Each year, the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) commissions an economic outlook report through the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA), a state of the nation in terms of the growth and forecast for the franchise industry in this country.
In 2025, our industry was the 12th largest in the country, projected to contribute $133.3 billion to Canada’s GDP and employ nearly 2 million Canadians!
Clearly, franchising is a huge industry. In fact, the average person interacts with three to five franchised business every single day. Franchising is ever-present in the lives of Canadians, from longstanding brands with locations across the country to local favourite chains to emerging systems using franchising to scale a new concept.
Behind the numbers, franchising is about people—the everyday Canadians that dream of the freedom, flexibility, and innovation that comes from owning their own business.
That’s why, at the CFA, we see franchising as something worth protecting. We work to make sure that we are advocating on our industry’s behalf.
What is advocacy?
The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) advocacy team is the first line of defence in protecting and advancing franchising in Canada. We monitor government regulations, programs, and announcements, and engage with elected officials from coast to coast to coast to ensure they are informed about the benefits of franchising and understand how the franchise business model operates.
As the only organization advocating on behalf of the franchise industry in Canada, we work tirelessly to reach representatives at all levels of government to share the important role franchising plays in Canada’s economy and the lives of the nearly 2 million Canadians who are employed by this industry.
Raising awareness
Our government relations work exists to champion the success of franchisors and franchisees alike. Some of the key issues we are currently working on going into 2026 include:
- Common Employer – We are urging the government to adopt a four-factor test that will clearly delineate a common or joint employer relationship from that of a franchisee/franchisor relationship, ensuring franchise systems don’t get caught up in employment law that would hamper their business
- Access to Labour – Combating labour shortages for small business owners by urging government to lift barriers to employment
- Access to Capital – Advocating changes to the Canada Small Business Finance Program to ensure franchised small business owners have the support they need
- Burdens on Small Businesses – Supporting fair, predictable, and transparent policies around provincial minimum wage law, streamlining the Employment Standards Act, and promoting corporate and small business tax rates and incentives that will encourage entrepreneurship to flourish
- Educating Public Officials About Franchising – Making sure elected officials and lawmakers understand that franchisees are local small business owners
The heart of the matter
At the end of the day, the message we always aim to share with lawmakers is that franchised small business owners are just that—small business owners, like any other. Franchisees live and work in, and contribute to, the communities they serve.
And they don’t have to go it alone. The support that franchisees receive from their franchise system helps set them up for success, creating stronger businesses that can contribute more to Canada’s economy, employ more Canadians, and provide valuable products and services.
That’s why we continue to advocate on behalf of this industry we love—to make sure we can continue Growing Together.
To learn more about the CFA’s advocacy efforts, sign up for our weekly Advocacy Update newsletter. You can also get involved by making a donation or volunteering your support. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
