Multi-Unit Franchising Conference 2026: Tips and Best Practices

The Multi-Unit Franchising Conference is an event 100% focused on franchisee success, with an emphasis on Multi-Unit Franchisees. As I have explained before, operating one unit is a job, while operating multiple units means having an enterprise. And that's why this whole conference is focused on multi-unit growth and success.

I will tell you that the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) is the #1 event that I highly recommend attending outside of your own brand conference. Why? During these days, you’ll be able to get inspired and hear renowned speakers and successful Multi-Unit Franchisees sharing powerful insights for your growth and development.

The 2026 conference takes place next week, from March 24 to March 27, in Las Vegas, NV. If you are attending this event, this blog post will provide valuable best practices and guidance to make the most of the experience.

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Know the Event’s Structure

First of all, let's go over the conference structure:

• Main Events. Sessions where everyone's together, and the organizers share information for all MUFC visitors. 
• Breakout Sessions. Based on the different franchise topics.
• Networking Events. Specific moments and situations to network with franchisees and vendors in a relaxed way.
• Exhibit Hall. You’ll have two occasions during the conference to visit the floor (the AFA will be at booth #2127. Be sure to visit us!) No other activities take place while the exhibit hall is open, so you can walk the floor without being in a hurry.

4 Things To Maximize Your Experience at MUFC26

Every moment at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference will bring you something of value. Even though they did a great job at balancing the main events, the networking & sales opportunities, and the breakout sessions, consider these tips to make the most out of your experience at the event:

Tip #1: Define what your goals are

Really think through why you are attending this conference and investing your time and money in it, other than the amazing learning, of course. It could be a specific topic you want to learn more about. Maybe you want to solve an issue that’s harming your multi-unit organization. Perhaps you wish to connect with specific people during the conference or to explore multi-unit opportunities to go multi-brand. 

You may want to learn from other franchisees who are experiencing what you're going through. The Multi-Unit Franchising Conference is great at this because you get to meet many business owners from different brands across the country and even the world. 

When you define your primary goal for the conference, you can navigate through the activities you'll engage in during the event. This is the first step to making the conference as beneficial as possible for you.

Don’t miss: 7 Essentials for a Thriving Franchise Enterprise

Tip #2: Review the Agenda

This is a jam-packed conference, with the bulk of the agenda on Wednesday and Thursday, and a little on Friday morning. 

As I mentioned, the conference will have keynotes, general sessions, and panels, plus six High-Impact Growth Workshops, divided by topics:

• Financial Track
• Marketing Track
• Succession Planning Track
• Operations Track
• Profitability Track
• Business Practices Track

Examining the agenda before the event will help you identify the sessions that align with your goals.

I also want to highlight that every single presenter in the breakout sessions is an existing successful multi-unit franchisee. And that is one of the unique things about this conference: over 95% of the presenters are multi-unit franchisees. 

Some of them are close to our hearts since they are our AFA clients: Cesar Coronado, owner of more than 14 Tropical Smoothie Cafe units; Amanda Reinsberger, owner of 14 Anytime Fitness gyms; and Jesse Keyser, a MUMBO and owner of 31 units of SportsClips and Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning.

These are some of the lectures I’m most interested in:

• Economic Update & Fund Score Presentation with Darell Johnson. I never miss this session with the CEO of FRANdata, an organization that provides top-notch franchising data & analysis. You definitely don’t want to miss this lecture because it will give you a glimpse of where we are and what’s coming. And I can tell you Darell has been right every time I have listened to him.
• International Growth Summit: Lessons from Global Franchise Leaders. One of the closing workshops. It will give us a comprehensive look at the opportunities and challenges of global franchising.
• Brittany Hodak, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Customer Experience Expert, and author. An interactive workshop that will give us a five-part framework to empower us to create superfans of our brands? I’m in!
• Jon Dorenbos, retired NFL star and world-class magician. This keynote speaker promises to deliver jaw-dropping magic with a raw, unforgettable story of resilience and hope.
• Jim Craig, Goaltender for the 1982 US Olympic Hockey Team. This is another one that is on my Do-Not-Miss list. I'm looking forward to listening to what this symbol of grit, belief, and national pride has to say and the value he will add to all of us.

Bonus Tip: Download the App

Attendees are invited to download the mobile app of the event, which makes it easier to plan their experience and connect with fellow participants. Another great feature: attendees can schedule 1:1 meetings directly through the app.

Look for me, Aicha Bascaro, AFA's Founder & CEO, and book time with me if you want to learn more about our educational programs. 

Tip #3: Study the Exhibition Floor

Identify which brands you wanna talk to and which services you wanna inquire about in the exhibit hall so you can prepare ahead of time based on your problems, needs, or questions. This year, the exhibit hall has around 300 brands, but don’t get overwhelmed. You’ll encounter two types of organizations:

• The franchise brands focused on growing with multi-unit franchisees and targeting entrepreneurs wanting a multi-unit development agreement. 
• Vendors and supporters, such as the American Franchise Academy, that help franchisees succeed. The services range from technology and real estate to legal support. 

While I recommend focusing on the companies you want to contact, you still want to walk the whole hall, as you might discover things you didn’t know you wanted. But be mindful of who you talk to and who you want to follow up with, and make notes of the things that catch your attention so you can reach out to them after the conference. 

Remember: the magic happens in the follow-up. Engaging during the conference and exchanging contact information is just the beginning; what you do afterward is what will count. This is true not only for the vendors and brands in the exhibit hall but also for all the franchisees you'll meet and all the sessions you'll learn from. 

The opportunities to walk the floor will happen at the end of the day, and you’ll have three hours each day to explore it.

By the way, while you are at the exhibit hall, visit the American Franchise Academy at booth #2127. Come by and say hello. We would love to meet you and share more about our training programs for Franchisees, District Managers, and Unit Managers when you visit us!

Tip #4: Participate in the networking opportunities

If your goals lean more towards networking, the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference will be great for you, as networking is a significant focus of the event.

Don't go and hide, even if you are an introvert. I'm an introvert, and I know it’s tricky. However, these in-person conferences allow you to see people face-to-face and start building relationships, and you should take advantage of this.

Be sure to attend the exclusive Franchisee gatherings. Sign up for the   Golf Tournament if you're a golfer. And please don’t take the breakfast, coffee break, and lunch times just to eat and relax. These are also networking opportunities!

Sit with different people, exchange conversations, and ask about the topics you want to learn at the conference. Even when you're sitting around waiting for the next session, take advantage of the opportunity to introduce yourself to the people next to you so you can network.

You can start with something like:

“Hey, nice to meet you! You know, one of the things that I wanted to accomplish here while I was in this conference is asking as many franchises as possible about how to [...], can you give me your perspective on how you would address [...]?” 

And then they will give you an answer. This is not only a great way to break the ice, but you'll get all kinds of amazing information and insights.

The Multi-Unit Franchising Conference really resonates with the American Franchise Academy, and we genuinely love it for franchisees. Our purpose is to protect and grow the American dream of business ownership through franchising. For that reason, we have sponsored the MUFC for many years, and we encourage you to be there and make the most of it. 

I hope this was valuable to you, and I look forward to seeing you at the exhibit hall booth #2127. If you cannot assist, don’t miss our upcoming blogs & podcasts, where we’ll share our insights on this great event.