DEPARTMENTS
The AAFD continues to push the FTC for transparency & accountability
FTC Request for Information Executive Summary On October 23, 2024, the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) sent a letter to Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, ...
PART 2: Top Concerns Raised by Franchisees – FTC Spotlight Issues 7 to 12
Part 2 of 2 articles In this article, we will explore the remaining six issues (7 to12) outlined in the FTC’s Spotlight report, which is based on the 2023 ...
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AAFD, AAHOA and CFA, joint letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan
AAFD joined with its sister franchisee umbrella organizations, AAHOA and CFA, sending a joint letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. The letter commented on the ongoing Franchise Rule ...
Governor Newsom Signs AAFD Sponsored Fair Franchising Bill into Law
On September 29, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AAFD sponsored AB-676 (Holden, D-Pasadena) into law. The signing of this legislation is a clear victory for fair franchising advocates. AB-676 ...
Governor Newsom Vetoes AAFD Sponsored Rebate Transparency Bill
On September 29, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB-1247 (Hueso, D-Chula Vista). This bill would have required additional disclosures and ongoing reporting on franchisor collected rebates/kickbacks from vendors. Taking ...
FTC Guidance on Private Right of Action
Samuel Levine, the Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Protection Bureau recently published a blog post on the FTC website, giving guidance on a possible private right of action ...
AAFD 2022 Mid-Year Franchise Legislative Summary
We are halfway through 2022, and we wanted to give you a legislative summary on franchise bills AAFD has been engaged on, both federally and in states Federal Legislation S.1120, ...
Take Action! Urge Congress to Publish SBA Loan Data
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced S.2162 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2162/text), also referred to as the SBA Franchise Loan Disclosure Act. This legislation simply requires the Small Business Administration to publish SBA loan ...
Alvaro M. Bedoya Senate confirmation
The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) congratulates Alvaro M. Bedoya on his Senate confirmation as Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission. AAFD members had a direct opportunity to ...
Urge Congress to Support the Franchisee Freedom Act!
On February 1, 2022, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) introduced H.R.6551, the Franchisee Freedom Act. This legislation simply gives franchisees a private right of action against franchisors that violate the Federal ...
United States Senate Committee on Small Business Hearing on Franchising
On March 16, 2022, the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing on Small Business Franchising: An Overview of the Industry, SBA’s Role, and Legislative ...
AAFD supports the Franchise Freedom Act
H.R. 6551 Protects Franchises from Bad Franchisor Actors The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD), a national trade association advocating for franchisees and independent dealers, today announced the support ...
Introduction in the US House of Representatives of H.R.6551, the Franchisee Freedom Act
We are excited to announce the introduction in the United States House of Representatives of H.R.6551, the Franchisee Freedom Act, by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). Below is the press release ...
AAFD Support of Professor Alvaro Bedoya for Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission
AAFD has had conversations with Federal Trade Commission nominee, Professor Alvaro Bedoya. Based on those conversations we have taken the position to support his nomination as Commissioner. Our letter to ...
The Federal Trade Commission Hears Your Voice!
The Federal Trade Commission held an Open Meeting on November 18, 2021. During that meeting, both Robert Purvin, AAFD Chairman, and Keith Miller, AAFD Director of Public Affairs & Engagement ...
Why the FTC may take a harder look at franchising
Recently, Keith Miller, AAFD Director of Public Affairs and Engagement, was invited to participate in an interview alongside Attorney Eric Karp on “A Deeper Dive” podcast hosted by Jonathan Maze, ...
FTC Puts Businesses on Notice that False Money-Making Claims Could Lead to Big Penalties
The Federal Trade Commission is putting more than 1,100 businesses that pitch money-making ventures on notice that if they deceive or mislead consumers about potential earnings, the FTC won’t hesitate to use its authority to target them with large civil penalties.
Petition submitted to FTC to Investigate Franchising
On September 22, 2021, AAFD member, the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) and AAFD Director of Public Affairs and Engagement, Keith Miller, filed a petition with the ...
FTC Acting on Franchise Issues
Last week may be viewed as a monumental week as we are starting to see the new majority at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), led by Chair Lina Khan, take an interest in franchise issues, specifically protecting franchisees. Besides Khan, Commissioners Rohit Chopra (who was a guest speaker at the AAFD Conference in June) and Rebecca Slaughter have taken an interest in franchise issues.
Statement of Personal Support of the Nomination of David Weil to the DOL
Several AAFD members have reached out to the AAFD for guidance on our position on President Biden’s nomination of Professor David Weil to again serve as the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL). Weil held this position previously in the Obama administration and he created controversy by announcing that franchisors that exert excessive control over their franchise networks may be classified as joint employers of franchisee employees.