International Franchise Association (IFA), the oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide, will host its 2015 convention in Las Vegas, Feb. 15-18.
More than 3,500 attendees will meet to discuss current legislative, regulatory and economic pressures facing the franchising industry – including growing threats from the government to the franchise business model. Speakers will highlight the latest trends and information in the areas of franchise relations, management and leadership, financing, multi-unit growth and more.
Franchising is an engine of small business growth and job creation that regularly outpaces the larger economy. According to The Franchise Business Economic Outlook: 2015, which was released by IFA earlier this year, franchise businesses are set to add 247,000 new direct jobs this year, on top of the 235,000 franchise jobs added in 2014.
In addition, economic output from franchise businesses is estimated to increase by 5.4 percent over last year to $889 billion. In Nevada alone, there are more than 102,000 people employed by franchised businesses, which are responsible for more than $11 billion in economic output. Unfortunately however, this growth is threatened by provisions in the Affordable Care Act and pending agency rulings out of Washington, D.C.
