EMERGING franchise concepts and business trends that suit even budding entrepreneurs with minimal capital will be showcased at the third edition of The Philippine SME and Franchise Expo from October 27 to 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Aside from learning the business concepts of some 120 exhibitors, visitors and attendees to the three-day show can also listen to free seminars on entrepreneurship, from starting a business to branding and marketing.

“When you enter PICC for the expo, you will surely learn a lot so that by the time you go out, you already have the necessary knowledge and inspiration to start or grow your own business,” recognized Philippine franchise guru Butch Bartolome, founder of GMB Franchise Developers Inc., said.  He said the Philippine SME and Franchise Expo has generated interest even from the academe, with the student council of the Philippine Women’s University-Calamba sending 500 entrepreneurship students on October 27. He said among the emerging business concepts that will be on display at the event include the Chicken Deli from Bacolod, which will be going to Manila for the first time since it opened in 1983, and BC NET, which is offering a VoIP (voice-over internet protocol) business with very minimal startup capital requirement.

“Even those who do not have enough capital to buy a franchise, they can get business ideas at the expo that will fit their funds,” he said.

Bartolome said Sun Cellular Business Solutions is also launching a business package for SMEs at the event.

There will be a seminar about branding for SMEs and how they can make use of web sites and social networks like Facebook to grow their business. Go Negosyo will also give seminars.

Support services, such as banks, logistics and contractors, are also participating in the expo.

“This is a one-stop shop for those who want to grow their small businesses and employees who want to have a business that can serve as their fallback,” Bartolome said.