What Advocacy and Research Resources Does the IFA Provide on franchise.org?

The International Franchise Association (IFA) uses franchise.org to publish two main types of public resources: advocacy information centered on its push for the American Franchise Act and joint employer standards, and industry research through its Franchise Research & Insights Center, alongside economic contribution data and a news center. These pages are informational and public-facing; the site also has a login area and member tools, so some deeper resources may sit behind membership.

Advocacy: The American Franchise Act and Joint Employer Standards

The IFA describes passing the American Franchise Act as its "top advocacy priority." The stated goal is to create certainty around joint employer standards through legislation. If you want to understand the IFA's policy position, the advocacy page is the entry point: it frames the issue as one of legal certainty for franchisors and franchisees rather than explaining the full legal doctrine.

This matters to anyone following franchise policy because joint employer rules affect how responsibility is allocated between franchisors and franchisees. The site presents the IFA's preferred legislative solution; it is an advocacy position, not a neutral legal guide.

Research: The Franchise Research & Insights Center

The IFA has launched a Franchise Research & Insights Center, described as "the definitive source for franchise intelligence — powering better decisions across the entire franchise ecosystem." The center is positioned as a research hub for the whole franchise community, not just members.

Use it when you need industry-level context — market conditions, sector trends, or data to support a business decision. The site does not list the center's specific reports or datasets on the pages reviewed, so treat it as a starting point and check what is actually available before relying on it for a specific analysis.

Economic Contribution Data

The site provides headline figures on franchising's role in the U.S. economy:

These numbers are useful for framing the scale of franchising in presentations or early-stage research. They are summary claims published by the IFA, so cite them as IFA figures rather than independent statistics.

News and Media Center

The site maintains a News & Media Center with current items from IFA and the broader franchise community. Examples of listed coverage include an Economist piece on franchising and American wealth, the launch of the Research and Insights Center, and advocacy updates. Use this section to track announcements and policy developments; it functions as a news feed rather than an archive of primary documents.

Member Tools and Access Notes

The site promotes a new Member Resource Hub with tools to expand franchising knowledge and solve business challenges, and it has a login area. The pages reviewed do not state pricing or confirm which resources are open to non-members. If a research report or tool is essential to your task, verify access before planning around it.

How to Use These Resources

• Tracking policy: Start with the American Franchise Act page, then follow News & Media Center updates for developments.
• Building a market case: Pull the GDP, jobs, and industry-count figures, and check the Research & Insights Center for deeper data.
• Understanding the IFA's role: The site describes IFA as the largest member-based community helping franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers across more than 300 industries — useful context for interpreting why its advocacy and research are framed as they are.