Bill will provide much-needed certainty to local franchised businesses, ensuring they can remain independent businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today applauded the introduction of the Save Local Business Act, legislation that will clarify the joint employer standard and protect the independence of local franchise businesses, introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. James Comer (R-KY).

“More than any other policy, franchise businesses need the certainty of the Save Local Business Act,” said Michael Layman, IFA senior vice president of government relations and public affairs. “IFA applauds Sen. Marshall and Rep. Comer for reintroducing the Save Local Business Act, a common-sense bill that, if enacted, will indeed save hundreds of thousands of franchise small businesses from regulatory overreach. As the misguided National Labor Relations Board prepares to finalize an unnecessary and harmful joint employer standard later this year, it is critical that Congress pass the Save Local Business Act to provide franchise brands and owners with a reasonable, clear and consistent standard of joint employer so they can continue growing and thriving.”

IFA led a coalition of 39 business organizations on a letter in support of the legislation, sent to Sen. Marshall and Rep. Comer today. They write, “In the face of a harmful new NLRB standard, Main Street businesses are seeking the legal clarity promised by the Save Local Business Act to help them grow their businesses, create jobs and serve their communities as they work to meet local, state and federal obligations to their employees, customers and the general public.”

The group highlights that the legislation stands in sharp contrast to the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would codify a harmful joint employer standard, ultimately ending the franchise business model as it exists today. IFA estimates that the previous expanded joint employer standard cost franchised businesses $33.3 billion per year, resulted in 376,000 lost job opportunities, and led to 93% more lawsuits.

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About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

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