Annual Franchise Convention

One of the operational traditions that you should establish early in your franchising program is holding annual conventions.

Conventions can be used to celebrate success, recognize high-performing and supportive franchisees, provide training, announce new programs, and prepare for the next year.

Your convention development might go something like this:

Number Franchises Convention

5-10 Held at a nice restaurant, or a golf outing with a meeting.

10-50 Meet at a nearby convention hotel for two days. Have meetings, dinners and activities sponsored by industry suppliers.

50-100 Meet at a resort hotel for two to three days. Have meetings, dinners and activities sponsored by industry suppliers. Bring in consultants and speakers who can help the franchisees become more successful.

100 to 500 Meet at a resort hotel for two to three days. Have meetings, dinners and activities sponsored by industry suppliers. Bring in consultants and speakers who can help the franchisees become more successful. Contract a named entertainer for one of the events.

There is no set rule regarding conventions, and there are companies that specialize in organizing annual conventions for franchise organizations. The Franchise Agreement normally requires franchisees to attend an annual convention at their expense, but you should limit the total number of days so that their cost won’t be excessive. Some business conventions have special activities for spouses and children.

You should consider issuing press releases to your industry and to the general business community before and after the convention.

We recommend that you always hold an annual convention of some sort. Even when you first start selling franchises, establish the tradition and have your first convention. Make it fun, and make it something to look forward to each year.

More information can be found at:  www.biltmorefranchise.com