Last week’s blogpost helped point out data you could use from the Franchise Business Economic Outlook: 2015 with meetings with your elected officials and policymakers to make the case for franchising. Turning to IFA’s recent Franchise Business Leader Survey, you might find these results useful in discussing some overall issues affecting today’s franchise business leaders.
Outlook for U.S. Economy
IFA members are more optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2015 compared to their survey responses last year. More than one-half of the franchisors and franchisees and two-thirds of the suppliers believe the economy will be “better” in 2015, compared to only 40 percent of franchisors, 15 percent of franchisees and 35 percent of suppliers who had a positive outlook last year.
However, the survey shows that 97 percent of respondents believe that the joint-employer ruling, were it to take effect, would have a negative impact on their business, with 82 percent saying the impact would be “significant.”
The Franchise Business Leader Survey also reveals concern about the enactment of discriminatory increases in the minimum wage. More than 85 percent of franchisor and franchisee members believe that recent efforts by some cities and states to increase the minimum wage will negatively impact their business. In addition, more than two-thirds of franchisors and 85 percent of franchisees reported that their businesses have already been “negatively impacted” by the Affordable Care Act. Below you’ll find how franchisees and franchisors prioritize issues affecting them:
Visit IFA’s Franchise Labor & Workforce Hub, a new website for franchisees to provide key guidance on labor and workforce issues and join IFA’s Franchise Action Network to learn how to have a direct, positive impact on the future of the franchise industry.