Road to Entrepreneurship Begins at Franchise Expo South, Epicenter of Small Business Development
Those eager to break free from their 9-to-5 lifestyle and pursue business ownership will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with high-level executives of top franchise brands during Franchise Expo South (FES). When the doors open at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center January 12-14, 2017, thousands of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and potential franchisees will be that much closer to fulfilling their dreams of owning a business.
After four successful years in Houston, FES relocates to Dallas, tapping into the lucrative marketplace that has become a major hub of economic and population growth in the United States. Dallas’ performance over the course of the last two years of the Small Business Index has been phenomenal – Dallas metro has held onto its spot as the second-fastest-growing in the nation. With a $1.6 trillion gross domestic product (GDP), no corporate or individual income tax, a relatively relaxed regulatory environment, and booming growth in several major cities, Texas is an excellent place to do business.
Their strategic move Dallas opens the doors to new opportunities for both franchisors and prospective franchisees as FES aims to offer eager prospects the chance to grow to unimaginable heights through franchising. This year’s event offers a look into the hottest trends in the industry as attendees explore the vast emerging, international, and mature franchise opportunities from as little as a $10,000 investment to over $1 million. New this year is the Emerging Franchisor Pavilion with dozens of up-and-coming brands breaking into the industry. Beyond the unique exhibitors ranging from pet care to senior living, fast-casual restaurants to child enrichment brands, there is a huge education opportunity – over 60 free seminars and six in-depth workshops in addition to on-on-one consulting, financial advising, and notable small business speakers.
“Becoming a franchise owner can be one of the most important decisions ever made in a person’s career and we’re here to make sure potential owners are equipped with a solid foundation to succeed,” said Tom Portesy, President and CEO of MFV Expositions, producers of FES. “We have worked hard to build the type of program that attracts franchisees eager to launch a business for themselves but not by themselves. I see so many people making meaningful connections and get to watch the franchise community continue to grow.”
Franchising is expected to be all about growth in 2017, fueling the American economy just as it has done the last several years. In five years, franchising has created more than a million jobs. In 2011, about 8 million people in the United States were employed by franchises. In 2016, 9.1 million people have jobs thanks to nearly 800,000 franchise establishments. Job growth in the franchise sector has outpaced growth in all other sectors economy-wide and franchising’s hot streak is expected to continue in 2017.
“As the industry takes off, expos are the best place to find people who are seriously looking for a new business. It’s sort of like a one stop shopping mall. If somebody has the desire to get into business, how do they know what they want? They can come to the franchise expo, meet us, and meet all the people here to be able to make an informed decision,” said Marla Topliff, president of Rosatis. “We’re there to guide them through the process – as far as I’m concerned the expo is one of the most valuable tools for franchisees and development.”
Last year, more than 8,000 attendees from 45 states and 24 countries flooded the NRG Center in Houston, with the opportunity to meet and speak with over 200 exhibitors.
To register to attend the Franchise Expo South, visit www.FranchiseExpoSouth.com. Use code "PSR" for a free pass.