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September 10, 2025

IFA Advocacy Summit Kicks Off Next Week

In less than a week, franchise businesspeople will gather in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 IFA Advocacy Summit, as Members of Congress plan to introduce legislation to permanently protect the independence of franchisees.

The big picture: After four changes to the federal “joint employer” standards over the past decade, IFA members will push for a new bill that will codify certainty for the franchisor-franchisee relationship.

Why it matters: Register today, and you will hear from our star-studded line-up, which includes U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), CNN Commentator Scott Jennings, and many others to come. You will also have the chance to advocate directly with lawmakers about the importance of franchising and what they can do to help.

DOL Previews Regulatory Agenda

On September 4, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which includes updated guidance on the joint employer standard.

Our thought bubble: We are heartened by the transparency at the regulations being considered by the Trump Administration. The future of America’s 831,000 franchise small businesses and the more than nine million jobs they support depends on independence between franchisors and franchisees. 

What’s next: After four changes to the joint employer standard over the last decade, business owners are seeking long-term certainty, and IFA is committed to codifying into law a joint employer standard that requires direct control of narrowly defined essential terms – a standard that will be protected from changing political power at the White House.

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FTC Seeks Comments On Noncompetes

On September 4, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a public inquiry to better understand the scope, prevalence, and effects of employer noncompete agreements, as well as to gather information to inform possible future enforcement actions.

Get smarter: Noncompetes in franchise agreements typically address competition both during the term of the franchise agreement and following expiration or termination of the relationship. In April 2023, IFA submitted comments on a proposed rule urging the FTC to avoid extending the noncompete ban to franchise agreements, and in August 2024, IFA praised the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas for ruling that the FTC exceeded its legal authority in issuing its sweeping ban on noncompete agreements.

Get involved: The latest 60 day-comment period will last until November 3, 2025. IFA members wishing to submit a comment can visit here, or contact IFA General Counsel Sarah Davies at sdavies@franchise.org to learn more.