1851 Preview: West Coast Franchise Expo

By JORDY PATANO If you’re scouting out a new business opportunity or looking for the next up-and-coming franchise, you can find all that and more at the West Coast’s largest franchise exposition on October 12-14 in Anaheim. MFV Expositions is hosting the West Coast Franchise Expo and will be joined by the International Franchise Association and nearly 200 franchise concepts from all across the country. The Expo will showcase opportunities with investment levels ranging from $5,000 to $5 million from a diverse group of industries including tax services, beauty products, senior services, retail, fitness and all types of restaurants and food service brands. Seminars and informational sessions will be hosted on the franchise industry, growth opportunities, financing options and discounts for prospective franchisees. We sat down with MFV Expositions Group Marketing Director Joel Goldstein to learn more about the exciting event. 1851: Why should franchises and prospects attend the West Coast Expo? JG: There is no better way to search for a business than face-to-face. The expos afford prospects an opportunity to ask questions, get an education and experience a variety of industry categories to consider as they navigate through the process of buying a business. For franchisors, the expo brings together highly-qualified candidates searching for a business. Lead acquisition is critical to franchisors, and to bring thousands of highly qualified individuals together over is an invaluable resource for these concepts and their franchise development teams. 1851: How can people make the most out of this event? JG: Here are a few pointers that can make the expo experience that much more effective.

1. Arrive armed with a complete knowledge of your finances and what kind of investment level you'll be comfortable with. Check out how to pre-qualify at the show.
2. Review our list of franchise exhibitors here and then make a list of those you really want to speak with (note their booth numbers).
3. Jot down a list of questions to ask each franchisor - there are the basics about investment level and available markets, but think also about company culture and philosophies - make sure they are in line with your own.
4. Take an unbiased inventory of your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to running a business (perhaps ask your spouse or a friend). Keep these in mind as you explore various franchise opportunities that may have different demands or desired skill sets.

1851: Any favorite speakers or sessions for people to keep an eye out for? JG: One of the most popular sessions is the A to Z’s of Buying a Franchise which delivers the basic information about franchising but provides an in-depth knowledge through the experiences of the presenters. They will help you understand how to interpret and use the Franchise Disclosure Document to discover reliable information about the performance and viability of any franchise, how to evaluate the franchisor's operating system and determine if you and your intended market are compatible with the system. They also discuss the pros and cons of franchising, the fees required by franchisors, the facts about territorial and product restrictions, how to raise money to invest in a franchise, and much, much more. Other programs at the show include: SBA Resources, Financing a Franchise in Today’s Economy, and Opportunities for Veterans in Franchising