By Matt Haller, President & CEO, International Franchise Association On the opening day of the 2026 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC), I had the opportunity to sit down with Greg Flynn, Founder and CEO of Flynn Group and IFA Board member, for a fireside chat on the main stage. This was a unique moment for the […]

Smarter Than Raising Prices or Cutting Staff: How 5 Franchise Brands Reengineered Value When rising costs put pressure on customers and franchisees alike, the traditional responses have been to raise prices or cut staff. But a new wave of franchise leaders is taking a different path: value reengineering — cutting what doesn’t matter to customers […]

At the 2025 Emerging Franchisor Conference, attendees were treated to a true masterclass in franchising fundamentals, led by industry veteran and IFA Past Chair, David Barr. In his session, “Franchise Fundamentals for Lasting Growth,” Barr drew from decades of experience – from restaurant frontlines to boardrooms – to help emerging franchisors cut through the noise, […]

As the government has been shut down for over a month, small business owners — including hundreds of thousands of franchisees across the country — are feeling the strain. Franchises rely on stability, access to capital, and consumer confidence – all of which are jeopardized by prolonged shutdowns. Here are three ways the shutdown is […]

By the International Franchise Association In the latest annual Gallup poll on Americans’ confidence in major institutions, small business once again ranks at the top of the list, with a remarkable 70% of U.S. adults expressing “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in America’s small businesses. This marks yet another year that […]