Everything You Need to Know About The 2018 National Franchise Exhibition

Discover the perfect franchise opportunity at The National Franchise Exhibition on the 5th and 6th October, exclusively in association with the British Franchise Association (bfa).

The NEC in Birmingham will host this prestigious event where you can join thousands of other aspiring business owners to find the right franchise to invest in.

What is The National Franchise Exhibition?

It’s a two-day event that gives you all the information you need to know about franchising. You’ll have an opportunity to learn from industry experts through a range of enlightening presentations, workshops and Q&A sessions.

What’s more, The National Franchise Exhibition is exclusively supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa) and offers peace of mind that all brands exhibiting offer an ethical and viable business model.

Amongst this year’s exhibitors are event sponsors Fitness Space, as well as other leading brands including McDonald's, Mac Tools, Tutor Doctor, Driver Hire, Harry Ramsden, Ninja Warrior UK, easyStorage, plus many more. Over 100 in fact. The wide range of well-known franchised brands in attendance means that there will be a franchise opportunity to suit any budget, skill set or interest.

Why should I attend?

With a packed schedule, there are plenty of reasons why you should attend the UK’s leading franchise event. From inspiring keynote speeches to panel sessions full of real-life franchise success stories, you’ll have access to all the advice you need about your future as a franchisee all under one roof.

You’ll get the chance to:

• Discover franchise opportunities to suit all budgets

Starting a franchise doesn’t always need a huge investment. Part of The National Franchise Exhibition will be dedicated to the Low-cost Showcase which helps you to explore an array of franchise opportunities with start-up costs under £10,000. And lower cost doesn’t mean lower quality. At this bfa-accredited event, you can be confident that all brands, regardless of size, have a proven and ethical business model.

However, if you’re in a financial position to invest a significant amount in a franchise opportunity, then The National Franchise Exhibition can cater to your needs too. The exclusive High Investment VIP Lounge gives you access to franchisors to discuss high-level investments and includes seminars tailored towards your specific investment needs.

Whether you’re looking to invest £5,000 or £500,000, you can take advantage of the free advice and guidance that’s on offer from the Finance Clinic to answer any funding related queries you may have.

• Meet franchisors face-to-face

Attending The National Franchise Exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with franchise representatives from the most well-known franchise brands in the country. You get to ask any questions that you may have on an informal basis before taking the relationship further.

This is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a franchisee, so it pays to be prepared. With so many prospective franchisees at the exhibition, franchisors will be keen to spend most of their time with people who are genuinely interested in the opportunity. For this reason, it's vital that you make it clear that you have done your research and have prepared your questions as you're serious about investing. This should ensure that you get the time and attention that you need to make an informed decision.

Of course, meeting franchisors for the first time can be intimidating. But having a face-to-face discussion at The National Franchise Exhibition is much more relaxed and conversational than if you were attending the franchise head office, for example.

• Attend bfa franchising seminars

Across the two-day event, the bfa host six educational seminars to share insight from industry experts.

This year topics such as researching franchise opportunities, funding a franchise, and the recruitment process will be covered. To get the most out of The National Franchise Exhibition, review the timetable beforehand and highlight the seminars that you’d like to attend. This way you can plan meeting franchisors around the times of the sessions, so you don't miss a thing.

• Hear from people who have been in your shoes

You won’t just get to hear from heavyweights from within the franchise industry, you’ll also get to learn from real life franchisee success stories. Franchisees from brands including ActionCOACH, Right at Home and Auditel will share with you their journey from investing in a franchise to running a successful and profitable business.

What better way to find out what it’s really like to be a franchisee than to ask those who are where you want to be. The Q&A style sessions are relaxed and insightful and will provide you with a different perspective on franchising than the one you may hear time and time again from franchisors.

How much will it cost?

Free tickets are available when you register in advance. There will be a charge of £15 for tickets bought at the door.

Make your way to Hall 3 of the NEC and take your first step towards becoming a franchisee. The event runs from 10 am until 5 pm on Friday 5th October and from 10 am until 4 pm on Saturday 6th October.

In need of childcare? Don’t worry. The National Franchise Exhibition has that covered. Children’s franchise The Creation Station will be putting on arts and crafts activities for you to enjoy with your little ones to help you make your business ownership dreams come true.