For easy guidance, each description is related to a specific track. The legend below will help you understand the meaning of the symbols listed with each seminar description.
Buying a FranchiseFranchising Your Business Acquiring a Master Franchising
Saturday, April 10
Symposium 7: The Use of Technology in Franchising (separate fee required)
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Room 204B
Presented by: Lee Plave, Partner, Plave Koch PLC and Theresa Huszka, CFE, Director of Franchise Sales Development, TSS Photography
This Symposium will explore the way in which prospective and currently franchising companies can harness developments in electronic, telecommunications and internet technologies to enhance their business and franchise relationships. Click here for more details. Sponsored by
Symposium 1: The A to Zs of Buying A Franchise (separate fee required)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Room 209C
Presented by: John P. Hayes, PhD,
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, cut-to-the-quick, show me how to evaluate franchises so that I can buy one that’s right for me information . . . this is the symposium you need. This is the perfect symposium for people who are just getting started with their research, as well as those who are close to making a decision to buy a franchise. Click here for more details.
How to Finance Your Franchise (Repeat)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 204C
Presented by: David Nilssen, Founder and Executive Vice President, Guidant Financial Group
Understanding how to finance a franchise is imperative to your success as a business owner. In this event, David Nilssen, SBA’s 2007 National Young Entrepreneur of the Year candidly discusses: how to determine what size of business you can afford; the advantages and disadvantages of using SBA loans, unsecured credit, investing retirement funds, credit cards and peertopeer loans; how to prequalify for financing and look attractive to lenders; and what resources are available to prospective franchisees. This is a must-see event for any industry professional or prospective franchisee.
A properly constructed financial performance representation can be one of the most powerful marketing tools available to franchisors in discussing their franchise opportunity with prospective franchisees. While many franchisors still do not provide any financial performance representation data in their franchise disclosure documents, those franchisors that do understand the impact it can have on their closure rate with prospective franchisees and the protection it can provide them in ensuring that their financial discussions with prospects are accurate and within the regulatory guidelines. In this session we will discuss the benefits and risks of including a financial performance representation in your franchise disclosure document, your options in making the presentation and how it can be used as an effective tool in the franchise sales process.
Symposium 4: Selecting and Negotiating a Master Franchisee: Strategies to Insure Success (separate fee required)
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Room 204A
Moderated by: Gaylen Knack, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty and Carl Zwisler, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty Panelists: Peter Holt, Chief Operating Officer, Tasti D-Lite; Leonard Swartz, Senior Consultant, iFranchise Group, Inc.
If you want to acquire or grant franchise rights for a country or a region, you likely will do so through a master franchise structure. How does a master franchise model operate? What are the responsibilities of each of the parties? How do you analyze the economics of a master franchise model to insure success? How do you select a master franchise partner and negotiate a master franchise agreement in an international setting? This symposium will address these challenging issues and draw on the diverse experience of our panelists, all veterans in the franchise industry, to assist you to pursuing a master franchise opportunity. Click here for more details.
Choosing the Right Franchise (Repeat)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Room 204C
Presented by: Jeff Elgin, CEO, FranChoice, Inc. and Linda Bremer Menter, Vice President of Marketing, FranChoice Inc.
Have you dreamed of owning your own business but don’t know where to start? This seminar will provide you with a proven, step by step process to make your research into franchise opportunities much more effective. Interactive, informative and fun, the seminar also provides extensive handouts and lots of time for Q & A to assist you in your search for a perfect franchise to meet your goals.
5 Keys to Use Technology to Sell Franchises
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Room 209B
Presented by: Kay Marie Ainsley, Managing Director, Michael H. Seid & Associates and Terry Corkery, President, FranchiseWorks.com
If you’re thinking of franchising or just getting ready to launch your franchise you’re probably wondering how to go about selling franchises. In today’s world technology plays a big role in franchise sales. In this session you will learn how to profile your ideal franchisee candidate, craft the right message, employ the internet and social media to reach your targets prospects, qualify and follow up and, most importantly close the sale.
Specialty Seminar: Franchising 101 for Veterans
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Room 204B
Moderated by: Steve White, President, Signs Now Panelist: Michael Phillips, Franchisee, The UPS Store; Wayne McGlone, Area Developer, SportsClips Haircuts
The Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (VetFran), provides low-cost entry to franchising for America’s Veterans. This program was founded by Don Dwyer, Sr. of the Dwyer Group and is supported by the International Franchise Association (IFA), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Center for Veterans Enterprise, U.S. Dept. Veteran Affairs. This FREE seminar will include specific information about the basics of franchising, finance opportunities available through the Small Business Administration’s loan program and will include discussions from veteran franchisees. Click here for more details. Sponsored by
Wounded Warriors, Disabled Veterans, People with Disabilities: An Untapped Marketing Opportunity and a Chance to Do Well by Doing Good
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 204C
Presented by: Mathew J. Valenzano, Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales, EP Global Communications and James T. McGinnis, Executive Vice President Operations and CFO, EP Global Communications, Inc.
With millions of people with disabilities, and thousands of veterans coming home with various disabilities, there is a tremendous opportunity to introduce them to franchising opportunities both as a potential for investment and as a source of a disciplined workforce. Scientific progress in rehabilitation medicine, advances in prosthetic devices and various government sponsored programs and tax incentives make consideration of this treasured source of human potential exciting and potentially very lucrative. Come listen to experts in this arena: people with disabilities who have made the transition to successful entrepreneurs and those who can help you understand this vast untapped resource and explore how you can “do well by doing good” and reward them for all they have done for us.
Establishing a Game Plan for Successful Unit Franchise Sales – The Key to Master Franchisee Success
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 204A
Presented by: Carl Zwisler, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty and Max Schott, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty Panelists: Bachir Mihoubi, President and CEO, FranCounsel Group and William Le Sante, Managing Director and CEO, Le Sante International
The success or failure of a master franchisee will depend in large part on the ability to sell unit franchises. To be successful, a successful master franchisee must create and implement a sound franchise sales strategy. What role should franchisors play in developing a game plan for unit franchise sales in another country? How does a master franchisee of a brand being introduced in the country recruit qualified franchisees? Does an abbreviated training program and a manual provide adequate sales assistance for a new master franchisee or must the franchisor offer a comprehensive recruiting program as part of its master franchise services? Can international franchise sales developers solve the problem? In this seminar, international franchise sales professionals will share the experience and processes they use to insure the success of master franchisees in conducting franchise sales.
Special Event: How to Become a Multi-unit Franchise Owner (separate fee required)
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 209C
Moderated by: Darrell Johnson, President, FRANdata Panelists: Michael Phillips, Franchisee, The UPS Store; Ron Feldman, CEO, Siegel Capital LLC; James Walker, Chief Development Officer, Baja Fresh; Dale Goss, Vice President of Development, Jamba Juice
Franchisors are seeking prospective franchisees that will become multi-unit ownership. There is a clear need to better understand how multi-unit operations change the way franchisees must operate. This program is designed to help you gain that understanding.
Symposium 2: Franchising Your Business Part 1 (separate fee required)
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 209B
Presented by: Michael H. Seid, Managing Director, Michael H. Seid & Associates and Kay Marie Ainsley, Managing Director, Michael H. Seid & Associates Panelist: Marisa Faunce, Partner, Plave Koch
If you are thinking about expanding your current business through franchising, this symposium will provide the opportunity to learn from experts in the field. Click here for more details.
SBA Resources
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 204C
Presented by: Robert Carpenter, Business Development Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
Does finding financing for your business pose a problem? Come discover the different financing options available to small business owners and potential small business owners. Also learn how the SBA can help you fulfill your business goals. Find out about the numerous business developments, financial management and contract assistance programs designed to assist small business owners, managers and entrepreneurs.
Meeting the Franchisor
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Room 204B
Presented by: Ed Teixeira, President, FranchiseKnowHow, LLC
In this presentation the prospective franchisee is taught how to maximize the benefits of visiting the franchisor at their corporate headquarters. Since most franchisors require a personal visit by the prospect, it is critical that the individual uses this opportunity to learn about the franchisor, ask the right questions and introduce questions that may pertain to the franchise agreement. The information provided will benefit the franchisee and the franchisor because it lowers the risk of either party making the wrong decision.
Budgeting to Become a Successful International Master Franchisee
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Room 204A
Presented by: Carl Zwisler, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty Panelist: Yoshino Nakajima, Chief Development Officer, Home Instead Senior Care
Successful international master franchising requires master franchisees to develop a realistic plan and budget before signing an agreement. What aspects should be addressed in preparing such a plan and budget? What are the respective roles of the franchisor and master franchisee in preparing the plan and budget? What likely expenses will the master franchisee incur in launching their master franchise business, including those imposed by franchise agreements? Which of those expenses, if any, will be paid by the franchisor? In this program, we will examine the most common challenges faced in preparing a realistic plan and budget to assist candidates in evaluating whether they and their prospective franchisor partners are adequately prepared for the costs of achieving their objectives.
How to Buy a HOT Franchise and Not Get BURNED!
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 204C
Presented by: John P. Hayes, PhD,
There are “critical issues” to consider before you buy a franchise. Do you really understand what it means to be a franchisee? This seminar will help you select a company that fits your financial criteria by explaining how to look closely at the financial requirements and know what’s expected of you. It will assist you in looking past the glitz and glitter to find out what the franchise is really about. You will take away priceless information regarding the Franchise Disclosure Document, as well as who you must talk to and why, and who you can ignore!
The Disabilities and Special Needs Market: What You Need to Know About the Opportunities for Your Business
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Room 204B
Presented by: James P. McGinnis, Executive Vice President Operations and CFO, EP Global Communications and Mathew J. Valenzano, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, EP Global Communications, Inc.
Did you know there are 54.6 million Americans classified as having some form of disability…one in five or 20% of our population? Did you know that as a group, they have over $200 billion in disposable income? Did you know that quite apart from their disability, they like to go to the movies, eat popcorn and drink soda, buy cars, own homes and businesses and want very much to have a life like yours? If you are not aware of these facts, come and listen to experts tell you about this extremely large market that offers untapped opportunities for your businesses.
Buying a Franchise
Franchising Your Business
Acquiring a Master Franchising
