Road to FIM2027 Brings Together 26 Franchise Brands in Johor Bahru

The Malaysia International Franchise Exhibition 2027 roadshow (Road to FIM2027) began in Johor Bahru on 16 October 2026, bringing together 26 brands across 34 exhibition stands. Held at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, the event gave entrepreneurs, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), an opportunity to explore franchise options suited to their budgets.

Business options beyond food and drink

Themed “From Local to Global”, the Southern Region roadshow was officially opened by Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh. According to Bernama, she said the programme aimed to make the franchise business model more accessible to the public and challenge the perception that it was open only to large companies.

Participating brands spanned food and drink, education, services, and health and beauty. This variety gave prospective franchisees a chance to consider options beyond food and drink businesses, while speaking directly with brand owners exhibiting at the event.

Fuziah said education franchise opportunities were available with start-up capital from as little as RM15,000 (Malaysian ringgit). That figure referred specifically to the education opportunities she highlighted, rather than a capital requirement applicable to every brand or package at the exhibition.

Direct meetings with brand owners were a central feature of the programme. Prospective entrepreneurs and franchisees could explore opportunities within their means, in keeping with the roadshow’s aim of introducing affordable franchise businesses before expanding into international markets.

Pernas to provide RM300 million in financing for 2027

In her opening speech, Fuziah also announced that Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas) would provide RM300 million in financing for 2027 to support the development of the franchise sector. Of this total, 30 per cent would be allocated to franchisors or brand owners, with the remaining 70 per cent going to franchisees.

The allocation covers both sides of the franchise relationship: brand owners developing their businesses and franchisees operating under those brands. The larger share earmarked for franchisees is particularly relevant to prospective entrepreneurs assessing the capital they need to enter the sector.

Fuziah said these efforts were also supported by business financing and microfinance facilities totalling RM6.6 billion under Budget initiatives. These facilities are intended to help entrepreneurs access capital and expand their operations.

The RM6.6 billion was described as business financing and microfinance facilities, separate from the RM300 million announced for Pernas for 2027. Visitors to the roadshow could obtain financing information directly from franchise operators and relevant agencies.

New registrations and guidance for prospective franchisees

A total of 16 franchise registration certificates were presented to new franchisors at the event. Fuziah said this reflected the franchise sector’s continued expansion across a range of business activities.

She also said domestic sales in the franchise sector were projected to reach RM100 billion by 2030, compared with RM46 billion in 2025. The 2030 figure is a forecast, not a sales total already achieved.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) Vice-Chairman Khalek Awang said the roadshow aimed to broaden entrepreneurial opportunities for local communities. Groups receiving particular attention included young people, graduates, homemakers and retirees seeking to generate income.

He said visitors could access consultations, financing information and business guidance directly. This made the roadshow more than a showcase for brands: it was also a place to learn what becoming a franchisee involves.

Khalek also explained that support from brand owners included operational training, marketing, the transfer of expertise and guidance on compliance with standards. Alongside reviewing the advertised start-up capital, prospective franchisees should clarify the details of this support when speaking with brand owners.

Preparations for FIM2027 in May

Road to FIM2027 is a lead-up programme to the Malaysia International Franchise Exhibition 2027. The main event is scheduled to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 6 to 8 May 2027.

By comparison, FIM2026 attracted 159 local and international exhibitors and more than 26,000 visitors. It also recorded potential investment exceeding RM600 million. That figure refers to potential investment, rather than confirmation that the full amount had materialised.

Launching the roadshow in the Southern Region gave local communities an opportunity to meet brand owners and relevant agencies ahead of the main event in Kuala Lumpur. With options spanning several sectors, prospective franchisees could compare opportunities against their capital requirements and operational support needs.

Practical guidance: Use consultation sessions to clarify start-up costs, brand support and financing conditions. Assess whether an opportunity suits your financial circumstances before making a commitment.