In case you're looking to tap into a franchised business, there's an expo for that — and it's in town right now. The two-day Franchise Show has set up shop at the Tampa Convention Center, hoping to hook up aspiring entrepreneurs with loads of franchisee opportunities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 7, and Saturday, Sept. 8.
Billed as "Florida's Largest 'Own Your Own Business' Event," the show has assembled a lineup of everything from successful franchises to newcomers. Exhibitors include the locally based Brass Tap, 7-Eleven, RaceWay, Allstate, The UPS Store and Great Harvest Bread Co., which aims to expand in the Tampa market with 15 to 20 locations over the next five years.
"We look forward to speaking with Tampa entrepreneurs face-to-face, and discussing the variety of franchise options to best match their desired outcome," said Ben Green, director of sales for Great Harvest, in a statement. "We have identified more than 30 locations that would be ideal for development in the Tampa-area, and have the ability to open a minimum of 15-20 units successfully."
According to the International Franchise Association, franchises contribute an output of $2.6 billion into the Tampa economy, resulting in 27,700 jobs.
This article appears in Sep 6-13, 2018.
