International Franchise Show 2024: Who to see and what to know

Choosing the right brand for you is a big decision: but talking to top businesses from across the industry can help you get that right

It was big news when the International Franchise Association announced it would be sponsoring the International Franchise Show. The collaboration promises to bring new franchise brands to our shores from across the world. The event is playing host to more than 250 businesses, including 50 global brands.

Meanwhile, the show is also serving as a platform for keynote sessions for industry experts, who are primed to offer best practice advice on how to invest successfully, become financially successful, and choose the right business for you.

For franchisees, it’s the perfect place to scope out opportunities, and here, we’ve outlined just some of the highlights.

Aboutea

STAND 224
The Taiwanese franchise has spent 15 years developing its bubble tea drinks menu and is now established in more than 20 cities around the world. The brand is fronted by mascot Abao, but behind the scenes a strong R&D team support with supply chains and innovation.

Oasis Accountants

STAND 323
The chartered accountants franchise offers a wide range of services including process standardisation, automation, business and tax consultation, tax planning, and end-to-end Limited Company compliance management. Franchisees are given access to the latest software and technology to enable day-to-day operations to run efficiently.

Clip ‘n Climb

STAND 827
The leisure brand has more than 240 climbing centres across the world and is currently offering UK franchisees a turn-key business model. This includes design and installation for more than 40 indoor and outdoor climbing challenges as well as discounted equipment, training, and support.

Nurse Next Door

STAND 726
‘Happier Ageing’ is the philosophy at the centre of this home care agency franchise. The brightly branded business offers all aspects of care from companionship and home help, such as meal prep and cleaning, all the way through to skilled nursing. The brand focuses on standing out in a positive way.

BARI-UMA Japanese Ramen

STAND 825
Established in 2002 in Japan, the restaurant franchise has grown to 74 stores in eight regions. The menu, which includes the brand’s own ramen soup and in-house noodles, enables high reproducibility, and franchisees are supported with management training.

More Than Loft Ladders

STAND 741
Although the loft storage franchise was formed back in 2008, it has recently gone through some exciting new changes. Frustrated long-term franchisee Liam Hobbs has taken over ownership of the business with the aim of providing the best possible franchisee support.

FASTSIGNS

STAND 341
Making your brand stand out in the market is a crucial part of achieving business success, but that’s not always easy. FASTSIGNS services are end-to-end, encompassing everything from design and production to installation.

Customers access services through a single point of contact within the franchise and can choose from an extensive portfolio of solutions, with the guidance of trained staff, who tailor solutions to individual challenges and budgets. This approach has proven successful, and the franchise has continued its expansion across the UK, achieving an 89% satisfaction rate among franchisees in the process.

The brand is now looking for franchisees who are hoping to invest in a versatile industry. A big advantage of this investment opportunity is that everyone in the FASTSIGNS network is positioned to have the best possible chance of success, as teams are curated around a franchisee’s individual skillset.

“If our franchisees have an aptitude for project management, design, production, sales, or management of people, we can build a team around them to help deliver the fastsigns service to their customers.”
- John Davies, UK MD at Fastsigns*

SingPods

STAND 727
The business’ karaoke booths have been a hit within the entertainment event space, and franchisees have the opportunity for additional revenue streams such as custom branding opportunities as part of corporate collaborations. The franchise has a turnkey business model to ensure investors hit the ground running.

Facial Mania Med Spa

STAND 728
The franchise aims to offer a one-stop beauty experience which includes treatments such as Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, weight-loss therapies, and more. Franchisees are supplied with extensive support and technology to help them proliferate the brand further within the beauty industry.

RoboThink UK

STAND C7
There’s a big drive to encourage more children into STEM, and RoboThink is part of this initiative. The brand offers coding, robotics, and engineering programmes to children via classes, camps, and workshops. It has continued to expand and is now operating in 24 countries.

easyStorage

STAND 320
As part of the well-known Easy brand, this business focuses on providing tech-driven storage facilities to customers who need to lock large items away securely. The brand has been diversifying what franchisees can offer, which now includes mobile storage unit, easyPod, and gated container storage, easyContainer.

Pokerrito

STAND 433
Pan-Asian flavours are at the heart of this franchise’s QSR concept. The brand has leaned into the growing appetite for Asian cuisine combined with the latest culinary trends such as plant-based ingredients and product innovation, which has resulted in Burrito-fashioned poke, and hot dogs with bulgogi.

Doner Shack

STAND 510
The quick-service restaurant was founded in 2017, with the goal of tapping into what’s estimated to be a £2.8 billion industry. It has aimed to do this by using fresh ingredients served up in a clean and contemporary setting, and supported by efficient back-end operational systems. The business is now seeking multi-unit franchisees.

Radfield Home Care

STAND 834
There’s an opportunity here to spend time making a difference within your community while building a business that matters. Domiciliary homecare franchise Radfield Home Care provides award-winning training and onboarding, aimed at establishing and growing a business that delivers life-changing care.

The franchise has a ratio of two franchisees to each support team member and its training has been recognised with a 2022 Princess Royal Training Award and a 2023 National Home Care Award. This means franchisees receive consistent support, as they continue to expand their business further.

Radfield Home Care was founded 40 years ago by a family who still own and operate the business today, only now with a support team which has more than 200 years of hands-on experience in the care sector. As a result, owners have access to recruitment and retention strategies, cutting-edge care management technologies, and data-driven marketing campaigns. So far, Radfield’s model has supported the launch and success of 30+ offices and is planning to increase this.

“Empower your community with Radfield Home Care: a legacy of compassion, innovation, and unwavering support for franchisees.”
- Dr Hannah MacKechnie, co-founder of Radfield Home Care*

Waves

STAND 719
The hand car wash and valet franchise services big UK retailers included Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda. Throughout its 17 years of operation, the business has thrived off its ‘wash while you shop’ proposition and can provide anyone investing with a turn-key business model and the opportunity to franchise multiple sites.

VoxFresh

STAND C3
As a newcomer to franchising, the business is aiming to capture the children’s activity market with group pop singing sessions for young people. Those investing can begin by offering core sessions, before expanding their revenue streams with additional services, which welcome creative input from franchisees.

Thistle Gem

STAND 712
The Scottish-founded business specialises in clothing with an emphasis on tartan products throughout. So far, the franchise has an online store supported by multiple physical store locations across the UK. It is currently recruiting franchisees with the aim of opening five more locations than it did in its previous year.

Jani King

STAND 325
Since being established in 1969, the commercial cleaning franchise has successfully grown to a network of more the 7500 franchisees worldwide, requiring 120+ support offices in 10 countries. Now, it has set its ambitions to expand even further, recruiting franchisees internationally after a 15-year hiatus.

Helen Doron Educational Group

STAND 440
The child-focused language learning franchise has been in operation for 40 years worldwide, under the leadership of linguist Helen Doron. It now plans to expand into the UK market, initially offering Spanish, Maths, English as a foreign language, literacy, drama, and early child development.

GoliathTech

STAND 315
Founded in 2004, the Canadian company is intrinsic to building strong infrastructure around the world. The business manufactures and installs helical (screw) piles with the assistance of industry experts. Installation is quick as the process avoids excavation, but as the product is supported by the newest technologies it has a 30 year warranty.

Paris Baguette

STAND 637
The South Korean bakery brand has been combining Asian flavours with French patisserie for the past 35 years. In that time, it has established more than 4000 international locations,
including Canada, China, France, Malaysia, United States, and Singapore.

Now, the franchise has set itself the challenge of aggressively expanding across the UK market, aiming to open 48 stores within the next 24 months. So far, it has appointed three franchisees in the past three months, with 20 more on the cards for this year. These locations will join the Battersea Power Station branch and the High Street Kensington branch which successfully opened in 2022.

The brand is already quite well-known within pop culture in both the Eastern and Western world; however, it’s looking to drive awareness further with the aid of entrepreneurial franchisees. The business model on offer here has received industry acclaim, with the Paris Baguette ranked 25th among US franchises in the Franchise Times 100.

“Paris Baguette is a bakery chain offering the best quality coffee and freshly-made baguettes, croissants, and cakes. We’re looking for entrepreneurial people who see the value in this.”
- Nico Gaillot, Head of Paris Baguette UK*

Brokerplan Academy

STAND 538
Established in 2004, the finance brokerage enables franchisees to assist businesses in funding their ideas from a portfolio of high street banks and alternative financing methods. Those looking to invest do not need prior experience in the sector as the franchise offers LIBF-accredited training.

Life4Cuts

STAND 618
Combining easy management with the thrill of being part of a global cultural trend, this fast-growing K-Pop photo machine franchise is looking to expand further in the UK. Customers can choose from an array of cutesy props before heading to a self-operating booth, minimising resources for business operations.

Apollo Blinds

STAND 419
As part of the Hunter Douglas Group - the world’s oldest and largest window blinds company - franchisees are backed by an established business model when selling and installing quality made-to-measure window blinds, curtains, shutters and awnings. The latest products include motorised, energy-saving, and eco-friendly blinds.

Zocalo Restaurant

STAND 414
Inspired by the taquerias in San Francisco’s Mission District, this Northern European chain of Fresh Mex fast food restaurants uses the latest technology to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible. For franchisees, the brand offers a well-established and highly effective concept, with everything from food prep to marketing provided as standard.

Kayakmat

STAND 221
This 25-year-old Swedish franchise hinges on a slick central online reservation system and integrated ‘smart locks’ to provide customers with an easy and convenient 24/7 kayak and SUP board rental service. Running costs are low and time required is minimal, allowing franchisees enormous flexibility and the opportunity to earn an income on the side.

N.Bar

STAND 625
The nail salon launched back in 2001, and has since grown to 27 stores across six countries - gaining popularity with influencers and celebrities in the process. Now the brand is looking to expand its reach across the UK, by partnering with management franchisees to deliver personalised nail care and beauty treatments in a contemporary setting.

Canopy Children’s Nurseries

STAND 622
The modern requirements of childcare are many and varied. While quality of care and education is paramount, today’s discerning parents also expect state of the art security systems, flexibility to fit around evolving working patterns, instant communication, and convenient access to information, as well as highly ethical operating practices.

Canopy Children’s Nurseries aims to build trusted partnerships with parents by giving children the best possible beginnings. Some locations offer parent and community spaces alongside a nursery provision, making this a particularly appealing enterprise for people wishing to support local children and families. Canopy prides itself on working closely and collaboratively with its franchisees, supporting them to open the nursery business of their dreams.

Demand for quality childcare and early years education is high and by selecting the right properties in the right areas and developing them into child-centred environments, franchisees are outperforming their targets.

“I now have the nursery of my dreams - a beautiful environment for young children in the heart of this busy, diverse, community - I love it!”
- Rinu Shah, franchisee at Canopy Wembley Park*

*This section is paid partner content