H. O. P. E.
- Hold On, Pain Ends.

We need the US Government to Help Out People Everywhere. From the White House, US Congress members, US House of Representative members from BOTH PARTIES.

- AN URGENT CALL TO HELP EMPLOYEES, SMALL BUSINESS, AND FRANCHISEES DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS. -

The elderly, their worried children, healthy college kids, new parents and grandparents, restaurant servers, hotel housekeepers, front desk workers, office workers, EMTs, Police Officers, Doctors, Hospital Workers, and even Farmers! They are doing their best to HOLD ON and need help to END the medical and economic PAIN.

Millions of people are AFRAID... of COVID-19 and the medical health of their families first. And people are sacrificing their vital income, paychecks, small businesses, and economic well-being to ensure COVID-19 risks are as low as possible!

And even after this Health Crisis ends, there are millions of worried families who are homeowners, renters, employees, small business owners, restaurant servers, Veterans, Women, Underprivileged people and more... who are AFRAID of their economic health... during and after the health crisis.

A short intro about Independent Association of Franchisees (IAF): Franchisees are small businesses who employ millions of workers in virtually all industries. They are the shop owner, operator, and families who actually take the responsibility of a business. And Franchisees are made up of Veterans, Immigrants, Women, LGBT people, and span across the spectrum of ethnicities which make America’s Rich Culture. It’s Franchisees who employ millions in their own individual locations, hold staff birthday parties, and sponsor local Little Leagues, School Programs, donate to Churches, and support their own families. And they work to serve millions of customers each day. Franchisees are the actual People who run a Small Business.

This is different from a Franchisor (Brand), who collect a fee from Franchisees (small businesses) to carry their name (earning a large Commission to use a Brand name). Franchisors are typically Larger Corporations, Companies and Brands. 

- Franchisees are People and Small Businesses in America. -

We need action on these specific steps to reduce the PAIN on so many hard-working employees, their beautiful families, Franchisees (people who run small businesses), and all the hard-working Americans who contribute to the economy:

A) Increase Cash Payments to US Residents to $2500 per adult, $1200 per child for the first payment (and keep these amount in consideration for subsequent payments). Include two years of full Health Coverage to deal with any short-term health effects from COVID-19 for every American.
The payment amounts to US Residents should be significantly higher than $1200 we’ve seen so far. The damage we are experiencing already with lack of work and closures is significant. And the reorganization process after the crisis will be a difficult process for employees. At least $2500 initially would ease the blow for our families. With other rounds available in a few weeks. IMPACT: Good for future demand, across all communities & small businesses throughout America. 

B) Create a Small Business Income Loss Insurance fund should be included, to help families who run small Franchisee businesses to feed their own families and due to many who do not pay themselves regularly, do not typically get included in the Unemployment System! The vast majority of the businesses which we represent are Small Businesses which are Franchisees. They operate businesses without being able to pay themselves regularly. And Franchisees pay a commission fee to a nationally known brand (ie. Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Subway, Comfort Inn) from their small deli, sandwich shop, coffee shop, motel, ice cream shop, restaurant, and so many more.

C) Freeze Rental payments for up to 12-months, with landlords or other housing who serve low-income people being provided reimbursement for lost rents during the Freeze
Also, freezing rental payments for up to 12-months (with US Government providing funds for lost rent in low-income areas) allow families to recover from Crisis.

D) Require Insurance companies to automatically include Income Protection benefits in all Home/Renter insurance plans
Home/renter insurance providers should be required to have an income protection plan included in plans. This can supplement Unemployment, Paid Leave, and other benefits.

Also, for the many thousands of Small Businesses and Franchisees impacted, a few important items:

E) A working capital Loan, in the amount of 1-year average revenue, which is forgiven as the business rehires lost employees during this crisis
-A loan which can be forgiven for at least 3 months of revenue lost during this crisis, with rehiring of lost employees

F) Increase Small Business SBA Loan guarantees to 100% and up to $10 million per business/location
-Increase SBA Loan guarantees to 100%, and up to $10 million per business location

G) Automatically defer all FDIC-member and non-member bank loans for at least 12 months
-Automatic deferral of all FDIC-backed banks loans for at least 1 year (residential homes, commercial property, business, etc)

H) Prevent and freeze foreclosures/lawsuits by any lenders for at least 24 months
-Prevent foreclosures of residential or business properties for at least 24 months. Keep people in their homes and small businesses. They did not start this Crisis, but are the ones most impacted.

I) Cap mortgage interest rates for business/residential loans to a Fed + Max %
-Cap all interest rates to a Fed + max % on all new loans afterward. Home loans and commercial loans need to stay affordable at all times, regardless of economic conditions. And a provision for payment freezes should be included for any future emergencies. 

J) Offer 100% rebates to small businesses who install Solar energy to power their business
-Solar energy 100% rebate for small businesses and homeowners to be more resilient in future crisis. In cases of emergencies of all types (natural disaster, COVID-19, or others), it will be important to have power in all circumstances.

K) Increase Support for Minimum Wage Capacity, by placing a cap of 5% on monies charged to Franchisees by a Franchisor (Brand), Third party sales companies, and Online Sales Agents of all industries
-Place a maximum 5% cap on Franchisor fees paid by any industry, to ensure businesses are better prepared to handle crisis and be able to provide greater benefits to their workers (and especially important in times like these), with automatic payment deferral clauses during state of Emergencies. Franchisees want to see their employees grow, thrive, have more income and be successful (but due to heavy Franchising costs, have struggled to be able to do just that!). And better paid employees are typically customers too!

Respectfully,
on behalf of over 9 American Million employees, 770 Thousand Franchise businesses, and the Independent Association of Franchisees (IAF).
- www.WeAreBusiness.org -