TheFranchiseFair.com ñ virtually the best way to become your own boss

The Franchise Fair.com, Europe's first ever online consumer trade show, is to open its virtual doors today. Lasting an entire year, this showcase of the brightest franchising opportunities allows visitors to: browse the trade show floor and enter booths of exhibitors theyíre interested in, download useful materials and promotional vouchers/gifts, attend live seminars and network in the virtual lounge.

Launched by Daltons Business, the UKís leading website for small business sales, TheFranchiseFair aims to become the ëmust visití franchise website of the year.

Commercial cleaning company Jani-King, the 8th largest global franchisor, tops the bill of franchisors from every area of franchising; from sign making to smoothies, chocolate to pet food or even from running your own pub or your own magazine.

The Business Link government advisory service is on hand to provide business advice to attendees, while the Daltons Business team will also be at the fair. The Daltons panel of business experts will provide instant online answers to questions on a range of topics including: money, start-ups, marketing, recruitment and employment law.

Paul Harrington, Digital Content Manager for Daltons, says:
ìUsing the internet to recruit the franchisees of the future is nothing new, although it hasnít always been the best medium for a transaction as involved as a franchise. Now however we believe weíve introduced the optimum solution for franchisor and franchisee alike ñ the Franchise Fair allows a quick, seamless and interactive transfer of information from franchisor to franchisee and vice-versa, in one convenient interface.î

Paul Haworth, MD of Jani-King (GB) Ltd, the showís Platinum Sponsor, says:

ìOnce again the internet looks to be at the forefront of franchisee recruitment, and Jani-King as a company is very pleased to be involved with this innovative event. We believe that this year long, accessible to all tradeshow will certainly become a potent tool in Jani-Kingís ongoing franchisee recruitment plans.î

The Franchise Fair has been developed by Daltons Business in response to growing levels of interest in the current franchising section on Daltons Business.com.


It runs in a normal internet browser, without the need for any downloads, allowing exhibitors and attendees to interact with each other in real time. Entry is totally free and on registering all attendees are automatically entered into a bumper prize draw of gifts to help them get their franchises off to a flying start. Laptops, PDA phones, Sat Nav devices, Business software, and Annual gym membership are all up for grabs.

The show is intended to appeal to those who are looking to set up their own business, whether or not theyíve consciously thought about franchising before. The wide range of franchisor booths at the fair will appeal to those who may be: thinking of changing careers, wishing to invest a redundancy payment into a new future, or those who have excelled in their current career and are now looking to break free and become their own boss.

Both attendees, exhibitors and even the environment are winners with this new online fair. Gone are the vast set-up, travel, accommodation, absence and printing costs associated with traditional fairs. Attendees can attend the fair for free, from the convenience of their own home.

The environmental benefits are also significant: with no travel, heating or printing requirements the show has a tiny carbon footprint, and even this has been neutralised by the fairsí partnership with the International Tree Foundation, who have will plant a cluster of five trees in the UK on TheFranchiseFairís behalf. Daltons Business is committed to the same environmental policy that itís parent company CMPi has demonstrated to date; launching real trade shows that are carbon offset, achieving a top 10 London building ranking in recycling efficiency, and by pioneering carbon neutral virtual events.