5 Things You’ll Get at the FBR Summit That You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
The only event built for the people who actually make franchising work
You’re not in development. You’re not in marketing or legal. You’re the one getting the calls when things go sideways, the one coaching franchisees through hard conversations, the one figuring out how to turn a struggling unit around while keeping 47 other things from falling apart. And yet most franchise conferences weren’t built for you.
The FBR Summit was.
The Summit is the ONLY event designed exclusively for franchise operations leaders, people leaders, and the teams that directly support franchisees. It’s happening October 28-30 in Austin, TX, and nowhere else will you find an event offering education and strategies that address the unique people and culture challenges of a franchise system.
If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet, here’s why you should stop waiting.
Top 5 Reasons the FBR Summit Belongs on Your Calendar
1. Sessions that actually respect your time
No fluff. No panels that gloss over the hard stuff. Every speaker is required to pack their session with real, actionable takeaways. Think 90-minute labs, hot topic roundtables, and candid peer-led conversations that go beyond surface-level. You’ll leave with at least five things you can put to work immediately, and a few longer-term strategies you didn’t know you needed. See what past years looked like.
2. A keynote who’s been there—from the drive-thru to the c-suite
Monica Rothgery—KFC’s first female COO—is bringing hard-won lessons from one of the most iconic franchise brands in the world. Her perspective on leading through complexity, building culture, and driving performance across a massive system is exactly the kind of insight you don’t find on a podcast or in a LinkedIn post. Get to know Monica here.
3. Real talk, by role
The full-day pre-conference workshops are where the real magic happens. Designed specifically for C-suite executives, VPs and Directors, and HR and People leaders, these aren’t your standard breakout sessions. They’re intentionally small, peer-driven, and built for the kind of honest conversation that only happens when everyone in the room actually gets it. There’s a track for every role, so everyone on your team walks away with strategies relevant to the challenges they face daily. Find the precon for your role.
4. Content curated for ops—and only ops
Franchisee accountability frameworks. Coaching franchisees who’ve checked out of growth. Using AI to give your field business consultants their time back. Helping new franchisees nail their first 90 days. Building the leadership bench for multi-unit expansion. This is the stuff you deal with every day, finally getting the conference time it deserves. Check out the full 2026 agenda.
5. The kind of networking that doesn’t feel like networking
No awkward small talk here. The Summit is intentionally small and intimate—which means you actually get to talk to the speakers, not just watch them from a ballroom. You’ll build real connections through the Franchising for Good charity kick-off, hot topic roundtables where the best ideas come from the people sitting next to you, and an after party at Punch Bowl Social Austin with bowling, karaoke, arcade games, and more.
The Summit Is the Must-Attend Event of the Year
But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s some of the feedback we received from past attendees:
“This was probably the best franchise conference I’ve ever been to as it was all Operations-focused folks and the content was SO applicable to everything Franchise Operations needs to be focused on. I personally feel as though EVERY franchisor needs to send their Ops folks to this conference and will be spreading the word!”
“Overall I was so impressed with the entire event. The layout, presentation and timing was thoughtful, the presenters were well vetted and were engaging, and there was still a good amount of time to network. I left feeling energized and educated.”
“The round tables were one of the most unique aspects of this conference in my experience. I got a ton of great information from the speakers, but felt I got just as much good information from people at my tables during the roundtable discussion. I am horrible at networking, but the people I hit it off the best with were the people I got to speak to during these times.”
“What I really like about Summit is that it doesn’t feel like there is as much ego as other conferences. People are more humble yet smart and willing to share and learn from each other. Good vibes!”
Register today and experience the Summit for yourself. Group discounts are available so you can bring your whole operations and HR teams!
The Only Event Designed Just for Franchise Operations & HR Teams
How can you make an immediate and lasting impact on your franchisees’ success? Find out at the FBR Summit, October 28-30 in Austin, TX. The Summit is an intensive, franchise industry event created just for operations leaders and their teams that directly support franchisees. Don’t miss it!
About the Author: Ali Forman
