Sinaloa Franquicias 360 supports new franchise models

Sinaloa’s Secretariat of Economy has invited entrepreneurs and businesses to Sinaloa Franquicias 360, an event aimed at developing new franchise models and supporting brands interested in growing beyond the Mexican state. Scheduled for 8 October 2026 at Salón 53 in Culiacán, the programme includes presentations by 10 selected brands, a keynote address and opportunities to share business experience.

An invitation to take the step towards franchising

Claudia Ramírez, who heads the franchising department at Sinaloa’s Secretariat of Economy, explained the event’s aims in an interview with Viva La Noticia published on 7 October. She said the invitation was aimed at brands that wanted to develop a franchise model and felt ready to take on that challenge.

The process began with a call for applications that closed on 24 September. According to Ramírez, this formed part of an initiative to support new franchise models, linked to the Culiacán event.

The initiative focuses on businesses looking to become franchisors, rather than solely on people interested in buying a franchise from an existing brand. This distinction matters to the franchise community: developing a franchise model and assessing an investment opportunity are different decisions, although both can benefit from discussions with business owners and specialists.

Ten brands selected as candidates

A central element of the announced programme is the introduction of the 10 brands selected by the Instituto Latinoamericano de las Franquicias (Latin American Franchise Institute). Ramírez explained that they had been identified as the candidates best prepared to move forward with franchise development.

The selection was presented as part of the process of supporting the development of franchise models. It should therefore be understood as a stage in preparing and assessing the candidates, rather than automatically signalling new outlet openings or franchise sales.

Helping brands grow beyond Sinaloa was also among the objectives outlined by Ramírez. For participating businesses, the event opens up a discussion about growth beyond their home market, although the invitation itself does not amount to an expansion announcement by each selected company.

For those following the development of Mexico’s franchise community, the significance lies in this groundwork: identifying businesses with growth ambitions and bringing them together to explore their development as franchises.

Keynote address and business experience

The announced agenda includes Jorge Valencia, known as “El Zar de las Franquicias” (“The Franchise Tsar”), who was due to travel from Mexico City to give a keynote address. His contribution forms part of the guidance planned for attendees.

Ramírez also outlined plans for a talk with an entrepreneur from Culiacán, focusing on his business experience. This session brings a local perspective to the programme and complements the visiting specialist’s contribution.

A panel on women in franchising was also announced, with participants set to share their experiences of this business model. The panel provides a dedicated opportunity to hear about women’s career paths in the franchise community.

Overall, the format combines presentations by prospective franchisors with discussions about the experience of building a business. The Secretariat’s stated aim is to connect entrepreneurs with different brands and support their interest in developing franchise models of their own.

What interested brands can gain

For a company considering franchising, an event of this kind can provide a starting point for working through key questions. It is useful to distinguish between the desire to grow, the business’s level of readiness and the steps needed to enable future franchisees to replicate its operations.

As a practical recommendation, brands should review which processes they can replicate, what support they could offer other outlets and which aspects of their operations need documenting. Hearing about other business owners’ experiences can help frame these questions, but it does not replace an assessment of the individual business.

The practical takeaway: treat selection and the exchange of experience as an incentive to prepare, not as a guarantee of expansion. Before offering a franchise, seek specialist advice to assess whether the business is ready to take that step.