IFA's Franchise Business Network (FBN) commenced October 1996. The FBN meetings were grassroots networking opportunities for the franchise community. They were designed to bring local franchisors, franchisees and suppliers together on a regular basis to create business-to-business opportunities and offer affordable educational programs.
Today, IFA’s FBN is the combination of IFA’s two regional programs, the 2nd Tuesday Program and the original FBN Program. The IFA Board of Directors voted at its Fall 2000 meeting to combine the 2nd Tuesday Program and Franchise Business Network Program into one single program meeting in 30+ cities around the country. The new program would take the best features of both programs and combine them into one winning formula for success.
For the most part, meetings are still scheduled (though it is not imperative) for the second Tuesday of each quarter across the U.S. While networking with others in the franchise community, meeting potential customers and making new business contacts, participants take advantage of educational programs and legislative information made available to them at no charge, except for the cost of meals.
IFA continues to suggest topics and issues of current importance for the hosts to discuss. This enables each host to conduct the meeting under his/her own auspices, while at the same time, encouraging a universal theme for that particular meeting.
For FBN locations and contact information: Franchise Business Network | International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association (IFA) protects, enhances, and promotes franchising—the local businesses that are driving our economy forward. In fact, recent research has shown that local franchises create 2.3 times as many jobs as comparable non-franchise businesses and produce sales that are 1.8 times higher. The franchise model is working—for our families, our neighbors, and our communities.
Download the IFA Open for Opportunity Executive Summary
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The Diversity Institute promotes and fosters diversity and inclusion within the franchising community.
The Institute serves as the home for the Foundation’s diversity and inclusion programs – education, research, scholarships, and liaisons with other national organizations.
The mission of the Certified Franchise Executive™ (CFE) program is to certify and educate individuals and organizations to the highest standards. We are a leading resource to help franchise executives, managers and small business owners accelerate individual and organizational growth.
Certification speaks to a higher standard of professionalism and raises the bar for franchise training as a whole.
Due for CFE Recertification?
- CFEs must recertify every 3 years to maintain their CFE designation
Do you know where to find program resources while on your CFE journey? Check out the CFE Getting Started Guide for candidate qualifications, program requirements, procedures and course Resources. Download the CFE Getting Started Guide
The mission of VetFran is two-fold:
To educate both veterans and franchisors about the unique match between the skills and aptitude of entrepreneurial veterans and the demands and opportunities of being a franchisee. Our research and experience has shown that veterans make great franchisees and that the business model is a gateway to small business ownership, prosperity and success for our nation’s heroes.
To facilitate the transition of veterans into franchising by encouraging franchisors to offer discounts and incentives to veterans on the one hand, and to assemble resources, tools and a database of franchising opportunities for veterans on the other.
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