Financial Industry Vet Honored with Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The International Franchise Association (IFA) has selected Benetrends Financial founder and Chairman of the Board Len Fischer as the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes a career of visionary leadership and a profound impact on the franchising community. Fischer will be honored at the 66th IFA Annual Convention in a moment that reflects his lifelong dedication to his business while helping countless entrepreneurs bring their own to life.
“Len is a true innovator in the world of franchising. His funding solution has broken down barriers to funding, allowing more people to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams through franchise ownership,” said Matt Haller, IFA president and CEO. “Len has not only grown a successful business, but he is committed to educating others about financing and paved the way for entrepreneurs to grow their own business.”
A Legacy of Innovation
In 1983, Len Fischer looked at the financial landscape and saw a major problem: too many talented people were locked out of business ownership because they couldn’t access the capital they needed. Drawing on his deep expertise in ERISA law, referencing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, he offered a new way for people to use their retirement savings to back their business, all while taking advantage of tax-deferred and penalty-free benefits.
His work established the 401 (k) financing framework now known as the Rollovers as Business Startups (ROBS) model, providing a blueprint that’s allowed Benetrends to help entrepreneurs move forward for over 40 years.
Building this new category of funding required a level of persistence that defined his entire career. “Once you have something that you believe in, stick to it and stay to it,” Len shared about the determination needed to launch the model.
He remains a firm believer that the only way to reach a goal is to stay the course, adding, “Don’t give up. Keep sticking through it. Success is the best reward.”
This shift in funding changed how the entire industry viewed capital and growth. By providing a way to bypass traditional financial hurdles, Len empowered entrepreneurs to create their own opportunities and secure a future through business ownership. This breakthrough has been especially impactful within franchising, where his approach remains a primary reason why starting a new franchise business or startup is more accessible today.
The IFA Global Stage
The IFA serves as the primary global hub for the franchising community, acting as a powerful voice for business owners and a champion for industry growth. The organization focuses on protecting the interests of both franchisors and franchisees while fostering an environment where new ideas can flourish. By establishing the professional benchmarks that define excellence in franchising, the IFA ensures its annual honors represent the most impactful contributions to the field.
While the Entrepreneur of the Year award has historically only been reserved for leaders of major franchise brands, this year’s honor highlights a different kind of impact. For the first time in the award’s history, the IFA is recognizing a supplier, recognizing Len’s role in creating the funding mechanism that makes the growth to thousands of franchise locations possible in the first place. Reflecting on his work at Benetrends and this historic distinction, Len shared:
“To say I’m overwhelmed by this award would be understating it,” he continued. “But frankly, the best award and best success we have is that there have been over 30,000 people who are now in business that couldn’t have in the absence of the program.”
Len’s wife, Cheryl Fischer, has been by his side every step of the way, providing support through team management and organization, and also serving as vice chairman of the Board at Benetrends. On the honor of being named Entrepreneur of the Year, Cheryl shared, “I’m very proud of Len. Very proud of what he has put together and accomplished, and what the business has done and [how it’s] helped so many people.”
The 66th IFA Annual Convention will take place in Las Vegas from February 23-25, 2026. There, thousands of professionals will gather to witness Len receive this recognition as the organization highlights the notable people and ideas redefining franchise business ownership.
A Commitment to Helping Business Owners Grow
This distinction reflects a career-long journey of helping others find their way into business ownership, a path Len documented in his 2021 book, Make It Rain. In its pages, he reveals how he leveraged a sharp background and an outside-the-box spirit to launch a new venture at age 50.
The book serves as a roadmap for small business owners, offering personal anecdotes and insightful strategies to help them maximize their potential. By detailing these business lessons, Len has established himself as an industry leader who understands exactly what it takes to build success from the ground up.
His rise within the franchising world is rooted in a refusal to let traditional barriers stand in his way, and he often points out that his achievements didn’t require a privileged start or elite credentials.
“You don’t need special powers, the right personality, or an MBA to enjoy the personal freedom that business ownership provides,” Fischer said. “When I started, I had none of those secret weapons for business. I’m an ordinary guy who grew up in a low-income section of Brooklyn, sleeping on a pull-out couch with my brother.”
Click here to view past recipients of the IFA Entrepreneur of the Year Award.