If you are heading to the International Franchise Show 2026, you are going to one of the biggest franchising events in the UK.
Taking place at Excel London on 17 and 18 April 2026, the show offers free access to more than 250 exhibitors, 60 seminars, 1-2-1 personal advice, and a huge range of franchise opportunities all under one (very large!) roof.
For anyone interested in franchising, it’s undoubtedly exciting – but it can also be overwhelming if you arrive without a plan.
So to help you get real value from your visit, here are our six top tips for making the most of your time at IFS 2026.
1. Start by being clear on your goals
Before you even think about travelling to Excel, make sure you’re clear on why you are going in the first place.
We know that may sound obvious, but it is the most important step. And you’d be surprised by just how many attendees arrive without a clear goal of what they want to achieve there.
Your goals will shape how you spend your time, which stands you prioritise, which conversations matter most, and whether you need to spend a few hours, a full day, or both days there.
If you are a prospective franchise buyer or investor, think about the kind of opportunity you are actually looking for:
- Which sectors interest you?
- What level of investment is realistic for you?
- Are you looking for something hands-on, management-led, or more investor-focused?
Narrowing this down before the show will help you focus on the brands that are genuinely relevant.
If you are a franchisor, supplier or someone already working in the franchise sector, be equally clear. Are you there to:
- Network?
- Build brand awareness?
- Make B2B connections?
- Recruit franchisees?
Knowing your angle before you walk in will make your visit far more productive and help you assess whether it was a success or not.
2. Plan your visit before you arrive
IFS is a major event – and with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees, it can be very easy to lose valuable time once you are through the doors.
The official show guide gives visitors plenty of useful tools to prepare, including exhibitor listings and schedule information – so use it.
Build a shortlist of the stands you want to visit, map out the talks you want to attend, and decide your top priorities are before arriving.
Even if you are only attending casually, a little preparation will go a long way. You do not need to have every minute planned – indeed, having some white space in your schedule is useful so you have time to visit stands that appeal on the day – but you should know the difference between your must-sees and your nice-to-sees.
It is also worth picking up the printed map and/or show brochure on the day. These can be very useful for getting your bearings and reminding yourself what else is happening around the venue.
3. Speak with the experts, not just the brands
One of the biggest advantages of visiting IFS 2026 is that you are not just meeting franchisors. You are also surrounded by people with deep experience across the franchise sector.
That includes existing franchisees, specialist advisers, lenders, suppliers, and seminar speakers. In other words, there is expertise everywhere you look.
Make the most of that by asking questions and getting different perspectives. Find out what people are seeing in the market right now, what buyers are prioritising, where growth is happening, and what common mistakes they see newcomers make.
The best conversations at a franchise exhibition are not always the most polished sales pitches. Often, they are the honest, practical discussions that help you understand what franchising really looks like in the real world.
4. Keep an open mind while staying commercially sensible
It is smart to arrive with a plan – but it is just as smart not to become too rigid.
The International Franchise Show brings together opportunities from a wide range of sectors, investment levels, and business models. The IFS website says there’ll be brands across more than 25 sectors, including opportunities from relatively low entry points, through to more established investment levels.
Franchise Business Brokers will also be there to provide visitors with a range of resale opportunities, again offering something different for prospective franchise owners.
That means the right opportunity for you may not be the one you expected to be interested in.
You might arrive focused on one industry, then discover a different model that fits your budget, lifestyle goals, and experience far better.
Equally, if you are a franchisor or supplier exhibiting at the show, some of the most useful conversations may come from people you had not planned to meet.
So go in with open ears and an open mind. Be willing to explore, but just make sure that curiosity is balanced with discipline, so you don’t end up chasing every shiny opportunity without thinking critically.
5. Come prepared with the right questions
A good conversation at any franchise show or exhibition should help you move closer to a decision, not just collect brochures.
So before you attend, prepare a list of questions you can use with the brands or experts you meet.
For example:
- What is the total investment required?
- What does a top performing franchisee profile look like?
- What training and ongoing support is provided?
- What does a normal day/week look like for the owner?
- Where is the growth opportunity in this business?
- Are there resale opportunities available as well as brand new territories?
Questions like these will help you compare opportunities more effectively and have more meaningful discussions on the stands.
6. Make time to speak to Franchise Business Brokers
Franchise Business Brokers will be exhibiting at IFS 2026 on stand 786, and we would be delighted to speak with anyone exploring franchise opportunities, franchise resales, or franchise valuations.
Members of the Chantry Group team – including experienced business brokers and franchising professionals boasting decades of hands-on knowledge – will be on our stand and floating around the show across both days, so please do come and say hello. You’ll be able to recognise them in their fetching Franchise Business Brokers gilets and polo shirts!
So whether you are looking to buy an existing franchise business, understand how franchise resales work, or simply get a clearer picture of the market, come and have a chat.
We know that buying an existing franchise can be a very attractive route into business ownership. It can offer immediate trading history, existing customers, and a clearer picture of how the business operates in practice day-to-day.
A show like IFS is the perfect place to start exploring those options seriously.
Start your preparations today and make your visit count
IFS 2026 should be a valuable day out for you – not just a busy one.
Go in with clear goals, do your homework, speak to experienced people, stay open-minded and ask good questions. That is how you turn a franchise exhibition visit into real value and, ultimately, progress your business ownership aspirations.
And before the show, be sure to visit our Franchises For Sale page. If any of our resale opportunities catch your eye, come and visit us on stand 786 with your questions ready.
That way, you can arrive prepared and make your time at IFS 2026 work harder for you.
