Did you make it to the franchise show at Olympia? Or maybe you’ve been too hard at work behind the scenes on your franchise?
It’s been a great blend of meeting new people and working on all the big things happening in the world of franchising for us, so here’s our latest round-up of everything our experts have been up to – and they’ve sure been packing it in! A real variety of insights and news this month we’re sure you will find useful:
Franchisor Forums and Operational Support
Did you attend any of our free Franchisor Forums in 2025? Well, they’re back!
We’ve got a whole series of events planned starting in April. They are designed to give franchisors a chance to step away from the noise of building a busy network, and share insights with others who actually understand what it’s like to run a franchise. They will be small, peer-to-peer sessions of franchisors and experienced franchising experts and while each session will have a particular theme, free and open discussion is very much encouraged.
Our 2026 series covers everything from “The Roadmap to Franchising” for potential franchisors, to “Growing Without the Grief: Recruitment & Onboarding” for existing networks, alongside open Q&A sessions with TFC and Rudlings Solicitors.
International Franchising
We’re often asked what the most important elements of international expansion are, and it’s not an easy question to answer. Whether you’re already an established brand in multiple overseas markets, or a franchise looking at foreign expansion for the first time, you’ll already be aware that there are a lot of moving parts involved in this kind of growth – all of which need to fall into place in just the right way to succeed.
However, in her latest blog, Farrah Rose discusses the single most important first step you can take to ensure you have the right foundations in place: a comprehensive Market Entry Study.
Learn more about why it’s so important, and what it should include here: The key first step behind why some franchises fail overseas while others thrive
Franchise Content & Copywriting
What’s the best content to use to impress prospects?
Success stories of other franchisees? How popular your core product or service is? How you can help them build their own great business?
Yes, absolutely… but only showing the polished highlights can mean you’re missing out on creating real depth of meaning, and the kind of genuine human connection that allows prospects to see not just the opportunity you offer, but the potential for a true partnership. If your franchise storytelling jumps straight to success, you’re missing your biggest opportunity.
The most credible brands don’t hide the challenges, they explain how they were overcome. When prospects see real doubts, real obstacles and real support in action, they take the first step from being merely “interested” to being ready to sign.
Learn more from our Storytelling team in their latest blog here: Polished franchise stories impress. Honest ones convert
Recruiting Franchisees
2026 is going to be a big year for franchisors adopting AI and new technology, and it sure has a great deal of potential for improving how you recruit new franchisees. With the right new systems, you can automate follow-ups, score leads, personalise communications at scale, and identify patterns in your data far faster and more efficiently than ever before.
But where should you draw the line? How do you achieve a balance between staying ahead of the competition, and still keeping the human element which is so important to forming valuable partnerships?
It’s not an easy line to walk, but it’s one we are all going to have to address in 2026. Andrew Croney from our Endless Franchisees team takes a deeper look at what works and what doesn’t, and offers some practical tips on what should and shouldn’t be automated.
Are you automating the right parts of your franchise recruitment processes?
TFC Digital and Software House
In a space where we’re constantly bombarded with marketing about the next big technology that will change the world, or solve all our problems overnight, it can be pretty hard to cut through all the noise and see what might actually be valuable.
We all want to stay ahead of the game – and the competition – but we all know the perils of throwing resources behind the next “game-changing” platform only for it to prove to be a bust.
So, our Digital & Software team have been getting out there and focusing only on software which can show real, measurable results. Learn more about how to navigate the world of tech in 2026 and see what software has made the cut:
Skip the hype and go straight to tech solutions that actually deliver
Anything piqued your interest?
If anything from this email has caught your eye, we’re always more than happy to chat about it further. Whether you’re curious about any of the topics mentioned or think The Franchising Centre might be able to support your business, simply schedule a call using the button below.
Any one or more of our experts are always ready for an introductory chat – absolutely no sales pitches, just a chance to answer your questions and talk about where you are in your franchising journey.
