Most franchisors pour everything into their annual conference and walk away three weeks later wondering why nothing changed. In this episode, Leighton Healey breaks down what actually separates a great franchise conference from an expensive one—drawing on decades of experience across dozens of franchise brands.

He covers the FBC prep practice most brands skip, how to use vendor relationships as a competitive intelligence tool, and why the Monday after your conference is where ROI goes to die.

Plus: we built a free worksheet based on the framework in this episode. Subscribe to What's Next in Franchising — Weekly Signals at whatsnextinfranchising.com to get it.

Franchise growth is accelerating in lockstep with rising pressure on operations.

In the first episode of What’s Next in Franchising, Leighton Healey and Travis Martin introduce the show and break down three developments shaping service franchising in 2026:

• FTC franchise disclosure updates and what greater transparency means for franchisors
• The latest Franchise 500 rankings and how visibility raises expectations across systems
• The shift away from DIY as consumers return to professional service providers

This episode sets the foundation for the conversations ahead, focusing on how franchise leaders can navigate growth without losing quality, culture, or their people.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
👉 https://youtu.be/xIqQ8AtGCkw?si=w57A-tYWC_if78Fa