200 Exhibitors, 2,000-Plus Entrepreneurs Expected at Fort Lauderdale Show
More than 200 exhibitors and 2,000-plus franchisee candidates can meet one another and learn more about franchising Sept. 6-7 at Franchise Expo South, presented by MFV Expositions and Comexposium. The event will be held in the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“For franchisors looking to connect with a diverse audience of motivated entrepreneurs, and vice-versa, Franchise Expo South is the perfect opportunity,” MFV Expositions President Martin Joksimovic said in a news release. Joksimovic, a Fort Lauderdale resident himself, also said that “South Florida is the perfect business-friendly venue to host the Franchise Expo South event.” The International Franchise Association’s 2024 Economic Outlook concurs, predicting that Florida will rank second in franchise growth among all states in 2024, second only to Texas.
The IFA report further stated that the Southeast should add more than 15,000 units this year. Other Southeastern states in line for major franchise growth include neighboring Georgia as well as the Carolinas, Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia.
Brands, Industries and Speakers at Expo
Franchise Expo South will showcase a vast array of industries and sectors, from food and beverage to health care, retail, services and more. Exhibitors will include some of the world’s best-known franchisors, including 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware, Burger King, IHOP and Little Caesars. Aspiring business owners also may learn about first-time exhibitors such as Afuri Ramen + Dumpling, ComputerXplorers, Hydrogen Fitness, La Diperie and Silbar Security. Dozens of other brands also have signed on as exhibitors.
Franchise Expo South has scheduled the following speakers: John Hayes, the Titus Chair for Franchise Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida; Mark Siebert, CEO of iFranchise Group; Matthew Jonas, president and co-founder of TopFire Media; Steve Beagelman, CEO and founder of SMB Franchise Advisors; and Andre Kay, founder and CEO of SociallyBuzz.
Agenda and Exhibit Highlights
Franchise Expo South will offer 25 workshops and other educational sessions. Special events and sites within the expo will include:
- The Emerging Pavilion, which is exclusively dedicated to franchisors and brands with 10 or fewer units. This pavilion is on the floor of the trade show.
- The Business Resource Center, a section of the expo floor reserved for a variety of business suppliers and vendors that cater to franchisors and franchisees.
- South Unplugged Show, which will consist of franchising’s popular Social Geek Radio team conducting podcast interviews from the trade show floor.
- Workshops and panel discussions. Sessions will cover topics such as franchising your business, the A to Z’s of buying a franchise, how to build a digital lead-generation program that delivers franchise sales, minorities building wealth via franchising, and how women can succeed in franchising, a program hosted by the IFA’s Women’s Franchising Committee. Expo attendees also can learn how to evaluate and scale franchises as well as pick up tips for marketing and securing diverse resources.
International investors will be pleased to learn that the U.S. Department of Commerce has chosen Franchise Expo South to take part in the Trade Event Partnership Program, or TEPP. TEPP brings vetted foreign embassy and consulate delegations to trade shows so they can meet leaders of U.S. franchise brands that plan to expand globally.
To Register and Find Out More
Franchisee candidates wishing to attend may register online at https://www.franchiseexpo.com/south. Franchisors wanting to exhibit also can find more information on this website, which includes an agenda and full list of exhibitors and sponsors that are already on board. FranchiseWire is a silver sponsor of Franchise Expo South; the IFA will exhibit during the two-day show.
MFV Expositions is the world’s largest producer of franchise expos worldwide. Comexposium is an event organizer of business-to-business and business-to-consumer events around the world, with many industrial sectors represented: agriculture, construction, fashion, food, health, leisure, real estate, retail, security and tourism.
