If you’re considering attending one of our franchise expos, we’re glad to hear you’re interested! To assist you, we’ve prepared a short guide on what to expect and how to prepare for a franchise expo. By Sheila Fischer
If you’re considering attending one of our franchise expos, we’re glad to hear you’re interested! To assist you, we’ve prepared a short guide on what to expect and how to prepare for a franchise expo.
What to Expect
Whether you’re attending an event such as Franchise Expo South or another expo, there are some similarities. The main purpose is to help entrepreneurs find the best franchise fit. An expo will be filled with franchisors who come to share their business models, products, and services. An expo also offers you an opportunity to make connections with banks and lending institutions, industry professionals and businesses offering their products, and services. Finally, look for an expo that offers a conference program with vetted speakers and topics to help you make informed decisions.
How to Prepare
First, create a list of the franchises you are most interested in. Once you’ve connected with the brands on your list, take advantage of meeting with other exhibitors to learn about their brands and offerings.
Face-to-face meetings are best spent asking questions that aren’t answered elsewhere. Once you have your must-visit list of franchises, check their websites and look for online reviews that might provide some of the information you’d ask about. Meeting with a franchise at an expo is a lot like a job interview. Each of you is evaluating the other.
When speaking with exhibitors, make sure they represent a bona fide franchise. Not all franchise expos have this exclusivity. Make sure to ask what their franchise business model is and where to get a copy of their FDD.
Looking Forward to Seeing You!
We at MFV want your first franchising expo to be a memorable experience for all the right reasons, including being the place where you found the perfect match for your business. Register today for our next expo; we hope to see you there!
Sheila Fischer
Sheila Fischer became president of MFV Expositions after a 27-year tenure with MFV. In addition to leading MFV in sales, in 2019, she was awarded the Global Sales Leader Award of Comexposium, MFV’s parent company. That prestigious award is given to one person throughout Comexposium’s global business, which covers over 135 exhibitions in 15 industries in 30 countries.