Welcome to the 2025 Franchise Ascension Initiative
The Franchise Ascension Initiative (FAI) is a six-month franchise accelerator program hosted by the International Franchise Association (IFA). It is designed to provide aspiring franchise owners with the essential knowledge, resources, mentorship, and support needed to confidently pursue franchise ownership
Throughout this guided experience, participants will engage in a dynamic blend of:
Structured Online Courses
Interactive and Experiential Learning
Group Mentorship and Coaching from Accomplished Franchise Professionals
This journey is led by a team of franchise professionals, educators, and leaders representing all aspects of the franchise model from start-up and launch to expansion, growth, and long-term success. Participants will benefit from real-world insights and practical tools designed to help them take meaningful steps toward business ownership
A highly qualified group of individuals will be selected to join the 2025 - 2026 cohort Over the course of the program, participants will complete structured coursework, engage in collaborative learning, and develop a comprehensive business plan tailored to a hypothetical franchise concept
The program culminates with the 2025-2026 FAI Capstone Project Presentation a final demonstration of each participant’s knowledge, strategy, and readiness, built over months of learning and preparation.
The learning journey map is included in this document and is subject to updates throughout the program Participants will be guided step-by-step through the full learning journey and will have 24/7 access to all program materials, resources, and updates via IFA Academy.
For questions or assistance anytime throughout your journey, please reach out to us at ascension@franchise.org
Week 4 - September 15 - 21, 2025
Week 5 - September 22 - 28, 2025 IFA Academy (Online Learning)
Fran-Guard™ - Part I
Topic 1 - Background of Fran-Guard
Topic 2 – Building a Culture of Compliance
Topic 3 - Disclosure Topic 4 - Registration
Importance of Franchise compliance in your culture Mentor Focus: Building a Franchise Culture of Compliance
Strategies for ensuring ongoing compliance
Mentor Focus
The importance of ongoing education for staff and franchisees
Mentors share compliance missteps and how they corrected them.
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
Explore Franchise opportunities
Consult your mentor as needed for assistance
As you explore Franchise opportunities – pay attention to the sections of your Business Plan and create a matrix for comparison of key areas within the various franchise opportunities you are exploring
IFA Academy (Online Learning)
Week 6 - September 29 - October 5, 2025
IFA Fran-Guard™ - Part 2
Topic 5 - Financial Performance Representations
Topic 6 - Violations & Consequences
Topic 7 - Wrap up Final Quiz 4:00
Utilizing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources
Explore Franchise opportunities
Consult your mentor as needed for assistance
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
As you explore Franchise opportunities – pay attention to the sections of your Business Plan and create a matrix for comparison of key areas within the various franchise opportunities you are exploring
Week 7 - October 6 - 12, 2025
Profit Soup Series 1: A Fresh Perspective on Financials Measure, Understand, Get it Done! Financial Statements: Where the Story of Your Business is Told 1:00
IFA Academy (Online Learning)
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
Profit Soup Series 5: Breakeven PLUS Series Profit is Not Optional Complete Breakeven Basics
Better Decision-Making with Breakeven Plus Building Your Profit Maker’s Intuition
3:00
Explore Franchise opportunities
Consult your mentor as needed for assistance
As you explore Franchise opportunities – pay attention to the sections of your Business Plan and create a matrix for comparison of key areas within the various franchise opportunities you are exploring 2:00
Week 8 - October 13 - 19, 2025
Experiential
As
Week 14 - November 24 - 30 2025
Explore Franchise opportunities
Consult
Week 15 - December 1 - 7, 2025
Explore Franchise opportunities Consult
Week 16 - December 8 - 14, 2025
Week 17 - December 15 - 21, 2025
Mentor
Know Your Budget: Clarify how much you can invest upfront and what you're comfortable borrowing include savings, retirement funds, and personal assets
Understand Your Options: Explore SBA loans, conventional loans, 401(k) rollovers, and franchisor financing each has pros and cons.
Credit & Qualifications: Check your credit score, personal financial statement, and liquidity they’ll impact your financing eligibility
Plan for Working Capital: Factor in extra funds for operating expenses during the ramp-up period not just the startup cost
Mentor Focus
Week 24 - February 2 - 8, 2025
Mentor Focus: Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Growth & Brand Consistency
Building service standards that scale across future units Empowering your early team and learning from their feedback
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
Business Plan Focus: Company Description / Strategic Growth Roadmap
Independent Exercise: Write your company description, including your mission, vision, business model, and brand identity. Then draft your strategic growth plan outlining goals for expansion in Years 1, 3, and 5
Week 25 - February 9 - 15, 2025
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
Mentor Focus: Franchise Leadership Vision & Value Proposition
• Your Role as a Franchise Leader
• Demonstrating leadership with purpose
• Communicating your vision and competitive edg
Business Plan Focus: Operational Plan (Refinement) / Financial Plan (Refinement)
Independent Exercise: Integrate technology tools and platforms into your operations and financial planning. Identify scalable tech systems that enhance efficiency and track performance
Virtual PeerCoaching Session
Week 26 - February 16 - 21, 2025
Experiential Exercise / Independent Work
Presentation structure and storytelling tips
Cohort team member idea share and feedback
Slide deck and presentation time management tips
Finalize Capstone Project: (Tips)
Demonstrate mastery of franchise business fundamentals Reflect on key program takeaways
Present a compelling vision for growth and leadership
Independent Exercise: Finalize slide deck (4–6 slides), rehearse delivery, and complete your full business plan. 4:
In-Person (Travel Required)
Week 27 - February 22 - 25, 2025
IFA Convention - Las Vegas
Cohort Journey Review, Networking, Franchise Education, Peer Learning
CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESENTATION
Cohort Completion