Salone Franchising Milano: more than 70 training sessions

Training will sit alongside meetings with brands at the franchising and retail fair, which opens on 1 October 2026 at Fiera Milano. According to Italian newspaper Il Giorno, more than 70 sessions featuring over 100 speakers are planned across the three-day event. For the franchising community, the programme provides a forum for discussion alongside presentations of franchise opportunities.

Making training part of your visit

The programme’s defining feature is the breadth of its training provision: more than 70 sessions spread across the fair’s three days. With over 100 speakers taking part, visitors will have opportunities to explore topics in greater depth alongside the exhibition — something worth factoring in when planning a visit.

Il Giorno’s report does not give the titles of individual sessions, their timings or admission arrangements. It therefore provides no basis for claiming that the programme covers specific legal, financial or management topics. What it does establish is that training has a significant place alongside direct meetings with brands.

For a prospective franchisee, the practical implication is to distinguish between two parts of the visit: gathering information about individual networks and setting aside time for the available learning sessions. These serve different purposes. The first concerns a specific commercial offer; the second may help visitors ask better-informed questions before continuing discussions with a potential franchisor.

Comparing different business models

The exhibition line-up described in the report spans food service, fitness, large-scale retail and logistics, with both established brands and emerging businesses represented. This variety makes it particularly important to avoid comparisons based solely on brand recognition or an attractive stand.

Different businesses call for different assessments. A useful starting point when planning a visit is therefore your own business plan: what kind of work you want to do, how much day-to-day involvement you are prepared to take on and which skills you already have. These are questions to discuss with exhibitors; a network’s presence at the fair does not automatically establish its suitability.

Training sessions can form part of this process by offering opportunities to explore issues in more depth. Their value to each visitor will depend on the actual programme and their personal objectives. The number of sessions alone does not tell someone planning their first outlet or considering another franchise which events will be most relevant.

Trade associations at the fair

Il Giorno confirms that the event has the backing of Assofranchising, Confimprese and Federfranchising, with Eurospin as its main sponsor. The fair therefore brings together exhibitors and trade association representatives, combining its commercial role with discussion within the franchising community.

Here too, it is important to interpret the information correctly. The associations’ backing applies to the event itself: it should not be taken as an assessment of the financial or contractual terms of every opportunity on display. Anyone considering a franchise will still need to review the network’s documentation independently and seek qualified advice where necessary.

The associations’ presence is another factor to consider when preparing for a visit. To make practical use of it, check which opportunities to meet representatives are actually available, rather than assuming there will be services, one-to-one advice or specific contributions not mentioned in the report.

From a fair visit to an informed decision

The training programme offers a useful principle for organising your time at the fair: do not limit your visit to a series of sales meetings. Before attending, it may help to prepare a short information sheet for each network of interest, noting what you need to ask and which points still need clarification.

Questions could cover the commitment expected of the franchisee, the support provided, the training offered by the network and the financial terms of the opportunity. These are practical suggestions for visitors, not topics already confirmed for the fair’s sessions.

At the end of the day, separating documented information from points that still need checking will help you organise the contacts you have made. The practical advice is simple: choose learning sessions that fit your business plans and use meetings with brands to gather verifiable information, leaving any decision until you have reviewed the offer in full.