The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently convened for their 51st Annual Convention. The convention, called "Building the Future Together," featured approximately 2,700 executives, small business owners and entrepreneurs. The annual gathering focused, in particular, on how small businesses and franchises are the much needed link to rebuilding the weak economy.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was one of many presenters at the convention. He expressed his thoughts about how important small franchises are to rebuilding the economy. Romney highlighted the main issues affecting small businesses, including a health care program that he says will increase costs to smaller businesses and their employees, and lack of long-term tax certainty.
Romney, a possible Republican candidate for the 2012 Presidential election, says, "Growing small businesses are what gets us out of economic downturns. Instead of creating policies in Washington that help small businesses grow, we have seen the most anti-business agenda in a lifetime."
Of course, others feel differently concerning the President's policies affect on franchises and small businesses. (\http://franchisingconsultant-s.com/president-obama-drops-by-online-forum-on-small-business/).
Pro-business advocates like Romney and the IFA have lobbied Congress for more affordable, available health care options for small businesses and franchises. The IFA, in particular, has asked legislators to re-structure the health care laws so that there are not excessive costs to small business owners and employees, who are still reeling from the economic downturn.
As a result of their efforts, the U.S. Senate voted down a provision of the new healthcare law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010) that would have dramatically increased the amount of paperwork required for small businesses.
Romney ended his speech with a message borrowed from recent 2010 IFA Hall of Fame Award winner Doc Cohen: "If you want to be a good franchiser, listen to the ideas of your franchisees."
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On Monday, April 16th, 2012, Julie Lusthaus was interviewed in a 30 minute segment about Franchising on WVOX 1460 AM radio by Marsha Gordon, President & CEO of The Business Council of Westchester.
