Franchise Sizzle!
The Franchise and Biz Op Blog

The Franchise industry can be overwhelming for someone who is curious and just peeking through the doors of information. If you are truly interested in the franchise industry and its many opportunities, attending of the many Franchise Expos that are held annually can answer your questions and get you on the right path towards opening your own franchise business.

At a Franchise Expo, you will get the opportunity to meet face-to-face with leading franchise experts who can help you choose the right franchise for you. You will learn from their high level experience to understand particular franchise opportunities and the benefits and pitfalls of each.

Franchise Expos also allow you to meet with franchisors, franchisees, industry specialists and others, just like yourself, who are interested in the industry. You will have the opportunity to network with these individual and build a list of useful contacts.

Attending a Franchise Expo is all about learning and opportunity. You will learn about the industry, specific businesses and the kind of franchisees they are looking for, legalities and quirks and the kind of commitment involved with each different business. You will get the opportunity to meet with people, get a front seat look at available franchise business offers, and see the franchising world as a peer rather than just from the perspective of a customer.

If you have the opportunity and you are interested in franchising, try and make sure that you are able to attend a Franchise Industry Expo or conference this upcoming year.

The IFA Executive Leadership Conference is coming up this Fall and will be based out of the Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sir Winston Churchill once said, “To improve is to change; to be great is to change often.” In these challenging times, top-level franchise executives are evaluating their businesses even more and initiating change whenever and wherever possible to take their system to the next level. But where can you turn for new strategies and insight? IFA offers the Executive Leadership Conference (ELC), a forum for C-level executives and multi-unit operators to gather to share ideas and perspectives. Scheduled October 15-17 at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa in Phoenix, the ELC is a retreat designed for Presidents, CEOs and COOs to discuss major issues and trends in American business and franchising amidst a relaxed and luxurious environment. Building relationships is critical in order to stay informed and there is no better venue to do just that than the ELC. We already have a tremendous group of high-powered business men and women who have signed up. If you join us, you can network with executives from companies such as Church’s Chicken, The Dwyer Group, Fantastic Sams, HomeVesters of America, Driven Brands, McDonalds, and more.

Not only does this year’s conference put you in touch with your peers but it also puts you up close and personal with some of the leading business, political and economic minds of our time.

For franchise executives and leaders, understanding market trends and what is making the difference between those franchises wildly succeeding and those that are just getting by, this conference is a wonderful opportunity for you to speak with other franchisors at your level, with your responsibilities and goals.

The West Coast Franchise Expo (WCFE) is gearing up to provide an amazing and informational weekend with everything franchise related. Beginning in October of this year, the WCFE provides a forum for one of the most comprehensive learning experiences about franchising and the opportunity to learn from the foremost experts in franchising.

The 2009 WCFE features a variety of Seminars and Symposia. The Conference Program is a something-for-everyone educational experience, from basic how-to sessions to advanced, in-depth examinations of the different franchise relationships and how they affect potential franchisees and those looking to franchise an existing business. There are seminars dedicated to three party franchising, as well as a whole track for current franchisors. So whatever your interest in franchising, there are FREE Seminars designed to your specific needs. Specialty Seminars are also FREE and focus on franchising opportunities for veterans, minorities and women.

Show Hours: Friday, October 2, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009 11:00am – 7:00pm
10:00am – 5:00pm
11:00am – 4:00pm

Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street – South Hall H&J
Los Angeles, California 90015
Phone: (213) 741-1151

You will be able to learn about the franchise concept that is right for your skill set, interest and budget as well as be provided with the opportunity to meet with hundreds of top franchises. You can sample their products, learn about their services and put yourself on the road to owning your own franchise.

The National Franchise and Business Opportunities Expo is holding it’s big even in Colorado this weekend and has an open invitation to interested business leaders and consumers who may want to start their own business.

This Franchising expo is happening today and tomorrow, April 4th and 5th, at the:

DENVER MERCHANDISE MART
Expo Building
451 East 58th Avenue, Denver, Colorado

The Denver Merchandise Mart Complex is located 10 minutes north of downtown Denver, Colorado, at I-25 and 58th Avenue, Exit #215, and is 30 minutes from Denver International Airport (DIA).

This red-hot franchise expo will allow you to:

In Person Attendance Benefits:
This event is you’re a great opportunity to talk directly with representatives from across North America’s running proven, money-making franchises as well as profitable business opportunities. With so many great connections under one roof, you will save hours of research time, be able to quickly make some initial comparisons of opportunities and source out valuable information.

Franchise Types:
This event showcases a wide range of opportunities from high investment franchises to low investment, home based businesses. You can learn about the new territories that are just being offered and gain insight into some upcoming trends.

Seminars Available:

A featured highlight of the event includes daily free seminars. These seminars offer advice from some of the industry’s leading experts. Topics include how to choose and evaluate a franchise, legal considerations when buying a business, and lease negotiations. Learn from experienced business owners what it takes to get started, as well as obtain valuable information that will assist in selecting the business that is right for you!

We hope you are able to attend this Red Hot Franchise opportunity if you are in the Denver area!

Franchise seminars and expos are a wonderful way to get your feet wet and learn more about the business of franchise ownership.

At a Franchise seminar or expo, you will be able to:

• • Meet with Franchise owners and discuss the actual experience of working with a particular franchise company.
• • Learn about various types of franchise opportunities
• • Talk to the actual franchise companies to learn more about each one.
• • Attend useful round tables and town hall meetings to learn more about entering into a franchise and what to expect

There are many resources available for those researching franchise business opportunities, however actually meeting with different franchises and their individual owners allows you to ask your questions. The ability to talk with people directly involved in the business allows for a more balanced and introspective look at the world of franchise ownership. With the information and contacts gained at a large Franchise seminar or expo, you will be better prepared to make your franchise decisions.

2009 Franchise Expo

The 18th Annual International Franchise Expo (IFE) is holding a three day show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. From March 20th through the 22nd, there will be 10,000 entrepreneurs seeking franchise opportunities, suppliers, franchisors, franchisees will all have the opportunity to meet face to face with one another. The conference also offers over 30 free Seminars and Symposia.

For more information about this Franchise event, go to the IFE website.

While the history of franchising and the concept behind it goes back centuries, the modern idea of franchising is often attributed most to Albert Singer, who was the founder of the Singer sewing machine. His ideas on franchising and demonstrated diligence in contracting others to market his product provided a basis for franchising which is still a cornerstone of today’s industry.

In 1851, Albert Singer marketed his Singer Sewing Machine Company by using franchising to distribute his sewing machines across large geographic areas. He was the first to prepare franchising contracts with territory owners. These documents eventually became the basis for modern franchising agreements that bind the industry, literally.

After this successful business model, the late 1800’s and early 1900’s found many other companies following in Mr. Singers business model. From utilities to beverages to auto manufacturers, companies found that they could spread their influence and sell more products over a larger territory if they franchised.

The establishment of retail and restaurant chains and franchises became the most obvious form of franchising as we know it now. Some of the earliest and most successful restaurant franchises and their original dates include Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1930, Dunkin Donuts in 1950, Burger King in 1954, and McDonald’s in 1955.

The industry model of franchising has been both profitable and successful, propelling what might have been a local brand into a national one.

There are often franchise seminars that are a great way to learn more about the actual business of franchising. There are several benefits to attending a franchise seminar.

• Meet other franchisees and talk to them about the actual experience of working with a franchise company.
• Meet other potential franchisees and compare notes.
• Talk to the actual franchise companies to learn more about each one.
• Find out what is available.
• Pick up some useful tips on how to run a franchise and on getting started.

There are many resources out there, particularly on the internet for franchise investors. However, sometimes it is just better to talk to people face to face and this can be a wonderful way to actually see how things work and to learn more about how to get started with a franchise opportunity.