Surviving the world economy’s periodic tectonic shifts and its attendant aftershocks is franchising. More than a decade since the Asian financial crisis and a year after the global financial crash, the industry has stayed buoyant creating over 30,000 franchise systems and some 2.2 million businesses. The continuous industry growth worldwide is due to the high success rate of franchising as a safe and beneficial international business model according to the World Franchise Council (WFC).

In the Philippines, the multi-billion peso franchising sector has remained a sunrise industry accounting for 5 percent of the country’s over-all Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last three years. In 2007, the total asset size of franchising stood at P16.3 billion based on a recent economic impact study commissioned by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

In terms of employment, franchising also contributed 1.6 percent to the 16.4 million workforce in the services sector in 2007. The average number of direct employees per company was 975.

The study is one of the major take-off points for Franchise 2009, the 17th Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo (PIFCE), slated on July 1- 5.

With theme “Thriving and Growing Amidst Global Challenges,” Franchise 2009 highlights the unlimited opportunities tin franchising amid the economic slowdown. Local and international franchise gurus and experts will present the latest trends and developments in the global franchising arena.

Representing 37 national franchise associations all over the world, WFC said franchising has significantly impacted on the real economy in terms of generating business opportunities and much-needed jobs. This provides a needed solution to the worldwide economic turmoil since franchising as a tried and tested investment option particularly to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Brussels-based WFC said franchising’s advantages in enterprise and employment creation can kick-start national economies amid the global recession.

With the Philippines facing a dire zero growth projection for 2009 from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and posting 0.4-percent GDP in the first quarter of the year according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), “franchising remains the safest and viable bet for new and budding Filipino entrepreneurs,” PFA chairman emeritus Samie Lim stated.

“As we face the economic realities brought about by the present global slowdown, franchising offers the best possible opportunities for Overseas Filipino Workers, retired professionals, fresh graduates and even immigrants who are seriously thinking of going into business themselves or for their loved ones, “ Lim added. “The success rate of owning a franchise compared to a start-up traditional retail business is 90 to 25. This is because franchising essentially replicates an already established and successful business concept.”

The PFA-UA&P joint study, which estimates the contribution of franchising to the national income, employment and investments, disclosed that franchising’s share in the country’s retail and wholesale trading sales increased by 3 percent. For calendar year 2007, franchising generated systems sales of 314 billion for an over-all 18.4 percentage share.

The survey study, which was conducted from October 2008 to January 2009, also revealed that the average sales per franchise company was 1.13 billion.

Franchise 2009 offers four events in one: a conference on July 1 and 2 , at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila; a three-day Expo on July 3-5 at the SMX Convention Center; a seminar on ''How to Franchise your Business ''and ''How to Acquire a Franchise'' on July 4 and 5, at SMX; and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Program on June 29 and 30, at the AIM Conference Center Makati.