IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira, has announced his plans to appear on “Franchise Today”, a radio show hosted by Paul Segreto. Caldeira will be featured on a part of the show called “Voices of Franchising”, where he will talk about some of the industry’s hottest topics and the economic outlook for 2013.

“We are thrilled to have Steve Caldeira on the show,” stated Segreto. “As one of the most respected leaders in the industry, Steve’s insight into the economic future as it pertains to franchising and explanation of important policy issues is invaluable.”

Along with Caldeira, the Voices of Franchsing segment will also include other industry leaders, including Nancy Weingartner from Franchise Times and Therese Thilgen from Franchise Update. This will be the third time that Caldeira has been interviewed on “Francising Today”, the first being only nine months after taking over as CEO and President.

February 13th, 2013, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More

Our good friends at National Event Management are hosting two franchise shows that all prospective franchisees in the San Diego and Cincinnati area need to be aware of.

January 23rd, 2013, By Eric Bell  |  No Comments  |  Read More

FREE COFFEE??

7-Eleven, a national convenience store franchisor, will be giving away large cups of coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos! Why? The company has decided to celebrate National Coffee Day in a big way. So mark your calendars for September 28th and get there between 6:00-10:00a.m.!

August 23rd, 2012, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More

Franchises are responsible for more than 8.1 million jobs in the U.S., A LOT more if you go world-wide. So, with a steady increase in interest, more and more people are looking to buy a franchise or franchise their existing business. Here’s where the West Coast Franchise Expo fits in. The WCFE, which was a huge success last year, will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on October 12-14, 2012.

Thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners will meet and discuss hundreds of proven franchise opportunities. The Expo will also include free seminars and in-depth symposia (separate fees).

Show Dates and Hours:

• Friday, 10/12/2012 -                        Hours: 11am-5pm                            Registration: 10am-5pm
• Saturday, 10/13/2012                     Hours: 11am-5pm                            Registration: 8:30am-5pm
• Sunday, 10/14/2012                        Hours: 11am-4pm                            Registration: 10:30am-4pm

Exhibitor List for WCFE 2012

To see a list of the 2012 Exhibitors and find out any other information, please visit:

West Coast Franchise Expo- wcfexpo.com

West Coast Franchise Expo Exhibitors- http://www.wcfexpo.com/exhibitorlist.cfm

August 6th, 2012, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More

SIGNARAMA, one of the largest full-service sign franchises, has announced a partnership with the International Franchise Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to host the New Opportunities Workshop in Washington D.C. The workshop is schedule to be held at the National Press Club on June 28^th at 9a.m.

The workshop will launch two new services: a Veterans Franchise Toolkit and a new Mentor Network, setup to help Veterans connect with jobs they may qualify for. Attendees should also expect to hear from SIGNARAMA president, Jim Tatem (JT) and SIGNARAMA franchisee and veteran, Robert M. “Buzz Saw” DeGroff.

“We are thrilled to be able to participate in events such as the New Opportunities Workshop in support of our veterans and military,” said Tatem. “We are committed to helping our veterans transition back into civilian life, fin career opportunities, including business ownership, and achieve success like our veteran franchisee Robert M. DeGroff has had.”

SIGNARAMA will also be participating in several job fairs in an effect to help veterans find jobs they are qualified for. These fairs include the Veteran Open Hose on June 26-28 in Detroit and the Recruit Military Veteran Job Fair on June 28^th at National Park in Washington, D.C.  Veterans interested in starting a SIGNARAMA can also take advantage of the company’s current initiative. Under the current initiative, veterans who qualify can receive a discount of up to 50% of the fees associated with starting the business. SIGNARAMA will also be waiving the franchise fees for one lucky veteran, a savings of almost $40,000.

June 25th, 2012, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More

More and more buzz continues to be created around the International Franchise Expo this week in New York City, June 15 – 17th at the Javits Center.  If you haven’t gotten your free tickets already, take advantage now and CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS.

Dr. John P. Hayes of Franchise Mastermind has been teaching his course, the A to Z’s of Buying A Franchise, for the 20+ years MVF has been hosting the IFE Event.  This year, however, demand for his class has led the IFE to add a 2nd session, and Dr. Hayes is extremely excited about the interest level.  IFE touts this session as 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.”

On Sunday Dr. Hayes will be teaching the free seminar How To Buy a HOT Franchise and Not Get BURNED.  I reached out to Dr. Hayes to learn more.

“I created this seminar several years ago, because people were constantly asking me (and still do) “What’s the ‘hot’ franchise to buy?” and I would explain that buying a “hot” franchise is the quickest way to get burned.  “Hot” doesn’t necessarily mean a substantial, long-term business. However, I noticed that most people really didn’t care about my explanation — they simply wanted a “hot” franchise. So I decided I could help them by explaining how to buy a “hot” franchise without getting burned by the franchisor or franchising itself. In a 90-min session I cover some of the topics I discuss in the A to Zs, but not with as much explanation and depth. What’s unique, I believe, is that I’m probably the only person who teaches at the IFE who has been a franchisor, a franchisee, and an advisor to the franchise community for more than 30 years.”

Both of Dr. Hayes sessions are sponsored by Franchise Gator customer United Franchise Group, franchisor to Embroid Me and SignARama among others.

Visiting over 300 booths this weekend at the Javits Center can certainly be a daunting task.  But make sure you set some time aside to take advantage of the classes that the IFE has to offer.  A full list of sessions can be found here: IFE Sessions.

June 11th, 2012, By Eric Bell  |  No Comments  |  Read More

I’m currently preparing for my trip to New York City where I’ll be attending the International Franchise Expo (IFE) from June 15th – 17th.  (If you’re not planning on going, what are you waiting for?  Get your free tix here: FREE TICKETS.)  While Franchise Gator will have a booth that I undoubtedly will spend a great deal of time at, clearing my schedule enough to attend the free seminars is a priority of mine.

If you are a prospective franchisee, the IFE show is not just an opportunity to be introduced to franchise concepts you wouldn’t otherwise come across.  Its a great chance to meet with industry experts who can assist in the buying process as well as aspects of running your franchise unit.  A full list of the free seminars can be found here: Free IFE Seminars.

For instance, on Friday at 3:30pm Dallas Kerley from Benetrends will be leading a session titled Financing Options for Franchising – Your Best Alternatives Today.  I spoke with Dallas today to ask him what one can expect to learn.

Since the credit crisis in 2008, securing funding to start a new business, has proved challenging.  This session will outline the many innovative strategies  available to get you the funding you need to buy the franchise of your dreams.  Topics will include SBA loans, Securities Backed Loans, as well as how to use your retirement plan to purchase a business tax differed and penalty free.

Other sessions that look like a must for the prospective franchisee include:

• Friday 11am – Navigating the Buying Process: What to ask before you invest
• Saturday 9am – Symposium 1: The A to Zs of Buying A Franchise
• Saturday 11am – Specialty Seminar: Opportunities in Franchising for Minorities and Women (2 parter)
• Saturday 1pm – SBA Resources
• Saturday 2:30pm – Special Event: How to Become a Multi-unit Franchise Owner
• Sunday 10:20am – How to Buy a HOT Franchise and Not Get BURNED!

If you’ll be attending the show, don’t forget to stop by the Franchise Gator booth, #1118.

June 8th, 2012, By Eric Bell  |  No Comments  |  Read More

If you are currently considering a franchise opportunity, its time to start planning your trip to New York City next week.  The International Franchise Expo (IFE) will probably go down as the largest franchise trade show ever.  With over 300 booths reserved to promote franchise opportunities, there is sure to be a concept for everyone.

Why is this a can’t-miss event?  MFV Expositions is responsible for the largest franchise related trade shows each year, with their staples being the West Coast Franchise Expo in California, the Franchise Expo South in Miami, and this show, the IFE.  Whereas the IFE has been held in Washington DC, 2012 marks the show’s first appearance in New York City.  A new venue will always increase turn out.  Changing the venue to one of the biggest cities in the world results in a turn out in the 8,000 – 10,000 visitor range, according to MFV.

A quick glance at the exhibitor list (found here) shows many long time Franchise Gator customers, such as Aamco, Ace Hardware, and Wireless Zone.  Industries represented cross the spectrum from food to B2B, to retail, to home-based.

Franchise Gator will also have a booth at the show.  If you attend, please come by and say “hello”.  We’d love to meet you and hear how your search is going.

For free tickets to the International Franchise Expo, click here and register today.

June 4th, 2012, By Eric Bell  |  No Comments  |  Read More

Liberty Tax Service’s Hispanic Initiative will reach a new high when the executive directors of the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for Hispanics and IME (Institute of Mexicans Abroad) come together for the Hispanic Education Summit on June 1, 2012. Hosted by Liberty Tax Service’s Una Famila Sin Fronteras Hispanic Initiative and Foundation, the leaders from IMA and the White House will meet with local high school and university educators/leaders in Virginia. Discussions will be held to address ‘deployable’ processes in regards to education for Hispanics in the United States.

Leaders in attendance will include: Javier Diaz de Leon, Executive Director of IME; Jose Rico, Executive Director of the White House Initiative of Education Excellence for Hispanics; the delegation from IME, along with Virginia educators and leaders. “Working to provide education and personal growth opportunities for our Latino neighbors has been a personal priority and a key directive for Liberty for some time,” say John Hewitt, founder and CEO of Liberty Tax Service.

“Through the efforts of our Una Familia Sin Fronteras initiative and Foundation, we have been able to fulfill this commitment and I am proud to share that we have been instrumental in helping direct a large number of individuals from this emerging majority that is our Hispanic population, on the path to financial solvency and independence. For this reason, through our Hispanic initiative and Foundation, we will continue to provide our underserved communities across the nation with access to free financial and fiscal education in an effort to help them reach their American dream.”

The Una Famila Sin Fronteras (Family without Borders) Initiative and Foundation has helped thousands of Hispanics find vital information on education.

The Education Summit will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on June 1^st, at 10:00AM.

May 29th, 2012, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More

Starting tomorrow, the IFA will host more than 300 attendees to the second ever Small Business Lending Summit in Washington, D.C.

Click here to check the Agenda

Register for the Event

This year’s program will include market research, analysis and new perspectives on franchise lending, finance, and policy. Some of the speakers will include, Don Graves, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, U.S. Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, and U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry.

April 16th, 2012, By Ben Baggett  |  No Comments  |  Read More