New Business WEEK Osaka opens on 18 November to compare franchising, M&A and partnerships

RX Japan LLC announced on 16 October that the first New Business WEEK Osaka, an exhibition supporting companies entering new business areas, will take place at INTEX Osaka from 18 to 20 November 2026. Bringing franchising, M&A, business partnerships and in-house business development together under one roof, the event is aimed at companies seeking an additional source of revenue alongside their existing operations.

Three specialist exhibitions present routes to diversification

The event comprises three exhibitions: New Business Support EXPO, M&A & Business Partnership EXPO and Franchise EXPO. It will run from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 November, from 10:00 to 17:00 each day. The organiser describes it as a comprehensive exhibition supporting new ventures from launch through to growth.

The main target visitors are business owners, executives responsible for new business development and companies with the potential to become large-scale franchise operators. The aim is to help businesses with an established revenue base build on that foundation and embark on a new phase of growth — an approach described in Japan as a ‘second founding’. Alongside gathering information, visitors will be able to consult exhibitors directly and discuss specific business opportunities.

The organiser cites Japan’s shrinking domestic market and labour shortages as factors behind the event, highlighting small and medium-sized companies’ search for new revenue streams. To illustrate business creation trends around Osaka, it also references Teikoku Databank’s survey of new company formations in the Kinki region in 2025, published on 28 May 2026, which reported a record number of new companies.

However, company formation figures do not measure the number of businesses taking up franchises. A defining feature of this exhibition is that it covers several approaches to corporate diversification rather than focusing solely on the franchise sector.

Assessing franchising alongside acquisitions and partnerships

One notable aspect of the event is that it does not focus on a single route into a new market. Alongside building a business from scratch, the organiser presents the options of ‘buying’ through M&A, ‘joining forces’ through partnerships and ‘using an established system’ through franchising.

According to the organiser, Franchise EXPO will feature numerous nationally established brands familiar to Japanese consumers. It will present franchising as a way to enter a new business area by drawing on a brand, a proven business model and the franchisor’s expertise.

However, the lower start-up risk and faster path to profitability described by the organiser are intended benefits of franchising, not guarantees of results with any particular franchise. When speaking to franchisors at the exhibition, visitors should assess brand recognition separately from the operational responsibilities their own company would take on.

For companies pursuing diversification, the decision involves more than comparing franchise brands: it also requires weighing franchising against acquisitions and partnerships. Even within the same sector, the questions to ask will vary according to how much operational responsibility a company wants and how it intends to use its existing staff and premises. Setting out these requirements before visiting the three exhibitions will make it easier to assess proposals against consistent criteria.

Disability services: support from site selection to operations

The organiser’s announcement includes an example of a franchise offering that combines disability support services with activities involving rescue dogs and cats, esports and agriculture. This offering comprises five business options and promotes franchisor support for companies with no previous experience in the sector.

The support described includes site selection based on municipal supply-and-demand data, staffing, customer acquisition and outsourced operations. Discussions can therefore cover not only the business concept and facilities, but also the systems intended to support day-to-day operations after entry.

Companies considering such proposals should translate broad promises of ‘support’ into a clear division of responsibilities. What information is provided for site selection? How long does staffing support continue? Which tasks are covered by outsourced operations? The exhibition offers an opportunity to ask these questions directly.

This support package is one example featured in the announcement, not a set of terms shared by all exhibiting franchisors. Companies considering entry into the franchise sector will need to check both the terms offered by each franchisor and the preparations required of their own business.

Set your objectives and comparison criteria before attending

The event details are as follows:

• Name: First New Business WEEK Osaka
• Dates: Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 November 2026
• Opening hours: 10:00–17:00 each day
• Venue: INTEX Osaka
• Organiser: RX Japan LLC
• Exhibitions: New Business Support EXPO, M&A & Business Partnership EXPO, Franchise EXPO

Before looking for exhibiting brands, companies with existing operations should establish how much funding, staffing capacity and management time they can commit to a new venture. Objectives such as prioritising the use of existing premises or expanding into a new region will also help determine which exhibitors to approach.

Questions at the venue should extend beyond the initial investment. Preparing a common set of questions about the scope of franchisor support, the franchisee’s responsibilities, pre-opening preparations and ongoing costs will allow visitors to compare opportunities without relying solely on the impression made by a presentation. When discussing M&A or business partnerships, it is equally useful to explain the company’s objectives and available resources.

Practical takeaway: Before attending, prepare a one-page summary of ‘the resources we can contribute’ and ‘the support we need’. Rather than deciding in advance that franchising is the answer, use the three specialist exhibitions to gather proposals, then review them as alternative routes to business diversification.