As someone who’s spent my career building solutions for restaurants and hospitality, I love seeing our agents discover new ways to grow their book of business.

For me, this isn’t just business - it’s personal. My family owned and operated Grone’s Cafeteria for more than 70 years here in Saint Louis, MO, and I grew up around the same hustle, long hours, and pride that so many restaurant owners know well. That experience gave me a deep respect for the people who pour their lives into this industry. Today, as my family and I work in insurance, it feels incredibly rewarding to help restaurant owners protect the businesses they’ve built - because in many ways, I know exactly what’s at stake.

Just the other week, one of our Rainbow agents told us about setting up a booth at the Denny’s Franchise Convention. Smart move because the franchise world is one of the biggest untapped opportunities for independent agents.

When you land one franchise relationship, you’re not just insuring a single location. You’re opening the door to dozens of restaurants, all tied together by brand, training, and systems. Let’s talk about how you can tap into this world.

Why Franchises Are a Goldmine

Scale, scale, scale 

One policy could cover multiple locations (and keep growing).

Strong brand = lower risk 

Corporate training and systems reduce surprises for underwriters.

Built-in renewals 

A franchise keeps running year after year. So does your policy.

Peer referrals

Franchisees talk. Impress one, and you might meet the rest.
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Where to Meet Franchise Owners in 2025-2026

Franchise owners and franchisors love gathering to network, learn, and share ideas. If you want to be in the right place at the right time, here’s your cheat sheet:

Franchise-Focused

• Franchise Expo West – Sept 5–6, 2025, Los Angeles, CA
  

• Franchise Leadership & Development Conference – Oct 7–9, 2025, Atlanta, GA
  

• Franchise Expo Austin – Nov 14–15, 2025, Austin, TX

• Franchise Expo South – January 16–17, 2026, Fort Lauderdale, FL

• ‍IFA Annual Convention – February 22–25, 2026, Las Vegas, NV

• International Franchise Expo (IFE) – May 29–30, 2026, New York, NY

• IFA World Franchise Show – September 25–26, 2026, Fort Lauderdale, FL

• Franchise Leadership & Development Conference (2026 edition) – October 6–8, 2026, Atlanta, GA
  
  

Restaurant Industry Favorites (franchise-heavy)

• FSTEC – Sept 14–16, 2025, Kissimmee, FL
  

• Restaurant Finance & Development Conference – Nov 10–12, 2025, Las Vegas, NV

• MURTEC – March 9–11, 2026, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

• Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit – March 16–18, 2026, San Diego, CA

• Restaurant Leadership Conference – April 19–22, 2026, Phoenix, AZ

• National Restaurant Association Show – May 16–19, 2026, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

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How to Approach the Franchise Crowd

From my experience, the most successful agents do three things:

1. Lead with compliance. Franchise agreements often have strict insurance requirements. Be the agent who can say, “We’ll make sure you’re covered.”
   
   
2. Bundle smartly. Liability, property, business interruption, cyber, workers’ comp  packaged in a way that feels easy and turnkey.
   
   
3. Tell stories. Share examples of how you’ve helped franchisees protect their business and expand into more locations.

Marketing Moves That Work

• Host a booth (and bring something memorable…yes, snacks help).
• Offer a free Franchise Insurance Checkup.
• Run a short session on “Top 5 Policy Exclusions for Franchise Owners.”
• Create one-pagers tailored to specific brands.
  
  

Final Bite

Breaking into the franchise market isn’t about luck, it’s about showing up where your clients already gather, speaking their language, and making their lives easier.

Start with just one event this year. Pack your business cards, your compliance know-how, and maybe a few donut holes. You never know… that single conversation could open the door to an entire network of restaurants. And for me, helping restaurant owners succeed feels like honoring the same spirit my own family carried in the business for decades - a spirit of hard work, community, and pride that deserves to be protected.

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