Recognition Caps a Year of Acquisitions, New Technology and Leadership Changes
The International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) has been recognized as one of Entrepreneur’s top franchise suppliers for 2026, earning the No. 1 spot in the franchise broker category for the eighth consecutive year.
The ranking, featured in the September/October issue of Entrepreneur magazine and on Entrepreneur.com, recognizes service providers to franchisors and franchisees across 13 categories and is based on an annual survey of franchisors ranging from emerging concepts to established brands. This year, more than 1,000 franchise brands participated, identifying the suppliers they and their franchisees use and rating their satisfaction with those suppliers in areas including quality, cost and value.
“We are so excited to receive this honor for the eighth year in a row,” said IFPG Founder and Executive Chairman Don Daszkowski. “I am thankful for the strength of our members, our team and the culture we have built together.”
Franchise Business Review
For IFPG, much of its 2026 strategy has focused on bringing more resources under one platform. In February, IFPG acquired Franchise Business Review (FBR), a franchise research and benchmarking company founded in 2005. The acquisition added franchisee satisfaction data and performance benchmarking to IFPG’s growing mix of franchise development resources.
FBR surveys thousands of franchise owners each year to measure satisfaction in areas including training and support, leadership, systems and operations, franchisee relationships, financial opportunity and overall satisfaction. Its research gives franchisors a way to compare their systems with broader benchmarks while providing prospective franchisees with another source of information when evaluating opportunities.
Independent franchisee feedback can be especially valuable as franchising grows. The International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook projects the number of U.S. franchise establishments will increase 1.5% this year, from 832,521 to approximately 845,000. Franchise employment is expected to grow by more than 150,000 jobs to nearly 8.9 million, while economic output is projected to reach $921.4 billion, up 1.6%.
Transparency, accurate information and realistic expectations are important parts of ethical franchise development, and prospective owners benefit from hearing directly from existing franchisees in addition to reviewing the Franchise Disclosure Document, speaking with advisers and conducting their own research. FBR’s satisfaction data provides another layer of information that can help candidates make more informed decisions.
IFPG Growth
IFPG expanded again in April with its acquisition of Business Alliance Inc. (BAI), a franchise brokerage network founded in 1991. BAI has spent more than three decades helping prospective owners evaluate franchise opportunities based on their financial goals, interests and lifestyles.
The organization also launched Franchise Ignition, an organic franchise lead generation and marketing platform created through the acquisition of St. Jacques Marketing. Franchise Ignition is designed to help emerging and established franchisors build candidate pipelines and support franchise development.
On the technology side, IFPG developed Franchise Atlas, a platform that allows franchise consultants to organize candidates, track interactions and manage their consulting workflows. IFPG is expanding the technology with AI-assisted tools intended to help consultants research brands and match candidates with potential franchise opportunities.
The year has brought leadership changes to the IFPG team as well. Former Chief Operating Officer Matt Otskey was promoted to CEO, while Daszkowski moved into the role of executive chairman and head of mergers and acquisitions and corporate development. “This has been a transformational year for IFPG, but our focus remains the same: creating more value and more opportunities for our members,” Otskey said.
“We plan to continue staying at the forefront of franchising through data and AI innovation. Franchise Atlas is modernizing how franchise consultants and candidates work together, and our push into the agentic AI world is just beginning. The future is bright, with tremendous innovation ahead.”
IFPG Retreat
IFPG continues to gain recognition in other areas, too. The IFPG Retreat, the organization’s signature annual conference, was named a Top Franchise Event by Entrepreneur for the third consecutive year. The Retreat is IFPG’s largest gathering, bringing together hundreds of franchise consultants, franchisors and suppliers for three days of education, networking and relationship building.
“Our community is at the heart of everything we do,” IFPG President Red Boswell said. “As IFPG grows, we’re creating even more ways for consultants, franchisors and suppliers to connect, collaborate and build meaningful relationships. To be recognized again by the people we serve is something our entire organization can be proud of.”
To learn more about IFPG or register for the IFPG Retreat 2027, visit www.ifpgretreat.com or email retreat@ifpg.org.
