Introducing the Caribbean Franchising Series: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Regional & Global Expansion
The Caribbean is home to vibrant brands, innovative entrepreneurs, and high-growth businesses, yet only a small percentage ever scale beyond their island borders. Many entrepreneurs reach a point where demand increases, but systems, operations, and expansion models cannot keep pace. That’s where franchising becomes a transformative pathway.
The Franchising Education & Development Series, is a strategic initiative presented by Michelle N. Samuel in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, IREX, and the YLAI Alumni Network. The initiative will be implemented in partnership with Michelle's businesses MNS Consultancy and SLUDTERA Inc. Michelle is a 2017 YLAI Alumna and business development & social impact strategist. The program is designed to introduce, educate, and empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses through franchising. This initiative will be executed in two progressive phases:
- Phase 1 (Nov 22nd, 2025): Introduction to Franchising Workshop - an exclusive foundational training session.
- Phase 2 (Mar 18th-20th, 2026): The Caribbean Franchise Summit - a regional 3-day conference and capacity-building event.
Introduction to Franchising Workshop - November 22, 2025
A foundational, highly practical session facilitated by Franchise Ambassador Shawna Rollins of Barbados.
Strategically being held during Global Entrepreneurship Week, this free workshop will be delivered online via Zoom, powered by SLUDTERA Inc. A total of 30 select participants will benefit from the workshop:
- The 18 Founding Members of BizConnect Caribbean
- 10 students + 1 teacher from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (S.A.L.C.C.)
- 1 giveaway winner
Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define franchising and identify its main business models.
- Understand the benefits and risks of franchising.
- Recognize key elements of a franchise system (legal, operational, and financial).
- Explore Caribbean and international case studies of successful franchises.
- Determine whether their current businesses could evolve into franchise-ready models.
Caribbean Franchise Summit - March 18th-20th, 2026
The region’s first in-person franchise conference bringing together franchisors, franchisees, investors, SMEs, policymakers, and ecosystem builders, under the theme "Building Regional Brands for Global Scale".
The summit will be held from 10 am to 4 pm daily, at the Finance Administrative Centre, 5th Floor Conference Room at Pointe Seraphine in Castries, Saint Lucia.
Led by experts:
- Shawna Rollins, Franchise Ambassador | The Caribbean Franchise Queen (Barbados)
- Chris Conner, FMS Franchise Marketing System (USA)
- Dr. Henry E. Emejuo, SME & Franchise Specialist (Africa)
- Michelle N. Samuel, Founder of SLUDTERA Inc., MNS Consultancy, and BizConnect Caribbean (Saint Lucia)
- Others TBA
Conference Format:
| Day | Topic | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations of Franchising | Franchising concepts, business models, success factors |
| 2 | Franchise Readiness & Operations | Legal frameworks, compliance, systems development |
| 3 | Scaling & Global Growth | Marketing, financing, and cross-border expansion strategies |
Each day features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and Q&A segments designed to progressively deepen understanding and application. Refreshments will be provided.
A maximum of 60 persons will be accommodated on each day - 50 locals + 10 regional attendees
Objectives:
- Build Caribbean capacity in franchise development and management.
- Connect regional and international franchising experts with local entrepreneurs.
- Help business owners evaluate and prepare their operations for franchising.
- Promote sustainable, inclusive franchise ecosystems across the Caribbean.
Registration Fees:
| Category | Fee per Day (USD) | 3-Day Pass (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Local Participants | $99.63 | $229.30 |
| Regional Participants (flying in) | $118.15 | $284.81 |
| VIP Access (includes networking dinner with the speakers) | - | $303.33 |
Regional participants can book their accommodation based on their preference and budget.
The recommended hotel:
Bel Jou Hotel, La Panse, Castries (all inclusive). Airport transfers can be arranged with the hotel during the booking process or, opt for our private, luxury airport transfer service for a small fee. Book now
Tip: Book the hotel accommodation & airport transfers first, then purchase your 3-Day pass. Our logistics team will reach out to confirm details, and request additional documentation in preparation for your arrival.
This two-tiered series creates a runway for entrepreneurs to build, refine, and launch a scalable franchise model tailored to the Caribbean business landscape.
Why Franchising?
Franchising is one of the most powerful models for business expansion because it allows brands to:
- Grow with lower capital investment
- Expand into new territories faster
- Maintain quality and consistency across outlets
- Empower other entrepreneurs through ownership
- Build systems that outlive the founder
Instead of struggling to open every location yourself, franchising enables a structured, profitable, and sustainable expansion path, when done correctly.
The Caribbean Franchising Series ensures that entrepreneurs get the right knowledge, guidance, and systems from experts who have done it at scale.
A Global Learning Experience Rooted in Caribbean Realities
Each speaker brings international expertise matched with an understanding of small-island economics:
- Barbados' experience with successful local franchise models
- Africa’s franchise expansion ecosystem
- U.S. franchise documentation standards and marketing systems
- Saint Lucia’s emerging SME support frameworks and implementation strategies
This blend creates a powerful and practical learning environment specifically designed for the Caribbean entrepreneur.
Who Should Attend?
This series is perfect for:
- Business owners ready to expand regionally or internationally
- SMEs seeking systems and structure
- Entrepreneurs aiming to franchise within 12–36 months
- Investors evaluating scalable brands
- Policymakers and ecosystem partners
- Consultants supporting business development
Registration Now Open
Registration for the Caribbean Franchise Summit 2026 is now open.
Participants may join in person from Saint Lucia and the from Caribbean.
Each ticket includes:
✔ Access to expert-led sessions
✔ Refreshments
✔ Worksheets & templates
✔ Networking opportunities
✔ Certificate of Completion
Final Thoughts
The Caribbean has always been rich in entrepreneurial spirit, now it's time to build businesses that scale across the region and the world.
The Caribbean Franchising Series is more than a workshop and a conference.
It is a movement.
A blueprint.
A regional opportunity.
And a catalyst for generational success.
Join us as we transform Caribbean businesses into franchisable, investment-ready, globally competitive brands.
Note: These activities are 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.