The Benefits of Renewing Your CFA Membership

Membership in the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) is more than just a badge of honour. It’s a strategic investment that offers tangible benefits to tackle your business pain points and drive your success.

CFA membership supplies you with the tools you need to lead your team into the future. With the support of our organization and our community, you’ll prepare them for the challenges that your brand may face as it grows and prospers within the Canadian franchise industry, as well as the steps and best practices it will take to get them there.

Our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan highlights four pillars that provide immense value to our members: Community, Education, Advocacy, and Brand Awareness.

Launched on January 1, 2024, the Plan, developed with input from CFA members, the Board of Directors, and our leadership team, ensures that the CFA remains an enduring, inclusive, and indispensable community for franchising in Canada.

Discover how each key facet of our Plan can enhance your business through the CFA’s comprehensive programs and services, how CFA membership can directly address your business challenges, and why it’s an investment you cannot afford to miss.

Key benefits of your membership include the opportunity to:

  • Leverage the power of the CFA’s media reach, which in 2023 resulted in more than 111 million positive media impressions—in 2024, we’ve already surpassed that number with 152 million year-to-date impressions
  • Join more than 370 CFA member volunteers who contribute to our committees, content, and more
  • Network and learn with hundreds of franchise industry professionals at the CFA National Convention
  • Reach the CFA’s audience of 800,000 prospective franchisees who are looking for business opportunities like yours
  • Participate in Franchise Awareness Day, where our members meet face to face with dozens of government officials and decision-makers
  • Work toward your Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation alongside nearly 200 professionals who are in the process of attaining their certification or have already achieved it

For a detailed overview of our 2023 achievements, including program launches and growth areas, refer to our Annual Accomplishments Report 2024.

Community

The CFA holds a variety of events over the course of the year that help bring the Canadian franchise community together. From Meet & Greets to our annual National Convention, and many more events in between, our members receive ample opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with their franchise industry peers.

In 2023, the organization welcomed 69 new franchise systems into membership, along with 46 new support service/supplier members, an 18% increase over the previous year. By becoming a member, you and your team will reap the rewards of a thriving group of likeminded professionals who recognize an underlying truth: when one CFA member succeeds, so does the entire franchise community.

The following is just a sampling of the ways in which we work to improve the industry landscape at the franchisor level, with numerous opportunities for your team to engage with professionals who can support your business and to connect with interested entrepreneurs craving their perfect franchise fit.

CFA committees and community engagement

  • In 2023, more than 370 volunteers supported the CFA community by participating on committees, contributing content to our publications and podcasts, and being strong advocates of what our organization stands for.
  • In 2024, the CFA announced the addition of 14 new committees, bringing the total to 36 and further helping us mould the future of our industry.

CFA National Convention

  • The 2024 CFA National Convention in Montreal, Quebec, was an outstanding event that provided education and networking opportunities for more than 500 franchise professionals from across Canada and the U.S.
  • The 2025 CFA National Convention in Niagara Falls, Ontario, will be even bigger and better, featuring three days of educational sessions, networking events, and our annual CFA Awards Gala Dinner.
  • The CFA National Convention also features our Marketplace, where select franchisors can exhibit and have exclusive access to other members and franchise systems in a mini-tradeshow format.

Meet & Greets

  • Over the last year, the CFA held five Meet & Greet events for Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, and Ontario members. These networking opportunities are free to attend and a great way for CFA members to network and socialize with fellow franchise community members.
  • Attendance increased by 20% at our 2024 Pacific event, and we expect to surpass previous registration numbers across all Meet & Greet events next year.

Franchise Canada Shows

  • These tradeshows provide CFA members with an exclusive opportunity to promote their franchise brand to an engaged audience of thousands who are eager to learn about business investment opportunities.
  • The shows are hosted three times per year: twice each fall in Toronto and Vancouver, with another Toronto edition in the winter.

Marketing & Operations Day

  • The CFA reintroduced its annual Marketing Day event in 2023, which was expanded to Marketing & Operations Day for 2024, with specialized programming developed to meet the needs of franchise operations.
  • A total of 125 attendees shared best practices, learned of exciting new approaches to both the external promotion and internal processes of their brands, and walked away with many additional ways to meet their business goals. 

Franchise Law Day

  • Held each September, this event has evolved to become a must-attend for franchisors who want to protect their business, minimize legal risk, and stay up to date on legislation surrounding the franchise industry.
  • The 2023 edition saw record-breaking attendance, with 163 registrations.

Member Savings Program

  • CFA members receive exclusive discounts from more than two dozen brands that could save them hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
  • Current discounts and special offers include:
    • Preferred payment processing rates from Moneris
    • Exclusive discounts from Insuranceland Inc.
    • Discounts on hotel bookings from Choice Hotels, Days Inn, and more
    • 10% off services plus a 20,000 kilometre/12-month warranty from Mister Transmission

Education

When you join the CFA, you gain exclusive access to a community of franchise leaders who are committed to sharing their knowledge through our educational events and programs. Participation in these sessions enable you and your team to grow your network and gain solutions to your biggest challenges from those who have been there.

From the latest in how to apply AI to your specific business model to the benefits of incorporating a strong equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) program into your franchisee training, the CFA provides the information you need to adapt to the changing franchise environment.

Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program

  • The CFA has partnered with the International Franchise Association (IFA) to exclusively licence its CFE program for Canada.
  • Through the CFE program, you can gain industry recognition, as the CFE designation is highly regarded and will raise your profile within the franchising community. The program as administered through the CFA currently boasts 159 enrolments and 28 graduates, and those numbers are growing by the day.
  • There are also ample peer networking opportunities through which you can connect with industry professionals also working toward their designation.

Newly launched professional learning communities (PLCs)

  • With the CFA’s PLCs, you can benefit from peer-to-peer learning environments where franchise professionals share insights, best practices, and resources to advance industry standards and personal expertise.
  • PLCs are offered in a variety of formats, including virtual roundtables and expert-led sessions where you will exchange ideas and solutions. Sessions are offered in person, live online, and on demand.

Direct mentorship (Zor-2-Zor program)

  • As a differentiator from similar programs, the CFA offers both direct mentorships and the opportunity for multiple mentor touchpoints through its Zor-2-Zor program.
  • Participants gain knowledge from professionals and experts who have been in their shoes and are granted the opportunity for unprecedented access to behind-the-scenes insights on industry topics.

Learn & Grows

  • These online events, which are free to CFA members, provide continual learning opportunities and the ability to upgrade your skills, wherever you are. In 2023, nearly 500 members and non-members benefitted from this webinar series.
  • Hosted by leading franchise experts on a variety of hot topics, these webinars will keep you up to speed on what’s happening in your industry.
  • Learn & Grow webinars are also eligible for CFE participation credits.

Franchise Your Business

  • This webinar series is designed for business owners aiming to expand their enterprises quickly, cost-effectively, and successfully through franchising.
  • These CFE-accredited seminars offer a comprehensive guide to franchising, featuring insights from seasoned franchise professionals across various fields.

Ongoing networking and educational opportunities

  • Over the course of 2023, 27 educational events were held with the aim of educating our membership, the public, and the franchise industry at large.
  • At these events, we welcomed 286 speakers who offered their knowledge and best practices to those just entering the industry as well as to those considered well-seasoned veterans.
  • Valuable resources such as EDI best practices are also shared through our e-learning courses and other asynchronous options (i.e., online educational resources).

Advocacy

Through the CFA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, your membership gets you a seat at the table to fight for issues that affect your business. The CFA actively lobbies governments from all levels across Canada in defense of the franchise business model and on issues that directly affect your businesses each and every day. 

With the CFA in your corner, and the ability to join us as we petition the government on everything from employment law to environmental legislation, your brand will be a part of an elite group making a difference in the lives of Canadians, from those working behinds the scenes in your franchise development department, to small business owners like your franchisees, to your customers themselves.

Franchise Awareness Day

  • The CFA’s annual Lobby Day, held at either Queen’s Park in Toronto or Parliament Hill in Ottawa, takes place at the end of May and marks the start of Franchise Awareness Month. This event brings together franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers of all experience levels to build relationships with decision-makers in defense of the $120 billion Canadian franchise industry. 
  • At our 2024 event, meetings were held with 24 government officials, including 10 Cabinet Ministers. This resulted in several follow-up conversations with decision-makers. 

Franchise Awareness Month

  • Every year, the CFA embarks on a multi-channel campaign to highlight the impact of franchising on the federal and provincial economies, the labour force, and other important metrics.
  • In 2024, the campaign garnered more than 121,000 social and digital media impressions, further promoting the organization’s mission to amplify the understanding and power of franchising in Canada.

Government pre-budget submissions

  • The CFA, along with input from its members, Board of Directors, and committees, provides the federal government with recommendations as it shapes its annual budget. This feedback aligns with the Association’s goal of lobbying for issues that affect the franchise community, including changing workplace demographics and the impact of legislation and current affairs on Canadian small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Lobbying priorities

  • The CFA consistently fights for our members and the industry in areas that impact franchisors and small business owners from coast to coast. These priorities include:
    • Common employerAccess to labourAccess to capitalFair treatment under environmental legislation
    • Burdens of small businesses:
      • Minimum wage
      • Taxation
      • Employment standards legislation

Input on provincial employment standards and franchise legislation

  • The CFA has been instrumental in helping guide updates to employment standards acts in several provinces, such as Ontario and Saskatchewan, as well as reviewing employment rights for gig workers in British Columbia.
  • Our staff and members have also successfully lobbied for the amendment of draft regulations regarding anti-poaching and wage-fixing agreements from the Competition Bureau Canada.

CFA Golf Day for Advocacy

  • The CFA Golf Day for Advocacy is a highly anticipated event each year, giving members the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled day of golf and networking, all while supporting the CFA’s ongoing efforts to defend and advance franchising in Canada. 
  • At the 2024 event, more than 100 participants raised funds for advocacy through registration fees, raffles, 50/50 tickets, and donations.


Brand Awareness

The CFA is the number-one way to extend your brand’s reach to the audience you want to influence: over 800,000 prospective franchisees across the Association’s channels. With a variety of promotional products to suit your needs, the CFA offers several ways to build your brand within the franchise community—and they are all exclusive to CFA members.

In 2023, the organization amassed more than 111 million positive media impressions, and we’ve already smashed that number in 2024, with 152 million year-to-date impressions. Plus, in addition to the products listed below, we actively promote our members through our social media channels to 23,000 engaged followers—and counting!

Franchise Canada magazine

Franchise Canada Directory

Franchise Canada E-News

  • A twice-monthly digital newsletter for prospective franchisees and CFA members featuring industry news, success stories, and the latest franchise opportunities
  • The newsletter’s average open rate is 30%, above the industry standard, which is evidence of the quality of its recipient list.

Franchise Canada TV

Franchise Canada Chats

Join us in our mission amplify the understanding and power of franchising in Canada while enhancing your business. Renew your CFA membership today to access these valuable benefits, and many more