Franchise exhibitions: find out what you need to know

The National Franchise Exhibition offers great opportunities for entrepreneurs

Are you thinking about starting your own franchise business? Are you looking for ideas and answers on what you need to consider and do to set up and develop successfully?

A visit to a franchise exhibition supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa) and organised by the Venture Marketing Group will provide inspiration and all the answers under one roof.

Coming soon
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The next events are coming soon. The National Franchise Exhibition is taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on 14 & 15 February and The British & International Franchise Exhibition will be at Olympia, London on 14 & 15 March.

The events will host exhibitors from a wide range of industries, including many well established brands and a mass of new and exciting opportunities. There will be experts on hand to answer any questions and a packed schedule of seminars and one-to-one consultations.

At The National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham there will be opportunities to suit every level of skill and budget. Visitors will be able to meet face-to-face with McDonald’s, Snappy Snaps, Cash Converters, Home Instead Senior Care and Revive! McDonald’s will also be hosting their popular open sessions exploring the prospects of becoming a franchisee.

An appointments system has been put in place to ensure everyone can plan their day and take advantage of all the great features on offer. By visiting the website www.franchiseinfo. co.uk visitors can pre-book one-on-one sessions with exhibitors they are interested in meeting to ensure their time at the event is well spent.

There will be a series of panel sessions organised by the bfa and led by expert consultants. These will cover all the essential aspects a prospective franchisee might be considering in depth. Subjects include ‘An introduction to franchising’ and ‘Essential tips for franchising your business’ amongst others. A full timetable can be found on the website. Visitors can also meet professionals face-to-face through the individual advisory services on offer. This includes the Finance Clinic, which will help visitors put together their all-important business plans; the Careers Clinic, which offers guidance on career plans that are both focussed and realistic; and the Expert Advice Clinic, which is run by industry experts, lawyers and bankers and is the ideal place to ask all those tricky questions many promising franchisees need answering. All aspects are covered and visitors at any stage of the franchising process, from starting out to deciding who to join, can learn a great deal from these sessions.

Growing Your Own Business
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An inspiring feature of the show is the Growing Your Own Business conference, where entrepreneurs talk freely about how they achieved success from starting their own businesses and how others can do the same.

This year The National Franchise Exhibition will welcome Peter Higgs from award-winning PGH Pest Control, who will talk about how he started his company with the help of the Prince’s Trust and how he has grown it organically through word of mouth to become the success it is today. Search engine optimisation expert Steve Feeney will also be explaining how he started SEO Company Essential Marketer and turned it into a highly recommended business. Peter and Steve will advise their audiences how they too can create their own company and will host Q&A sessions.

Another favourite at The National Franchise Exhibition is Real Franchise Stories, where franchisees who have already established themselves share their experiences and top tips on how to be successful in the world of franchising.

For those looking to invest at the higher end of the scale, the High Investment VIP Lounge will offer facilities for more private conversations in comfortable and exclusive surroundings. The High Investment Q&A panel sessions, sponsored by Platinum Property Partners, will provide the extra advice needed for potential investors in this area.

The British & International Franchise Exhibition
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In March The British & International Franchise Exhibition will feature more overseas exhibitors, particularly brands from the USA. The US Department of Commerce has granted the event Trade Fair Certification status, which means a large range of well known US companies are expected to launch their franchise at the exhibition. This will provide many business opportunities that have until now been unavailable in the UK.

The International Zone is a major focus for many visitors who are considering becoming the master franchisor of a foreign brand coming to the UK, as well as those who may be considering expanding their franchise to an overseas market. Brands from Canada, Latin America, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Russia and other countries worldwide are expected to feature at the event.

There will also be an extensive seminar programme covering all aspects of franchising on an international scale, as well as a dedicated VIP area, giving visitors the chance to network and relax during their time at the event.

For any visitors concerned about childcare for the day, the Children’s Activity Centre, run by the awardwinning franchise The Creation Station, allows children to get creative under the supervision of one adult, whilst a partner or friend can take the opportunity to see what the exhibition has to offer.

Brian Smart, the director general of the British Franchise Association, recently commented on the future of the franchising industry: “UK franchising offers thousands of people each year the opportunity to take on their own sustainable business, in turn creating employment for many thousands more - a success that has continued through hard economic times while other parts of the economy have struggled.

“The exceptional performance of the franchise sector since 2008 augurs well as the UK returns to business growth and prosperity. There are now nearly 1,000 franchise brands operating in this country across multiple business sectors, offering plentiful opportunities for those undertaking the necessary research and due diligence to join the franchise success story.”