Indianapolis Franchisee Testifies Before U.S. Senate Committee on Aging

During a field hearing in Indianapolis, multi-brand franchisee Wes Snyder testified on challenges in today’s labor market, opportunities in franchising

Indianapolis, IN – Testifying before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging during a field hearing in Indianapolis, multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee Wesley Snyder, highlighted the unique opportunities created through franchising, as well as continued workforce challenges. Snyder, a franchisee of FASTSIGNS International, PIRTEK USA, and My Salon Suite, emphasized that Congress and regulatory agencies should avoid policies that could harm the business model and take away the independence of franchise owners.

Snyder, who testified on behalf of his businesses and all members of the International Franchise Association (IFA) said, “The value of franchising lies in a strategic balance in the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee: the independence of a franchisee to manage its day-to-day operations and connections with its employees, consumers and the local community balanced with the franchise system giving aspiring small business owners a head start toward becoming their own boss, with a proven business model that can set up new business owners for success.”

During the hearing, which focused on economic challenges and opportunities for older Americans, Synder elaborated on the continued post-pandemic workforce challenges, saying, “Quality and cost of workforce remains the biggest challenge for almost all franchised businesses. While my workforce age ranges from teenagers to those over 60, 25% of my workforce is over the age of 50. Our businesses have experienced retired workers returning to the workforce given the current climate of the labor market.” Annual IFA-FRANdata research has shown that labor remains the most significant challenge facing franchised businesses today.

Snyder continued to express concern over policies coming from Washington that could fundamentally change the franchise business model, such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s forthcoming joint employer rule. Synder said, “Without a doubt, these seismic shifts in employment policy and governance would hurt small businesses and provide fewer opportunities, particularly for women, minorities, and other underrepresented communities. Growing a business through the corporate model does not provide ownership or wealth building opportunities for small business owners and entrepreneurs. We need policy and regulatory changes that will drive wealth creation and new business ownership opportunities for the most underserved communities, not hinder it.”

Synder’s full testimony is available here, and a recording of the full hearing is available here.

# # #

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.