A Franchise Thanksgiving If you find yourself taking your local Subway for granted, Franchise Appreciation Day offers an opportunity to show your support.

By Diana Ransom

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A Franchise ThanksgivingDo you really run on Dunkin? Is having it your way your thing? Quieres Taco Bell?

Franchise fans will get a chance on Sept. 3, Franchise Appreciation Day, to give thanks for the products and services they've come to rely on. And in return, they may even walk away with a freebie or two.

The day is the brainchild of Miami Beach, Fla., social-media marketing firm Sociallybuzz, whose clients include individual franchise owners and franchise systems. CEO Andre Kay is billing it as a way to raise the public's awareness of the role of local franchises in their communities.

"It's about connecting consumers with local franchises," says Kay.

He says many franchise systems either tamp down on franchisees' efforts to promote their contributions to their local communities or individual owners simply don't try -- thinking that they can rely solely on the franchise system's national advertising efforts.

Some "franchise facts" from FranchiseAppreciationDay.com:

  • The number of jobs filled within and because of franchised businesses: 17,430,700
  • Franchised businesses account for 14% of the private sector employment and over $500 billion in payroll
  • Direct and indirect economic impact of franchised businesses: $2.1 trillion

Participating franchises, including Domino's Pizza and Jamba Juice, are expected to dish out free items like "Cinna Stix" or discounts on products to consumers who "check in" with Foursquare or Facebook Places at their establishments that day. More than 2,200 consumers have already signed up to patronize the more than 700 participating franchises on Franchise Appreciation Day, says Kay. He expects that more franchises and consumers will likely sign up after the campaign launches officially Monday.

For those who do sign up on the site -- though it isn't required to participate -- expect a reminder email to appear in your inbox about two weeks before Franchise Appreciation Day and possibly another one next year as Kay hopes to turn it into an annual event.

Until three years ago, the International Franchise Association celebrated its own Franchise Appreciation Day, the name once given to its annual advocacy event when franchise owners head to Capitol Hill for a meet-and-greet with U.S. Congress members. They opted instead for the decidedly less catchy Public Affairs Conference, says Alisa Harrison, an IFA spokeswoman.

Do you think local franchises need a day to celebrate them? Let us know if you plan to participate in the comments section.

Diana Ransom is the former deputy editor of Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Saying 'Please' and 'Thank You' to ChatGPT Costs OpenAI 'Tens of Millions of Dollars'

It's more environmentally friendly (and cost-efficient) to skip the niceties.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

'You Are Somehow a Villain If You Use It': Tons of Music Producers Are Secretly Using AI, New Study Reveals

Helmuts Bems, CEO of Sonarworks, discusses the surprising findings of his company's survey of music industry professionals.

Business News

Airbnb's Pricing Is About to Look a Lot Different

All Airbnb guests will now automatically see the complete cost of their proposed stay, including all fees (before taxes).

Business News

Meta Is Testing AI That Can Catch Teenagers Trying to Get Around Age Rules on Instagram

Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger offer the Teen Accounts feature, which provides restrictions around messaging and sensitive content.