Media Center

Media Center

IFA Brings Franchise Community to D.C. to Advocate for Tax Policy, Joint Employer

The International Franchise Association (IFA) this week hosted nearly 350 franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers in Washington, D.C., to advocate for policies impacting the franchise business model while hearing from a number of lawmakers and political experts on the state of play in Washington ahead of the 2024 election. IFA also presented its bipartisan Legislator of the Year awards to six franchise champions in Congress.

IFA and Franchise Update Media Announce Intent to Expand Partnership to Better Serve the Franchise Community

The International Franchise Association (IFA) and Franchise Update Media today announced an agreement to expand on the groups’ years of working together to deliver on events, content, and education to better serve the entire franchising community while carrying out each organization’s mission. IFA and Franchise Update Media intend to join under a single entity, while maintaining each organization’s individual brands, events, advisory groups, and organizational structures. 

Annual IFA Franchisee Survey Shows Increasing Economic Uncertainty Among Business Owners

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released its third Annual Franchisee Survey, in partnership with FRANdata, showing the impacts of continued economic challenges on franchised businesses. The survey of over 1,400 franchise owners shows increasing economic uncertainty in the face of increased prices and slowing consumer demand, resulting in lower business earnings in a majority of businesses. The survey also measured franchisee concerns with tax policy, ahead of the expiration of many Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions next year.

IFA Applauds Massachusetts Court Ruling In Patel v. 7-Eleven

“The momentous decision in Massachusetts will have a far-reaching impact toward protecting franchisees’ roles as entrepreneurs and business owners,” said Michael Layman, IFA senior vice president of government relations and public affairs. “Classifying franchisees as employees, as the plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued, would have undermined franchisee independence and led to an untenable situation for franchisors and franchisees alike, and undoubtedly created confusion, uncertainty, and an increase in litigation in the Commonwealth. We are pleased that common sense prevailed in the Bay State and hope that its precedent impacts the broader independent contractor debate in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across this country.”

IFA Praises Passage Of California Franchise Seller Bill

IFA today applauded passage of California Senate Bill 919, bipartisan legislation extending disclosure requirements to third-party franchise sellers such as brokers, broker networks, and franchise sales organizations. The 75-0 Assembly vote follows months of IFA advocacy, with the support of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA) and American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD), promoting the legislation to strengthen the foundation on which the franchise relationship begins by improving information available to prospective franchisees. The bill passed the Senate in May and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature.

IFA Applauds Court Ruling Overturning FTC Ban on Noncompete Agreements

“We applaud the decision by the Northern District of Texas vacating the FTC’s unlawful noncompete rule,” said Michael Layman, IFA senior vice president of government relations and public affairs. “Using the precedent from the Supreme Court decision overturning the Chevron doctrine, the ruling not only delivered the death knell to the FTC’s attempt to expand its rulemaking authority, but also agreed with the arguments raised by IFA in its amicus brief filed in the case that the rulemaking record, fraught with a lack of empirical data, does not allow for such a sweeping rule. The decision is a win for franchised small businesses and their right to independently operate.”

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