Sber to hold ‘Grow with a Franchise’ conference on 18 November

On 18 November 2026, Sber and Moscow Small Business, a city-funded business support agency, will hold a free conference entitled ‘Grow with a Franchise’. The programme will focus on preparing a business for expansion, the economics of a franchise network and digital management tools. The announcement follows other gatherings of Russia’s franchising community: in late October, PSB bank and the Stavka na Delo business community organised an evening event in Yaroslavl attended by more than 100 business representatives and experts.

Moscow conference: from financial modelling to AI

According to a SberBusiness Live announcement dated 2 November, the conference is aimed at entrepreneurs with three different goals: creating their own franchise, expanding an existing network or opening a business using an established model. The programme therefore caters for both prospective and existing franchisors, as well as potential franchisees.

Experts from Sber, the Russian Franchise Association and franchise networks will discuss trends for 2026–2027. Announced topics include preparing a company to scale up, building a franchise financial model and attracting partners. There will also be a particular focus on using artificial intelligence and digital tools to promote a business and manage its network.

Representatives of Moscow Small Business will explain the city’s support measures for entrepreneurs. This session will complement the franchise discussions, allowing participants to consider their business development needs alongside the support available from the city. The announcement does not list specific measures, so attendees should not assume that any particular funding or support scheme will be available.

Entrepreneurs still deciding between buying a franchise and developing their own brand would benefit from distinguishing between these goals before attending. In the first case, questions should focus on the economics of an individual outlet and the franchisee’s obligations; in the second, on whether the company is ready to pass its business model on to other entrepreneurs.

Yaroslavl event explored launching and developing a business

Practical franchising issues were also the focus of PSB’s meeting with the Stavka na Delo business community in Yaroslavl, reported by Kommersant on 30 October. The evening brought together more than 100 representatives of regional businesses and specialist experts.

Participants discussed the steps involved in preparing a business for franchising, assessing its economics, drawing up a business plan and choosing an appropriate form of finance. The programme also examined common mistakes made at the outset. Opening the event, Anna Mozheyko outlined bank financing options for franchisees.

Yuri Mashentsev, described in the report as the largest partner of the Drinkit and Dodo Pizza chains, shared practical experience of scaling up through partnerships. His presentation covered the key stages of preparing a franchise and building a transparent franchisee support system. Alongside calculating the investment required, this is an important consideration when assessing a partnership model: entrepreneurs need to understand how the relationship will work after launch.

Vasil Gazizulin, founder and managing partner of TopFranchise.ru and TopFranchise.com, examined franchise development strategies. In particular, he explored the choice between opening a new franchise business and strengthening an existing company, and outlined trends and promising areas for growth.

Economics and partner support: common themes at both events

The Moscow conference and the Yaroslavl business evening share a common focus: financial calculations, scaling up and working with partners. Their formats differ, however. The Yaroslavl event featured an informal ‘speakers’ lounge’, where participants could put questions directly to experts, discuss their own business cases and receive tailored advice on productivity and business economics.

The Moscow announcement emphasises a topic-led programme, including AI and digital management. Attendees should therefore not expect the two events to offer the same experience: the published description of ‘Grow with a Franchise’ does not promise individual project reviews.

To make discussions about the economics meaningful, prospective franchisees should prepare questions about the initial investment, ongoing costs and support provided by the network. Owners of existing businesses should identify which processes can already be handed over to partners and which still require their personal involvement. These are suggestions for preparation, not stated conditions for attending either event.

How to attend the conference on 18 November

The ‘Grow with a Franchise’ conference will take place at the Oruzheyny business centre, 41 Oruzheyny Lane, Moscow. Attendance is free, but places are limited. Advance registration is required, and attendees will need a passport to enter Sber’s offices.

When planning a visit, bear both requirements in mind: free admission does not remove the need to register, and confirmation of attendance does not replace the identity document required for entry. Register in advance, following the organisers’ instructions.

The practical takeaway is to identify your main goal — buying a franchise, creating a franchise model or expanding a network — and prepare questions tailored to it. This will help you use the gathering to assess a specific business decision, rather than simply gain a general introduction to franchising.