Franchise Ondernemersdagen 2027 adopts a regional approach

Franchise Ondernemersdagen (Franchise Entrepreneur Days) will take a regional approach in 2027, with the first event on 5 March in the Rotterdam area. Replacing the Franchise+ Fair, the event brings prospective business owners and franchisors together close to where candidates want to set up their businesses. The emphasis is on comparing several opportunities rather than hearing about just one franchise concept.

Three dates announced, venues to follow

Franchise+ has announced three event dates for 2027. Following the Rotterdam-area event on 5 March, a meeting is planned for 9 April in the Zwolle area. This second event is explicitly provisional. A further Franchise Entrepreneur Day has been announced for 5 November, with the region to be confirmed later.

Each event lasts one day and runs from 10:00 to 17:30. The exact venues have not yet been announced. Prospective visitors therefore have an initial schedule, but not yet an address for each event.

The distinction between confirmed and provisional information matters when planning a visit. Rotterdam has an announced date and region, while Zwolle remains subject to confirmation. The region for the November event is still to be announced. Anyone setting aside a day should therefore check the final event details before making travel arrangements.

Starting with your preferred business location

The regional focus is central to the announced format. Franchise+ presents the events as a meeting place for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to explore franchise opportunities in their region. This makes the area where someone wants to run a business an explicit part of their initial research.

For those exploring the Dutch franchise market, this provides a practical starting point for discussions. As well as considering which franchise concept appeals to them, candidates can discuss whether it is a good fit for their preferred area. An introductory conversation can then cover not only the brand or concept, but also opportunities in the place where the candidate wants to launch.

However, the regional focus does not mean that every franchise represented will have an opening in that area. Candidates should ask franchisors directly. A useful opening question is therefore not only what a franchise looks for in a business owner, but also where it actually sees scope for a new partnership.

Comparing several franchise concepts

For the Entrepreneur Days, Franchise+ emphasises comparison rather than relying on a single presentation. Visitors can speak to several franchisors in one day. According to the event description, this allows them to explore differences in scale, support and operational freedom, and assess which concept suits their ambitions.

These three topics offer a useful structure for a visit. On scale, candidates can ask how the organisation is structured. On support, they can explore the specific assistance the franchise provides. Operational freedom calls for clarity about which decisions can be made locally and which are prescribed by the franchise model.

Covering the same topics in each conversation makes the answers easier to compare. It is therefore worth preparing a short list of questions in advance and recording the responses for each franchise. Visitors will then leave with more than a general impression: they will also have a list of points that warrant further investigation.

An introductory meeting need not lead immediately to a preferred option. Differences between franchise concepts can help candidates clarify their own expectations: how much guidance do they want, which responsibilities suit them, and how much freedom to make their own choices matters?

From an event to a focused next step

The announced Entrepreneur Days are intended for introductions and initial research. Prospective business owners should therefore use a visit to narrow down opportunities and identify follow-up questions, rather than make a decision based solely on a first conversation.

Practical tips: make a note of the relevant date, check the confirmed venue nearer the time, and bring the same questions to each conversation about regional availability, support and operational freedom. This will give your visit to the Franchise Entrepreneur Days a clearer focus and make subsequent comparisons more concrete.