ownership

Bipartisan Members of Congress Promote Minority Franchise Ownership.

Enhancing Opportunities

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

Historically, franchise brands have been allowed to immediately recognize the initial franchise fees earned from incoming franchisees, which average $36,000, when all material services or conditions relating to the sale have been substantially performed or satisfied. For small business, “emerging brands,” the recognition of this income is critical to the financial stability of entrepreneurs who are beginning to grow their business.

Improving Tax Policy

Affordable Care Act

IFA supports the intent of the ACA to expand access to health care, but has urged for the return of the 40-hour workweek and elimination of the employer mandate.

Promoting Healthcare Coverage