Introduction to Franchising Workshop (Virtual)

Facilitator: Shawna Rollins, Founder of Delicious Treats Franchise | Franchise Ambassador (Barbados)
Moderator: Michelle N. Samuel, MNS Consultancy (Saint Lucia)
Host Organization: MNS Consultancy (Saint Lucia)
Partner Organization: SLUDTERA Inc.

Participants: Up to 30 persons (closed session for select members of the small business community and S.A.L.C.C. students & staff)
Cost: Free

Purpose: To build foundational awareness and understanding of franchising as a viable business expansion model within the Caribbean.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define franchising and identify its main business models.
2. Understand the benefits and risks of franchising.
3. Recognize key elements of a franchise system (legal, operational, and financial).
4. Explore Caribbean and international case studies of successful franchises.
5. Determine whether their current businesses could evolve into franchise-ready models.

This activity is supported by a small grant from the U.S. Department of State, implemented by IREX through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program. To learn more about YLAI, visit YLAI.state.gov.