2020’s Top Franchise Events

Every year, franchise expos across the country give brands, entrepreneurs and vendors opportunities to meet, share best practices, show off their progress and get a peek at upcoming industry news. For prospective franchisees looking for a brand, and for brands looking for new franchisees, expos can be particularly valuable endeavors. 

2020 has no shortage of franchise expos on the calendar, and we’ve gathered five of the best. If you’re looking for a franchise exposition to attend this year, start here.

IFA Annual Convention

When: Feb. 8–11

Where: Orlando, FL

What: The IFA Annual Convention is franchising's biggest event. Designed to promote both business development and personal growth for players in the industry, this convention is a favorite among franchise veterans. And with a diverse program stretching across four days,  just about everyone in the industry is sure to find multiple sessions that spark their interest. 

The Franchise Show

When and where:

Chicago, IL — March 28–29

Philadelphia, PA — April 4–5

Seattle, WA — April 25–26

Virginia/Washington D.C. — May 16–17

Orlando, FL — June 6–7

San Francisco, CA — Sept. 18–19

Tampa, FL — Oct. 9–10

Boston, MA — Oct. 23–24

Dallas, TX — Nov. 6t–7

Atlanta, GA — Nov. 13–14

What: The Franchise Show offers the opportunity for interested franchisees to come and see full and part-time business ownership opportunities in the convenience of being under one roof, saving research time for those interested. 

Multi-Unit Franchising Conference

When: April 14–17

Where: Las Vegas, NV

What: The Multi-Unit Franchising Conferences offer content catered toward multi-unit franchisee owners and brings industry professionals together to address important and relevant concerns in the multi-unit franchise industry.

The Great American Franchise Expo

When and where: Dallas, TX — Feb. 15–16

Houston, TX — Feb. 22–23

Tampa, FL — March 14–15

Orlando, FL — April 18–19

Atlanta, GA — May 16–17

San Antonio, TX — Sept. 19–20

Miami, FL — Oct. 3–4

Washington D.C. — Oct. 31–Nov. 1

What: The Great American Franchise Expo connects interested franchises with hundreds of franchise businesses. At the expo, seminars are offered from industry experts with topics including franchise law, financing and other business-related topics. 

International Franchise Expo (IFE)

When: May 28–30

Where: New York, NY

What: The International Franchise Expo (IFE) is an annual event that brings existing franchisors and industry suppliers to connect with new franchisee and master licensee prospects. IFE offers resources on domestic and international expansion, selling single units, area developments and master franchises. It is one of the industry’s top events due to the variety of resources offered in one place.