Irish Franchise Association

Name

Irish Franchise Association

Legal name

Irish Franchise Association

Website

https://irishfranchiseassociation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Franchise Industry Trade Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Franchise association services
• Franchise accreditation standards
• Franchise sector promotion
• Ethical franchising code
• Franchise industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterford

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The IFA generates revenue through membership fees across five categories: Full Membership (for established franchisors with 2+ years operation and minimum 3 franchisees), Associate Membership (for new franchisors under 2 years), Provisionally Listed Membership (for those not qualifying for other categories), Affiliate Membership (for service providers including accounting, banking, legal, consulting), and Business Support Membership (for businesses supporting the franchise sector).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Irish Franchise Association is a self-regulatory trade body that accredits franchisors in Ireland against best practice standards and the European Code of Ethics. It offers tiered membership (Full, Associate, Provisionally Listed, Affiliate, Business Support), runs the annual Irish Franchise Awards and Irish Franchise Expo, conducts webinars, seminars, and franchisor forums, and operates a website directory that connects prospective franchise investors with member franchisors.

Product overview

The Irish Franchise Association offers a membership-based service focused on accreditation, standards regulation, and promotion of ethical franchising in Ireland. The core offerings include membership accreditation with benefits (certificates, logo usage, website profiles), the annual Irish Franchise Awards program, franchise sector promotion activities, franchisee enquiry referrals to members, and franchise development resources. The association connects prospective franchisees with member franchisors and provides networking, training seminars, and webinars for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFA Membership Accreditation Standards-based membership accreditation for franchisors operating in Ireland, with five tiers (Full, Associate, Provisionally Listed, Affiliate, Business Support). Accredited members receive official certificates, IFA logo usage rights, website profile display, exclusive enquiry hyperlinks, and discounts on exhibitions and the Irish Franchise Expo.
• Irish Franchise Awards Programme Annual black-tie awards ceremony recognising excellence in franchising across categories including Food Franchisor of the Year, Non-Food Franchisor of the Year, Emerging Franchisor of the Year, Irish International Franchisor of the Year, Franchisee of the Year categories, Leadership in Franchising, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Sustainability Champion of the Year, Employee Star of the Year, and Supplier of the Year. Held at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
• Irish Franchise Expo Annual franchise exhibition in Ireland providing exhibition space for franchisors to showcase franchise opportunities to prospective franchise investors.
• Franchise Development Resources Guidance and resources for businesses seeking to franchise, covering legal agreement development, operations manuals documentation, training curriculum development, and marketing collateral preparation.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• AccountsIQmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Provides cloud accounting software solutions to franchise businesses and sponsors the Service Franchise of the Year category.
• KeelingsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Fresh produce supplier and sponsor of the Leadership in Franchising Award category.
• Zeus PackagingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Packaging solutions provider and sponsor of the Food & Beverage Franchise of the Year category.
• PTSB (Permanent TSB)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Banking partner and sponsor of the Supplier of the Year category.
• OutminminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Business support services provider and sponsor of the Community Champion of the Year category.
• Activedifference PackagingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Awards Sponsor for 2024. Sustainable packaging provider and sponsor of the Marketing Campaign of the Year category.
• Fast Casual DistributionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine Partner and Awards Sponsor. Distributes food service products and serves as partner for the Education Franchise of the Year category.
• BWG FoodservicemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Foodservice provider and sponsor of the Best Emerging Franchise of the Year category.
• Chevron CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Educational institution and sponsor of the Overall Franchise of the Year category.
• FlipdishmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Restaurant technology platform and sponsor of the Irish Franchise of the Year category.
• AJG (Arthur J. Gallagher)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Insurance brokerage firm and sponsor of the Franchisee of the Year - Service category.
• Manna Air DeliveryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Drone delivery service provider and sponsor of the Supplier of the Year category.
• McDonald'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Global fast food chain and sponsor of the Sustainability Champion of the Year category.
• MSS The HR PeopleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. HR services provider and sponsor of the Employee Star of the Year category.
• Nory.aiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Restaurant management AI platform and sponsor of the Leadership in Franchising category.
• SNAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Design, print and marketing services company and sponsor of the Franchisee of the Year categories.
• ReadyChefminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Food preparation services provider and sponsor of the Emerging Franchisor of the Year category.
• Just Eat IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Online food delivery platform and sponsor of the Franchisee of the Year - Food & Beverage category.
• Esquires CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Organic coffee chain and sponsor of the Franchisor of the Year - Non-Food category.
• Eddie RocketsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2026. Irish restaurant chain and sponsor of the Food Franchisor of the Year category.
• Virgin Media BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetworking Reception Partner for 2026 awards. Telecommunications provider serving as sponsor for the networking reception at the awards ceremony.
• The PantryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment Partner for 2026 awards. Café and restaurant brand serving as entertainment partner at the awards ceremony.
• Business PostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for 2026 awards. Business newspaper serving as media partner for the Irish Franchise Awards.
• Gallagher InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward Category Sponsor for 2024. Insurance brokerage firm and sponsor of the Franchisee of the Year - Service category.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Franchise Association (CFA): Canada's national franchise trade association with standards-based membership, annual awards, education programs, and advocacy. Operates the same trade-body model as IFA in a different country and English-speaking market.
• British Franchise Association (BFA): The BFA is the UK's self-regulatory trade association for franchising and the closest functional equivalent to the IFA — same standards-based accreditation model, Code of Ethics, annual awards, and Expo. Operates as a national franchise governance body in a neighboring jurisdiction with a larger member base.
• Franchise Council of Australia (FCA): Australia's national franchise self-regulatory body with a Code of Ethics, accreditation framework, and annual awards. Functionally analogous to IFA at a national level, focused on promoting ethical franchising within a single country.
• Franchise Association of New Zealand: New Zealand's national franchise association operating with a Code of Ethics, accreditation standards, and member services. Same small-country national trade-body model as the IFA.

Broad incumbents

• European Franchise Federation (EFF): The pan-European umbrella organization for national franchise associations, including the IFA's parent Code of Ethics. IFA is affiliated with EFF; EFF itself is a broader incumbent operating at the EU level rather than at the national trade-body level.
• International Franchise Association (IFA - US): The US-based global franchise trade association with broader geographic scope and much larger scale. Offers franchise education, advocacy, and member services with a much wider portfolio than the Irish body, but shares the same self-regulatory, standards-based, member-driven governance model.

Regional players

• Mexican Association of Franchises (AMF): Mexico's national franchise industry body — comparable function as a self-regulatory trade association, but in a different geography with a much larger domestic franchise market than Ireland.
• Franchising & Licensing Association (FLA) Singapore: Singapore's national franchise and licensing trade association — comparable in function (accreditation, standards, awards) but operates in an Asian market context rather than competing directly in Ireland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FranchiseIRE
• Facebookfacebook.com/irishfranchiseassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Irish Franchise Association