Business’s Rocky Ride on the Campaign Trail

Franchise Industry Leaders Discuss the Campaign Season’s Anti-Business Rhetoric.

SPONSOREDUpdated 9:09AM • 07/15/16

This election season has given us plenty of political theater and promises much more before the dust settles in November. As we continue to vet the men and women vying to become the 45th President of the United States, the franchising world is paying special attention to the conversation surrounding business issues – however so far it’s been a conversation that many feel has been dominated by anti-business rhetoric.

“I am concerned about the anti-business rhetoric that I am hearing today,” said Jason Parker, co-founder and co-CEO of K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel. “As a small business owner, we need a president who will support all business owners and encourage us to do what we do best – and that is to grow our business.”

But where did the anti-business rhetoric come from?

John Blair, the vice president of marketing and public relations for FranNet, believes that a lot of the confusion in the American public’s minds has come from the bad taste that the Wall Street collapse of 2007-2008 left in their mouths. The collapse, and recession that followed, created distrust and anger towards business owners in general – not just the big, publicly-traded company heads who were responsible for the collapse.

“Small business owners are not Wall Street — they’re Main Street,” said Blair. “They’re your neighbors, those who your kids play soccer with, those who you worship with. Jane and John Doe built this country’s economic engine through small business — and they continue to build this country today.”

That economic engine is powered by job creation, and Blair noted that small businesses create as much as 75% of all jobs. “Small business has shown consistently through the years that it’s a job creator, a community pillar, and a way to continue to breathe life into the economic revitalization effort across the country,” added Blair.

According to the International Franchise Association, amidst economic recovery, the franchise sector has added nearly 1 million jobs to the economy over the last 5 years and the franchise industry is expected to enjoy a 3.1% growth in jobs, adding 278,000 direct jobs to the economy in 2016.

However, a variety of issues have emerged over the last year that have threatened the fabric of the franchise model, including minimum wage increases, the joint employer standard, overtime pay regulation, and ongoing problems created by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

“This election could have a big impact on the franchise industry, because in many ways, the franchise model is under attack,” said Nader Masadeh, CEO of Buffalo Wings & Rings, a rapidly expanding elevated sports restaurant franchise out of Cincinnati. “The candidates need to understand how many jobs are created by this industry.”

“We should be given tax incentives, abatements and anything that we could use to grow our business,” added Parker. “The end result would be we hire more employees, allow the employees we currently employ to grow within the company and have a better life for them and their families. We also need the government to stop adding more and more regulation and let us focus on running and growing our business.”

Michael Mabry, COO of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes*, agrees that more focus should be placed on job creation, which increases when businesses are allowed to grow through less regulation and more incentives. “The idea that fair business practices and entrepreneurship doesn’t help the employee is ludicrous,” said Mabry, who added that many of the positive impacts of franchise business owners have been lost on voters so far this season, including the investment in local communities and the family stability that comes as a result of creating jobs.

Despite the sometimes anti-business tone of much of the conversation surrounding this election, and the issues that threaten the franchise model, Blair summed up the feeling amongst many in franchising that the model – and small businesses in general – will continue to thrive in the U.S. economy.

“Political maneuvering as it relates to the National Labor Relations Board ruling continue to undermine that very backbone of America’s economy. But we also realize that the level-headed, bi-partisan leadership of this country will not allow themselves to sit idly by and watch small business, such a foundation of the American economy, continue to be attacked by the self-motivated interests of a select few. So we remain very bullish on the future of small business, and definitely the future of franchising.”

*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.

Business’s Rocky Ride on the Campaign Trail

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