2017 London Franchise Events

Franchise exhibitions are great for both franchisors and franchisees to attend, learn and meet up with others in the industry. The top three reasons to attend an exhibition are:

1. Tickets for most franchise exhibitions are free if you register in advance.
   
2. Motivational keynote speakers share their inspirational stories of success with you.
   
3. Free one to one advice is on hand from franchising experts including financial, legal and marketing professionals.

So, without delay, pop the 2018 London franchise events in your calendar so that you can benefit from free advice, presentations and seminars.

The Franchise Show
16th – 17th February
2018 ExCeL, London

The Franchise Show, is the biggest franchise exhibition in the UK. Over 150 UK and international franchise brands are under one roof for you to listen to, learn from and be inspired by. You can gain vital information from the wide variety of seminars and speak to franchisers first-hand to give you interesting insights into the life of a franchisee.

The Franchise Show can also be useful to become informed and educated about the world of franchising. Over the course of both days there will be a whole host of 30 minute seminars focusing on different parts of the franchising lifecycle. So, whether you’re just thinking about buying a franchise, or you’re looking to sell a franchise internationally, you’ll learn lots from the most respected and experienced professionals in the industry.

Perhaps the most exciting seminar is presented by McDonald’s who run two extended 75 minute sessions on both days of this London franchise event. This will give prospective franchisees the chance to learn about what being part of the world’s largest fast food franchise is really like. Company representatives, existing McDonald’s franchisees and banking partners will be on hand to answer your questions. And if you don’t find out everything you need, there’s an opportunity to pose a question to the panel of experts at the end of the insight session.

As well as seminars, there will be professionals available to offer you guidance throughout the day in the Franchise Advice Zone. You’ll receive free, impartial advice on topics such as master franchising, financing your franchise and legal considerations. And it’s not just the experts that you can learn from. There will be opportunities to meet with franchisors and franchisees alike. There will be facilitated networking sessions being held with an informal, yet structured format for efficient and effective use of your time at the exhibition.

The British & International Franchise Exhibition
9th – 10th March 2018
Olympia National, London

The British & International Franchise Exhibition is the London franchise event that showcases some of the biggest and the best franchises in the industry. The event caters for all sector types and budgets, starting from as little as £10,000 minimum investment.

You’ll have access to over 60 free presentations, workshops and panel discussions covering a range of topics. These sessions will give you the opportunity to meet franchisors and current franchisees face to face so that immediate relationships can be developed.

As well as listening to motivational keynote speakers, you’ll be able to gain free advice in one to one meetings with experts about career plans, finance and all things associated with becoming a franchisee. You can also book an appointment with any of the exhibitors at the London franchise event so if you’ve got a franchisor you’d like to find out more about, this is your chance!

This is a great exhibition to attend if you’ve got any international aspirations. If you’re interested in expanding your franchise business overseas, speakers specialising in international development will share their expertise and experience through several presentations. You’ll learn about the differences that occur in international franchising that you may not have considered, including the complications that culture and language can cause, as well as the best countries to expand into.

Both London franchise exhibitions are accredited by the British Franchise Association (bfa) so you can be confident that only bfa members or brands that have been exhibition-accredited can attend. So, you'll be able to speak to franchisors from a wide variety of brands and sectors safe in the knowledge that they have complied with the strict criteria set out by the bfa.

So, remember to enjoy the excitement that these events can generate and make sure you get the most out of your visit. Here’s a few tips to help you prepare before attending the London franchise exhibitions:

1. Narrow down your franchise choices before you go – Franchise exhibitions are busy and full of interesting speakers, stands and information. So that you use your time at the event as effectively as possible, do your research before you attend. Have an idea of the franchisors that you want to speak to and the seminars that you want to watch.
   
2. Make a list of questions you want to ask potential franchisors – You’ll get a unique opportunity to effectively ‘interview’ your preferred franchisors, so don’t waste it! The bfa provide a list of questions that they recommend you ask before deciding to join a franchise. Examples of what to ask are:
   a. How long have you been franchising?
   b. How many franchised businesses are you running now?
   c. How much working capital do I need?
   d. What fees do you charge?
   e. Do you train me? Who pays for my training? Where do I go for training?
   f. What help will I receive in local advertising and promotion?
   
3. Familiarise yourself with the timetable – There will be an array of free seminars, presentations and clinics to attend so review the schedule of events before the day so that you know where to be and when, so that you don’t miss out.