{"id":4109,"date":"2011-10-17T11:16:11","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T11:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/?p=4109"},"modified":"2020-12-21T09:29:49","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T14:29:49","slug":"how-to-be-the-boss-franchise-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/how-to-be-the-boss-franchise-show","title":{"rendered":"How to Be The Boss At a Franchise Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"franchise<\/a><\/p>\n

One way to learn about the massive number of franchise opportunities<\/strong> being offered in your area is to attend a franchise trade show<\/strong>. These events run the gamut from huge events like the West Coast Franchise Expo<\/a><\/strong>, to dinky little events put on by local franchise brokers.<\/p>\n

I’ve attended them, spoken at them, and have even paid<\/strong><\/em> way too much<\/strong><\/em> for a booth at a couple of them. (Resentment building as I’m writing this….<\/em>)<\/p>\n

There’s one thing that I recommend you do, and you can write this on a rock;<\/p>\n

Eat the Free Food.<\/strong>
\n\"Eating<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m serious. Don’t eat before you go to a franchise show<\/strong><\/em>. 30% of the franchise companies that show up are food franchises, and you’ll see<\/del> smell what I mean as soon as you enter the pavilion. So, even if it turns out that most of the franchise opportunities that are showing their wares are clearly from the bottom of the barrel<\/em>, at least you ate well<\/p>\n

It’s All Good<\/h2>\n

The shows that I’ve participated in have had 40-50<\/strong> different franchisors in attendance. That’s a pretty good size, and you can easily spend two hours at a show like that. If you attend the educational seminars that are sometimes offered, figure you’ll be there around three hours. (For example, when I speak at these shows, my franchise seminar lasts about an hour, including Q&A<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

The franchises that are offered vary a lot. Some of them are full service restaurant franchises that require a $500,000<\/strong> investment, while some of them are actually not even franchises; they’re low-investment<\/strong> business opportunities<\/em>. There’s a difference. Business opportunities are in no way, shape or form, franchise opportunities<\/a><\/strong>. As a matter of fact, I remember one franchise show in particular that had almost as many business opportunities as franchise opportunities. That’s actually okay, if you’re there to learn about, “what’s out there<\/em>.” I know that for me-if I made the choice that I wanted to be my own boss darn it<\/em>, I really wouldn’t care what<\/em> the business structure was; I just wanted to find out if there was something around that could work for me!<\/p>\n

Tip: You Can Search For Franchise Opportunities To Target Before You Go<\/b>
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\n<\/a>
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How To Be The Boss At A Franchise Show<\/h2>\n

So, how should you go about working a show? That’s right; I’m suggesting that you <\/strong><\/em>work it…not<\/em> the other way around.<\/p>\n

Think about it; you’re not on your own turf–so to speak. The representatives of the franchise companies have been at the show for hours. They’ve been setting up their booths, and have had a chance to warm up to their surroundings. You <\/em>haven’t. Figure once you enter the show, it will take you 15-20 minutes to get a feel for what’s there. Here’s what you should do;<\/p>\n