A recent survey by the British Franchise Association has highlighted franchising as a major driver of the UK economy, contributing a staggering £19.1 billion annually. With over 50,000 franchise units across the country and an average turnover of £400,000 per unit, the franchise model continues to prove its resilience and appeal. Even more impressive, 89% of franchised units report profitability, showcasing the sector’s remarkable strength and success in today’s challenging economic climate.*
For anyone looking to tap into the potential of franchising, The British & International Franchise Exhibition, is the ideal starting point. This industry-leading event opens the door to a proven and lucrative business model, offering an unrivalled opportunity to run your own business with ongoing training and support from an established brand.
Running for over 30 years, The Franchise Exhibitions bring together a wide range of industry-leading brands, spanning sectors from food and beverage to care, education to fitness. Attendees will have the chance to network and explore opportunities with well-known franchises such as Kokoro, Anytime Fitness, Puccino’s, Visiting Angels, Vodafone Business IT Hubs, VPZ, plus many more!
Taking place at Olympia London on 31 January & 1 February the exhibition will house everything a prospective business owner needs to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey. Attendees can explore a diverse selection of franchise opportunities, gain insights from industry leaders, and receive expert advice – all under one roof.
Starting your research into the franchise industry can feel overwhelming, with so many options and factors to consider. London’s premier franchise event offers a comprehensive, one-stop resource for anyone looking to explore franchise opportunities. There’s so much more to this unique event, offering you free advice and guidance in the comprehensive seminar programme. Wherever you are on your franchise journey, from learning how the model works to actively researching your investment options, the packed schedule of more than 50 free talks has something to offer everyone.
Visitors will gain an in-depth understanding of the business model, learn more about the latest industry trends and get practical tips on everything it takes to become a franchise owner. The unparalleled line-up includes representatives from many established brands, franchise experts and successful franchisees, alongside a series of educational seminars from the British Franchise Association (BFA) who exclusively support the event. Seminar titles include ‘How to Franchise Your Business’ and ‘An Introduction to Franchising’ – perfect openings for both potential franchisees and franchisors.
Attendees will also gain valuable insights from industry-leading experts in the Real Franchise Stories panel sessions, where they can benefit from these first-hand accounts from successful franchisees who have experienced it all. Franchise owners from multiple successful brands will share the secrets of their success in these Q&A sessions, such as why they chose to invest, what they have learnt along the way and what they might do differently next time. Recognisable franchise brands such as Garolla and Chaiiwala will feature in these sessions to name but a few.
The two-day exhibition will showcase a wide variety of franchise opportunities and investment levels starting from less than £10,000 in The Low-Cost Franchise Showcase. This area will feature brands with lower investment levels – the ideal starting place for budding entrepreneurs who have always wanted to be their own boss but have limited upfront investment capital available.
In addition to franchise opportunities, the event will offer valuable resources for business owners considering franchising as a growth strategy. The Growing Your Own Business area is specifically designed for established businesses with a view to becoming franchisors. Attendees can gain expert insights into whether franchising could be the right option for their business, helping them decide whether to take their brand to the next level.
A standout feature of the exhibition is the free, one-to-one advice served up by a cross-section of industry experts. These sessions are all designed to help future franchisees take the next steps on their entrepreneurial journey. The British Franchise Association, finance providers, specialist lawyers and consultants will all be on hand to offer complimentary face-to-face advice throughout the event to help you make an informed decision about your future in franchising.
One highly exclusive area of the exhibition, for existing franchisees with ambitions to expand their portfolio, is the Multi-unit Franchise Conference. This is an incredible opportunity to hear from established franchisees, industry leaders and representatives from leading brands as they discuss the dos and don’ts of creating a multi-unit portfolio. Network with those right at the forefront of the franchise industry and understand just what it takes to build an empire.
London’s flagship franchise exhibition has helped thousands of visitors find their perfect franchise match, realise their entrepreneurial ambitions and become their own boss. This year promises to be the same. Read on to hear how a visit to The Franchise Exhibitions changed the lives of one previous attendee:
Restaurateur turned Anytime Fitness gym owner: Raj Hasib’s Franchise Success Story
Raj Hasib had experience running hospitality businesses but, like many small business owners, he found it hard to scale the business up. With spiralling wage costs and no time to dedicate to marketing the company, he was drowning in the day-to-day work with no chance to focus on growing the business.
Raj attended The Franchise Exhibition, looking for a food and beverage franchise because of his experience in the industry. He hadn’t even considered a non-food-related business but on entering the exhibition hall he was amazed by all the options on offer. ‘It was a bit of a surprise actually because I wasn’t thinking about a gym. I discussed how the Anytime Fitness model works and the set-up and it excited me more than anything else – I became quite determined.’
Raj found that meeting franchisors face-to-face at the event was paramount in making his decision to start a franchise business. ‘It really gives you time to talk to all these like-minded people.’ After his initial conversation at the exhibition, he went to their head office a few days later and the rest is history. ‘I signed up within about two weeks of going to the exhibition!’
Fast-forward to 2024 and Raj is delighted with his franchise team and, crucially, most of the people he’s been working with since the beginning are still there, enabling him to build a rapport over time. He believes that Anytime Fitness has evolved to keep up with the competition and that, above all, location is key. Currently Raj is looking at a third site that he’s very close to taking on, which represents fantastic progress five years on from opening his first gym.
The success story of Raj Hasib is a great example of the life-changing opportunities offered by The Franchise Exhibitions. Interested in following in his footsteps and becoming the next franchise success story?
To find out more and book your free ticket to The British & International Franchise Exhibition on 31 February & 1 February at Olympia London, visit FranchiseInfo.co.uk
*Data from The British Franchise Journal 2024
