Michael Seid

About Michael Seid

I am Founder and Managing Director of MSA Worldwide (MSA), a global franchise advisory firm. I work with brands around the world to design, develop, and grow successful and sustainable franchise systems. MSA is recognized by the International Franchise Association (IFA) as “the leading strategic and tactical advisory firm in franchising.” My experience spans nearly every side of the business — as franchisor, franchisee, senior operations executive, consultant, and accountant — across industries including restaurants, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and personal services.MSA services also include manuals and training programs, franchisee recruitment, expansion strategies, real estate selection and development, franchise relations, joint-employment, litigation support, and strategic restructuring.I am principal author of the IFA’s Statement of Guiding Principles, the widely accepted benchmark for ethical and effective franchising, and a contributor to the IFA’s Code of Ethics. I provide expert witness testimony in U.S. and international franchise and licensing disputes.As a frequent speaker and educator I’ve presented at events hosted by the IFA, CFA, ABA Franchise Forum, and at the Doha Economic Forum. I’ve also lectured at universities including Harvard, Yale, MIT Sloan, Georgetown, NYU, and The Ohio State University.I have published many articles on franchising and am co-author of two bestselling books published by Wiley: Franchising for Dummies (with Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s) Franchise Management for Dummies (with Joyce Mazero, Esq.)Since 1998 I have served with International Franchise Association leadership including the Executive Committee, Supplier Forum, and on multiple committees guiding the future of franchising. I have been an IFA Board of Directors member for over fifteen years. I serve as Chair-Emeritus, Chair, and member of IFA committees and task forces including Finance and Budget, Social Sector and the Article Eleven Committee. I was inducted into the Franchise Update Media Hall of Fame (2012) and Global Franchise Hall of Fame (2025).In addition to commercial work I’m committed to the benefits of social franchising — applying business-format franchising to improve global health and economic development. I serve as Chief Concept Officer and Board Member of CFWShops, and sit on the boards of HealthStore Foundation and One Family Health.I’m a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and U.S. Army veteran, committed to supporting franchising as a force for sustainable growth, opportunity, and positive global impact.

Experience

1. Member of the Board of Directors

   International Franchise Association

   Sep 2022 — Present · US

   Michael has served on the IFA’s board for a combined total of over thirteen years and was the first supplier ever directly elected to the IFA’s Board of Directors. During that period, as Chairman of the IFA’s Supplier Forum, he also served as a member of the IFA’s Executive Committee and continues to serve on several IFA committees.

Education

• LIU Brooklyn

  B.S., Accounting/Marketing

  1972 — 1975

Skills

• Franchise Expert
• Franchise Consulting
• Social Sector Franchising
• Franchise System Management
• Change Culture
• New Business Development
• Public Speaking
• Writing
• Marketing Strategy
• International Project Management
• Strategic Planning
• Account Management
• Finance and Accounting
• B2b
• Franchise Sales and System Growth
• Back Up Servicer
• Franchise Design and Development
• Franchise Start Up
• Franchise Relations
• Franchising
• Start-Ups
• Franchise Sales
• Social Sector
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Strategy
• Management Consulting
• Strategy
• Management
• Business Planning
• Program Management
• Retail
• Market Planning
• Small Business
• Team Building
• Strategic Partnerships
• Business Development
• International Business
• Leadership Development
• Marketing
• Lead Generation