Franchise Industry Research

Market Research for Small Business -- Stay informed and gain critical insights from IFA’s curated franchise industry research reports.    

Choose from a list of topics and deepen your knowledge and outlook of the franchise industry.  Identify market opportunities, and leverage data from industry research reports, business outlook assessments, and market research for small business, to reduce risk, to raise your competitive edge, and to stay poised and prepared for success.

2024 Franchising Economic Outlook

The 2024 Franchising Economic Outlook is IFA’s annual study in partnership with FRANdata detailing the franchise sector’s performance for the past year and projected economic outlook for the year ahead, as well as an in-depth state outlook for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The report highlights sector growth across eight key franchising business lines and details regional trends, including the top states for franchise growth. It also provides key insights into the state of the U.S. economy, trends in business, and challenges facing small business owners.
Franchise Business Outlook

2024 IFA Franchisor Survey

The report highlights the ongoing labor challenges encountered by franchise businesses. Concerns of inflation has faded for the businesses, but the cost of borrowing and the slowdown in consumer demand has started to challenge franchises. Significantly, there is a notable increase in budget allocations for technology, innovation, and marketing as well as training and development, crucial for the success of franchise systems.

As new joint employment standards loom, franchisors are highly concerned if they have to increase control or reduce support to their franchisees.

The survey reflects a diverse respondent pool, encompassing 215 brands from 26 different industries with franchise units ranging from less than 10 to over 12,000. Executives from private family-owned systems to platform companies and publicly listed firms contribute to the varied perspectives presented in this report.
Franchise Economy

2023 Annual Franchisee Survey

The International Franchise Association's (IFA) 2023 Franchisee Survey shows the impacts of inflationary pressures on franchised businesses. The report highlights that while inflation is improving as compared to 2022, it is still having a significant impact on franchised businesses across all sectors with the cost of labor being the biggest driver. The report also highlights a number of ways that being part of a franchise system provides advantages for navigating rising costs.
Franchise Economy

Potential Consequences of the NLRB Joint Employer Rule

Ahead of the NLRB’s forthcoming joint employer rule, survey conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics shows significant concerns among franchisees with broadened joint employment standard, decreasing access to business ownership, causing disruptions to the franchise relationship, and increasing costs.
Franchise Economy

2023 Franchising Economic Outlook

The 2023 Franchising Economic Outlook is IFA’s annual study in partnership with FRANdata detailing the franchise sector’s performance for the past year and projected economic outlook for the year ahead, as well as an in-depth state outlook for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The report highlights sector growth across eight key franchising business lines and details regional trends, including the top states for franchise growth. It also provides key insights into the state of the U.S. economy, trends in business, and challenges facing small business owners.
Franchise Business Outlook

IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING TODAY’S LABOR TRENDS IN FRANCHISING

The International Franchise Association annual study on labor trends in franchising, showing that the availability of qualified labor remains the number one challenge facing franchised businesses today, conducted by FRANdata. The survey shows slight improvement in labor market conditions, but four out of five franchised brands continue to experience constrained growth due to labor challenges.
Franchise Economy

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