Room: 119

Presented by: Michael Svancarek, Senior Advisor, iFranchise Group and Harold Kestenbaum, Partner, Harold L. Kestenbaum, PC

Avoiding litigation as a franchisor is more about good planning than it is about good luck. This session will help the start-up franchisor understand the most common business and legal traps that can lead to avoidable litigation. Discussions will focus on practical advice for avoiding both franchisee litigation and vicarious liability for the acts of your franchisees. Topics will include sales and marketing best practices, regulatory issues and compliance, dispute resolution, franchise relations, and minimizing liability while maintaining quality control.
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Room: 127

Presented by: Robert Stidham, Chief Executive Officer, Franchise Dynamics and Charles Dobyns, CFE, President & Chief Development Officer, Franchise Dynamics

The first rule of franchise sales is that no one ever "sells” a franchise! However, there is a process and methodology for development that creates superior outcomes. Learn how to facilitate more and better leads and franchise sales regardless of whether you concept is emerging, mid-market or you are a well-developed franchise company seeking even better results.
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Room: 134

Presented by: Peter Maxwell Sessions, Founder and CEO, FewerHats

Technology has experienced such rapid growth over the last 10 years that it has become difficult for a business to navigate the congested marketplace of software and digital services. A significant investment of time is required to properly research, select, and implement new technology. It has become extremely common in the franchise industry for software to become more of a distraction than an asset. By utilizing tips and tricks, a Franchise system can properly leverage technology to streamline their operational efficiency and accelerate their growth.
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Room: 134

Presented by: Adam Siegelheim, Attorney, Stark & Stark

Each year, more and more franchise companies are including Item 19 Financial Performance Representations in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This seminar will explore the types of information and different structures you can employ when structuring and creating your earnings claim. It will also discuss strategies you can employ during the sales process if you do not have an Item 19.
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Room: 130

Moderated by: Laura Michaels, Managing Editor, Franchise Times

Panelists: Lane Fisher, Esquire, Fisher Zucker LLC; Renuka Salinger, Vice President of Franchise Development, Camp Bow Wow; Linda Grady, Coppell, TX Franchisee, Camp Bow Wow; Ron Bender, CFE, Vice President, Franchise Development, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts; Jackie Pierce, Ft. Worth, TX Franchisee, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts

The franchisor-franchisee relationship is a delicate balance that when managed correctly can result in both parties thriving. With access to capital still difficult to obtain, it is more important than ever for franchisors to support franchisees on everything from real estate, construction, food sourcing, labor management and IT to marketing and advertising. This panel will include discussions from both franchisors and franchisees on how these parties should work together in order to create a successful brand.
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Room: 136

Presented by: Marla Rosner, Senior Learning and Development Consultant, MSA Worldwide

Documentation of your business’ processes and procedures is the foundation to consistent execution of your franchise concept. In this workshop, learn how to create a user-friendly Operations Manual as well as key content that should be included. Click here for more details.
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Room: 119

Presented by: Lynne Shelton, Esq., CFE, Partner, Shelton Law & Associates

Have you started a business and are unsure how to make sure your business name and logo are protected? Do you have an invention and would like to file for a patent? If you have ever had questions about how to trademark your logo, business name, slogans or you would like to gain more knowledge about how to fully protect your Intellectual Property, this session will cover all that you need to know and more. Come join us as we cover: What can be trademarked, the benefits of filing, understanding what will happen if your company name is already in use, etc.
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Room: 134

Presented by: Matthew Jonas, President, TopFire Media

Learn how your website should be at the center of a comprehensive franchise lead generation strategy to increase lead flow and improve lead quality.
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Franchising is not a business opportunity for men alone. More and more franchise owners are women – women who are extremely successful and making a difference. Learn from some of the savviest female franchise leaders, representing a wide variety of backgrounds, who chose franchising for their career path. Why did they look to franchising? What have been their biggest challenges and how did they overcome them? What are the rewards? What would they do over again? Hear real stories, personal experiences, best practices and lessons learned from an elite group of female franchise founders/CEOs and franchisees. By attending this session, you will walk away with the following: insights about franchising and determining whether it is the right fit for you; who can help you learn more about franchising and the steps necessary to become a successful franchise owner; tips for overcoming obstacles in launching a successful franchise business.
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