The International Franchise Show

What The International Franchise Show does

The International Franchise Show is the UK's largest dedicated franchise exhibition, operated by Business Show Media (UK company registration 12796121, headquartered at Ground Floor, Beacon Tower, Bristol BS1 4UB) as part of the Comexposium exhibition group. Founded in 2009, the show runs annually at Excel London — the 2027 edition is scheduled for 16-17 April 2027 — and brings together more than 250 exhibitors, 60+ seminar sessions, 50+ international franchise brands, and approximately 11,000 visitors over a two-day period. Visitor admission is free with pre-registration, while commercial revenue is generated through three streams: exhibitor booth fees (the primary revenue layer), tiered sponsorship packages (including Caprinos Pizza as Keynote Sponsor, NatWest, IFA, FranConnect as Seminar Sponsor, Five Iron Golf as Showguide Inside Cover Sponsor, and Franchise Direct as Backpage Showguide Sponsor), and advertising/media partnerships. Supporting digital infrastructure consists of a standard web CMS with E-Zone member login, blog/newsletter, and social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), with no disclosed AI, API, or proprietary technology layer.

The customer base is two-sided: prospective franchisees — ranging from first-time entrepreneurs to multi-unit investors — on the demand side, and franchise brands, franchisors, and franchise-industry suppliers (banks, accountants, software, legal) on the supply side. Named exhibitors and sponsors span enterprise franchise brands (McDonald's Restaurants Ltd, International Franchise Association, NatWest, Intuit QuickBooks), high-growth UK franchisors (Caprinos Pizza, Right at Home UK, Walfinch, Bodystreet UK, Visiting Angels, MiniBoss Business School, Rise Life), and international association partners (Irish Franchise Association, Indian Small Business & Franchise Association, L'Express Franchise). The show features dedicated sub-formats including the USA Pavilion (in partnership with the IFA), Keynote Theatres, Panel Discussions, and a Coffee & Networking Area, with McGill Productions serving as official media partner.

Name

The International Franchise Show

Legal name

The International Franchise Show (operated by Business Show Media)

Website

https://thefranchiseshow.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Franchise Show is the UK's largest annual franchise exhibition, operated by Business Show Media (part of Comexposium) since 2009. Held at Excel London, it connects 11,000+ prospective franchisees with 250+ exhibiting brands across a free two-day event.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Shows & Exhibitions

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

General & Multi-Industry Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent) (THAHACAF)

Keywords

• Franchise exhibition events
• Trade show organization
• Business networking events
• Franchise lead generation
• Exhibition management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Fees: Franchise brands and suppliers pay to exhibit at the show, securing stand space to showcase their franchise opportunities to thousands of visitors over two days.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Corporate sponsors including NatWest, IFA, Caprinos, FranConnect, Five Iron Golf, and Franchise Direct pay for branded sponsorship placements, seminar hosting rights, and showguide advertising across the event.
3. Visitor Ticket Sales: Free admission for visitors, with pre-registration required via the website ticket-registration-2027-form-coming-soon page.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Franchise Show organizes a two-day franchise exhibition held annually at Excel London, hosting over 250 franchise brand exhibitors and approximately 11,000 prospective franchisees. Revenue is generated primarily through exhibitor booth sales, corporate sponsorship packages, and advertising placements. The event features dedicated pavilions (such as the USA Pavilion), keynote theatres, panel discussions, and structured networking zones.

Product overview

The International Franchise Show is a unified exhibition event platform that serves as the UK's premier marketplace for franchise opportunities. The core offering is the annual live exhibition at Excel London featuring the main International Franchise Show event, supplemented by dedicated pavilions (such as the USA Pavilion), Keynote Theatres for brand showcases, Panel Discussions for expert insights, and networking facilities including the Coffee & Networking Area. Supporting digital features include the E-Zone member portal, Exhibitor Listings directory, and Showguide. The event connects over 250 exhibitors with approximately 11,000 visitors seeking franchise opportunities across diverse sectors including food and drink, education, property, and professional services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• USA Pavilion: A dedicated pavilion featuring American franchise brands exploring UK partnerships, operated in partnership with the IFA.

Products and services

• International Franchise Show Exhibition The flagship annual exhibition at Excel London providing prospective franchisees free access to 250+ franchise brands, 60+ seminars, 1-2-1 personal advice, expert panel discussions, and networking areas across two days.
• Exhibitor Booth Space

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ visitors attend the show across two days, creating significant lead generation opportunities for exhibitors.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, keynote and supporting.

• International Franchise Association (IFA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe IFA serves as a show sponsor and exhibitor at the International Franchise Show, representing the world's oldest and largest franchising organization. The IFA partners with the show on the USA Pavilion, which highlights American franchise brands exploring growth opportunities with UK entrepreneurs.
• NatWestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNatWest is a show sponsor offering banking and financial services specifically tailored to franchisees. The bank provides dedicated franchise managers who understand the franchise industry and economic trends affecting franchising, along with access to a network of solicitors and accountants with franchising experience.
• Caprinos PizzakeynoteGTM or Marketing PartnerCaprinos Pizza is the Keynote Sponsor of the International Franchise Show. The brand has grown from a single store in Didcot in 2014 to over 100 branches across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Pakistan, and was named Best Pizza Restaurant of the Year at the British QSR Franchise Awards in 2025.
• FranConnectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFranConnect is the Seminar Sponsor at the International Franchise Show. FranConnect provides franchise management software and is a leading provider of technology solutions for the franchise industry.
• Five Iron GolfsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFive Iron Golf is the Showguide Inside Cover Sponsor of the International Franchise Show, providing financial support in exchange for prominent branding placement in the official showguide.
• Franchise DirectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFranchise Direct is the Backpage Showguide Sponsor. Founded in 1998, Franchise Direct is among the pioneers of internet lead generation for the franchise industry and is one of the world's leading franchise portals.
• Global FranchisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal Franchise serves as a Media Partner for the International Franchise Show, extending the event's reach through its franchise industry publication and media network.
• What FranchisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWhat Franchise is a Media Partner for the International Franchise Show, promoting the event through its franchise industry media channels.
• McGill ProductionssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMcGill Productions is the official media partner for the International Franchise Show. As an award-winning UK video agency, McGill Productions produces promotional and event coverage content for the show, capturing exhibitor brands, speakers, and event highlights.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is listed as a partner of the International Franchise Show, representing the UK's largest campaign group for small businesses, providing cross-promotional reach to potential franchise investors.
• Irish Franchise AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Irish Franchise Association is a partner organization promoting cross-border franchise opportunities and connecting the UK and Irish franchise markets through the International Franchise Show platform.
• Indian Small Business & Franchise Association (ISFA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Indian Small Business & Franchise Association (ISFA), established in 2008, is a partner of the International Franchise Show, advocating for India's small business and franchise sector and connecting Indian franchise brands with UK investors.
• L'Express FranchisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerL'Express Franchise is an international media partner for the International Franchise Show, extending the event's reach to French-speaking and international franchise markets.
• Elite FranchisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerElite Franchise is a media partner and exhibitor at the International Franchise Show, providing editorial coverage and promoting the event to its audience of franchise professionals and prospective investors.
• Franchise UKsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFranchise UK is a partner of the International Franchise Show, serving as a franchise information portal and promotional channel for UK franchise opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Reed Exhibitions: One of the world's largest exhibition organizers, operating hundreds of trade shows globally across multiple industries — a broad incumbent whose scale, venue relationships, and sponsor network shape the competitive landscape for niche event organizers like The International Franchise Show.
• Comexposium: Parent company of The International Franchise Show's operating entity (Business Show Media); runs dozens of B2B trade shows across retail, real estate, food, and franchise globally, including Franchise Expo Paris — a broader incumbent providing group-level scale and infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Franchise Expo Paris: Operated by Comexposium (the parent of The International Franchise Show), Franchise Expo Paris is the leading franchise exhibition in France with a comparable B2B2C format, exhibitor/sponsor revenue model, and free visitor admission — making it the closest direct peer and group sibling.
• International Franchise Expo (IFE New York): Operated by MFV Expositions, IFE is the largest franchise trade show in North America, using the same B2B2C model (franchisors exhibiting to recruit franchisees, paid booths, free visitor entry) — directly comparable in format and audience.
• IFA Convention (International Franchise Association): The flagship annual convention of the IFA — a current show sponsor and partner — is the largest franchise industry event in the US, directly comparable in audience (franchisors, franchisees, suppliers) but US-focused and association-led rather than commercial.
• Franchise Expo Canada: Canada's leading franchise exhibition, run by the same MFV Expositions group that operates IFE, with a comparable exhibitor/visitor structure and a focus on international brand expansion — a close international peer.
• British & International Franchise Exhibition: Rival UK franchise exhibition running at ExCeL/other UK venues, targeting the same prospective franchisees and franchisor exhibitor base with a comparable trade-show format and speaker programme — the most direct head-to-head competitor in the UK market.

Others

• British Franchise Association (bfa): UK industry body that accredits franchise brands and runs its own franchise-related events and awards; not a direct competitor to The International Franchise Show but a key ecosystem participant that influences exhibitor quality and industry standards.

Regional players

• National Franchise & Business Opportunities Show (Australia): Australia's longest-running franchise exhibition, organized by National Event Management with a similar format of franchise brand exhibitors and free-entry visitors — comparable offering but serving the ANZ market rather than the UK.

Emerging players

• Franchise Direct: Among the pioneers of internet lead generation for the franchise industry and a current Showguide sponsor; not a direct competitor in the physical-event space but represents the digital franchise marketplace model that competes for franchisor marketing budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FranchiseShowUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAnPhJXzd7sX_QJe08Pz0yQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFranchiseShow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-franchise-show
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalfranchiseshow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International Franchise Show