The National Franchise Exhibition

The UKís largest franchise exhibition, The National Franchise Exhibition 2005, will take place on 7 & 8 October at the NEC, Birmingham. The show is the focal point of National Franchise Week, a week of seminars and networking opportunities organised by The British Franchise Association (BFA).



The event is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to start and run their own franchised businesses. Visitors to the show will meet with a wide range of well-established franchised companies and assess the benefits of running their own business as part of an established franchise brand.

The National Franchise Exhibition features over 250 tried and tested business concepts, offering opportunities to appeal to every interest and skill, from management and business consultancy, to video and game rental, manufacturing tool and equipment solutions and everything in between. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet existing franchisees in order to gain an insight into the potential demands and rewards of running a successful franchise.

Sponsored by the BFA, The Daily Express and Business Franchise, the event is the perfect place to find out all there is to know about franchising. By meeting face to face with the many established franchise operators at the event, visitors can easily find out all they need to know about what franchisors offer and how to establish and maintain a successful franchise.

A series of highly informative free seminars are being run by the BFA across both days for everyone looking to find out more about becoming a franchisee or franchisor. They will include valuable advice and specific success stories from leading speakers from the UK franchise industry, who are all BFA members or affiliates.

11:00 Friday and 14:00 Saturday - íAn introduction to franchisingí - for prospective franchisees.

This seminar is for aspiring business owners new to the franchising concept. It will address issues including: the benefits of franchising versus other business formats; what the franchisor looks for in a franchisee; what a franchisee should look for in a franchisor; the size and the expected growth in the franchise market; the initial choice of franchise; the business plan; and the finance and how to get it.

12:30 Saturday - íHow to franchise your businessí - for prospective franchisors.

The free hour-long seminar consists of a short introduction to franchising as a means of expanding an existing business or developing a new venture.

Franchising is growing rapidly worldwide as a proven way to develop successful new businesses because it offers ready-made solutions to help those wanting to set up a new venture. It is a major industry, with franchise operations in the UK now turning over nearly 10bn a year.

The Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference

The Growing Your Own Business Exhibition features companies that offer small business advice and can help established businesses to develop and grow. The exhibition will be supported by a free conference with seminars providing practical advice and information on all aspects of growing a business. Speakers include leading advisors, consultants and successful entrepreneurs who will provide case studies and success stories.

The National Franchise Exhibition and the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference is open from 10am each day, closing at 5pm on Friday 7 October and 4pm on Saturday 8 October. Please call the hotline on 0870 7771048 or visit www.franinfo.co.uk / www.growingyourownbusiness.co.uk. Callers can purchase tickets in advance by credit card for 8 each or 7 for two or more. Admission on the door is 13.