At a hearing today before the U.S. Small Business Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Leanne Stapf, testifying on behalf of the International Franchise Association (IFA), highlighted the value of franchising and the ways the business model is helping lead the economic recovery. The hearing, “An Overview of the Industry, SBA’s Role, and Legislative Proposals,” covered the state of franchising and various proposals to that could be damaging to the franchise business model. Stapf is Chief Operating Officer of The Cleaning Authority and franchise owner of a location in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
I’m writing to you today on the heels of Open for Opportunity Miami—an incredible road show event focused on workforce development and diversity, equity, and inclusion in South Florida hosted by Restaurant Brands International. What follows is a detailed recap of how the International Franchise Association and members like you helped decisionmakers and opinion leaders understand firsthand the value and opportunity of franchising. I’ve already spoken with many of you about getting involved in Open for Opportunity. If you are on the fence, I trust the story that follows will push you over the edge. If we haven’t yet spoken, I hope you raise your hand and are willing to learn more and get involved.
Many companies are making the mistake of compromising the quality of their customer service experiences, by heavily relying on AI – Artificial Intelligence. Nearly four in five people would rather speak to a real person rather than a bot. So, how do you ensure that your customers and prospects always speak with a real person, while maintaining a busy lifestyle as a franchise owner? The solution: a live call answering service, powered by real people.
There are currently a record 11 million job openings in the United States. We’re amid an industry-wide talent shortage. While it’s easy to chalk this up to the pandemic, many franchises (especially those in the hospitality industry), were struggling pre-pandemic—a 2016 report by The Caterer, for example, found 82% of hospitality professionals said it was harder to recruit qualified help than any time in the past. The rise of the gig economy, high turnover among entry-level and low-wage workers, wage debates, and the shrinking number of teens in the workforce are all driving franchise applicant traffic down.
At this week’s Open for Opportunity roadshow stop in South Florida, the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the IFA Foundation launched the Hispanic Latino Franchise Leadership Council, a new network for Hispanic franchise leaders from all across the country, and announced Au Bon Pain President Ericka Garza as the Council’s chair.
2022 Annual Convention Resources
Now that conventions and in-person gatherings are officially “back,” we are headed to Phoenix next for the Franchise Expo West, March 18-19. This is another incredible opportunity to gather with franchising brands and suppliers, learn in our tailored education sessions, and pick up new insights for your business. For those looking to get started in franchising, this is the place to see what opportunities are out there. For those already in the business, this is where you or anyone in your network should be to showcase your business and help it grow.
There are potential changes in 2022 to the FTC Franchise Rule. Last year the Federal Trade Commission held a virtual public workshop as part of its regular review of its regulations and focused on three issues: (1) Financial performance representations; (2) The use of disclaimers; and (3) The format of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
We have compiled resources for our IFA community to give to those who need it most and where it will have the greatest impact. There are many options available to you from U.S. and international non-governmental organizations (NGO) already doing work in Ukraine and the surrounding regions. While this time continues to be uncertain, we want to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians and all those in harm’s way.