7th Franchise Expo to bring in over 200 business opportunities

One of the three largest franchising consultancy firms in the Philippines, RK Franchise Consultancy, is bringing over 200 franchising opportunities to Cebu via the 7th Franchise Expo 2006 on September 15 to 17 (2006) at the SM City Cebu.

Rudolf A. Kotik, president of RK Franchise Consultancy said this year's Franchise Expo in Cebu is the largest exposition event organized by the company in the last seven years.

About 70 companies from all over the country, and even from abroad will be opening their business for franchise, one company for instance offers more than one franchise opportunities.

Entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to start a business through franchise from a franchise cost of as low as P170,000 to as high as P18 million, Kotik said.

Franchising is the most successful business system in the world. It is simply a special type of licensing arrangement for the distribution of services and products.

Significant number of companies which will offer franchise packages during the three-day event are from regional areas like Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro.

According to Kotik, Filipinos have now starting to realize the significance of entering into franchising in their own businesses, or to venture into business.

The franchise industry in the country, he said has grown in the last few years, as more and more companies now are expanding and reaping good investment returns both for franchisees and franchisors because of franchise.

Aside from food business like restaurants, other sectors that are now entering strong in opening their businesses to franchise are wellness, like salons, spa, service sectors, as well as schools, among others.

Out of 70 exhibitors, close to a dozen of which are into wellness sector, Kotik said in a press conference.

According to Kotik out of the RK's hundreds of clients it helped over the years, 16 of which are already venturing its overseas expansion through franchise.

New Cebuano developed brands have now entered into franchise and will offer their business for franchise opportunities, these include; Beefwich, Andy's Crunchicken, NeoNeo, Meddah Spa, Touch & Hills, Sam's Waffle, Orange Drew and Annie's Beauty Shop, and Tita Guapa convenient store.

A Malaysian-based company, which is into water business, will also be participating during the event, and a bunch of petroleum companies, like Phoenix, Flying V. and Caltex.

Last year's Franchise Expo in Cebu held at Ayala Center, sold about 75 franchises.

Franchising in the Philippines accounts for 15 percent of the total retail sales, there are over 100,000 franchise businesses operating nationwide.

From 2002 to 2003, the franchise business in the Philippines is dominated by local companies which accounts for 56 percent of the total number of franchisors, while 44 percent are foreign companies offering franchise to Filipino entrepreneurs. - Ehda M. Dagooc