Are you checking out the upcoming Brisbane Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo 2022? Visiting a franchise show gives you the chance to connect with brands you’re familiar with, and some you don’t yet know.
It’s an opportunity to speak with the franchisor team running the business so you get a more personal feel for the operation.
You can also find out from franchisees what it’s like to be your own boss. Some franchised brands have franchisees on their stands but you can also hear from them in a panel discussion in the seminar program.
How to make the most of your day
What’s important is to have a strategy when you arrive at the expo. There’s no one perfect plan that suits everyone but there are some key pointers to consider when structuring your day.
So here’s how to maximise your visit to the Brisbane franchising expo:
What do you want to achieve from the visit?
Is this your first foray into franchising? Is it a fact-finding mission? If you know next to nothing about franchising then it’s important to not get bogged down in too much detail early on in the day.
Decide what you want to achieve from the visit – is it a better understanding of how franchising works? Perhaps you want to walk away with a list of possible franchise opportunities to consider.
Maybe you want to find two or three brands that you can get excited about and study at your leisure.
If you’re a seasoned franchise hunter then you’ll probably want to get close to that buying decision. You might have done all your homework already and just want final confirmation this is the right choice.
How can you best get the information you need?
Ask the franchisor
Have a look at the exhibitors list at franchisingexpo.com.au so you know beforehand which brands will be there. Make a note of those you are most interested in and compile a few questions for them. It’s helpful to pose the same questions to everyone so you can compare how the franchisors respond.
Avoid asking the obvious ‘how much can I make?’ because the answer is likely to be the same – ‘it depends how much effort you put in’. It’s more useful to focus on the basics of the business and try to get an understanding of how you make money.
Take a look at the Franchise Handbook on this site at some useful questions to ask.
Speak to industry experts
One of the big benefits of attending the expo is that you have access to industry experts such as the Franchise Council of Australia and FranData. Whether you’re wanting to get a grip on the industry with some big picture questions, or you have specific queries to raise, take time to visit the experts.
Come along to the Inside Franchise Business stand and have a chat about franchising!
Sit in on free seminars
The free seminar program is another brilliant way to tap into franchising expertise, for free. Nearer the time, review the program and pick one or two sessions that will be useful to you. If you’re there to soak up the learning, then block out a chunk of the day!
Understand how you learn
What’s your learning style? Everyone retains information in different ways, and knowing how you best acquire knowledge can help you prep.
Visual aids such as photos of stand, brochures, presentation slide snapshots can all help record the info. Taking notes – whether that’s as keywords, lists, or more detailed explanations – can also be useful. If you’re with someone on the day, immediately discussing the more interesting points from a conversation can be a good way to embed the information. If you like to listen back to information, record your comments to your phone.
Whatever your style of learning, being prepared with a fully charged phone and/or a notebook and pen, makes sense.
What to do with the information
Whether you’ve been dipping your toe into franchising, or diving straight into the pool of business opportunities, you’ll need to bring it all back to your next step.
When you visit the Brisbane franchising expo try not to overload yourself with too many brochures and info packs, just take what’s of real interest to you.
Now you can review, discuss and refine your choices. It’s likely you’ll have even more questions you want answered, and maybe your search will continue.
Perhaps you’ll be fired up to investigate one or two of the opportunities you’ve seen.
First impressions count
The expo is a business arena. It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in buying a home services franchise, a recruitment firm, a fast food outlet or an accommodation business, you’ll be representing the brand. Remember that first impressions count. If you’re summing up the franchisor’s presentation, friendliness and professionalism, then the franchisor is taking the same approach with potential buyers.
Look presentable, wear comfortable shoes, take a bottle of water!
Visit the Brisbane franchising expo
The Brisbane Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo is at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank on Friday/Saturday 14/15 October from 10am to 5pm daily.
Tickets cost $20 but you can book your ticket here using the code FMG for free entry.