The International Franchise Association (IFA) today hosted “Franchising: Creating Wealth in the Black Community,” a panel discussion at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (CBCF ALC), featuring African American small business owners, financial services experts, and administration officials. The expert panelists shared stories of their franchising journey and best practices for success, as well as information on opportunities in franchising and accessing capital.

The International Franchise Association today announces its support for the Trademark Licensing Protection Act, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday by Sens. Angus King (I-ME), James Lankford (R-OK), and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The legislation ensures that brand standards, issued by a franchisor to preserve or enhance the brand, may not be used as evidence of employment controls in litigation – critical to the franchise business model.

The International Franchise Association’s (IFA) last week hosted its Annual Leadership Summit and Franchise Action Network (FAN), for hundreds of franchising leaders and franchisees to hear directly from high-level officials on policy issues impacting the franchise business model and hold advocacy meetings with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Over 300 attendees from all around the country met with over 200 offices in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined a coalition of California small business owners, restaurant owners, franchisees, employees, consumers, and community-based organizations in an effort to give voters the opportunity to protect Californians and local business owners from the damaging impacts of AB 257, or the FAST Act.

“Franchise owners are independent operators, and the NLRB’s joint employment rule proposes to take away their independence,” said Michael Layman, Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs. “Franchising has provided hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life the opportunity to own their own business, and this proposal stands to take that away in favor special interests. This rule is yet another example of government officials stacking the deck against franchising, with small business owners and their employees paying the price.”

“By signing this bill, Gov. Newsom is siding with special interests rather than the people and small businesses of California,” said IFA President and CEO Matthew Haller. “This bill has been built on a lie, and now small business owners, their employees, and their customers will have to pay the price. This bill is a fork in the eye to franchise owners and customers at a time when it hurts most. IFA continues to hear over and over how local franchises do not know how they will be able to make it once this bill goes into effect. Underrepresented communities will be hit hardest."