Josh Deacon to speak at 2026 National Franchise Show in Edmonton

On November 7–8, 2026, MLT Aikins franchising lawyer Josh Deacon will attend the 2026 National Franchise Show in Edmonton, Alberta, where he will present three sessions over the two-day conference.

How to franchise your business

On Saturday, November 7 at 10:00 a.m., Josh will host How to franchise your business, a limited-seating workshop for business owners interested in developing their existing business into a franchise system.

The workshop will walk attendees through the key stages of developing a franchise system, from assessing whether a business is ready to franchise and designing a scalable franchise model to understanding the legal framework for franchising. Josh will also address practical considerations for launching and growing a franchise system, including recruiting, qualifying and onboarding franchisees.

The session is designed to give business owners a practical understanding of what is involved in moving from operating a successful business to developing a franchise system capable of supporting long-term growth.

Understand your franchise agreement

On Saturday, November 7 at 1:30 p.m., Josh will present Understand your franchise agreement, a practical overview of the contractual framework governing the relationship between franchisor and franchisee.

The session will examine key provisions commonly found in franchise agreements and what they mean in practice, including franchise fees and other financial obligations, territorial rights and restrictions, operating requirements, renewal and transfer rights, defaults, termination and post-termination obligations.

Attendees will also learn how territorial protections can differ between exclusive and non-exclusive territories, the rights franchisors may reserve for themselves and the potential consequences when a franchisee fails to comply with its financial or operational obligations.

Legal aspects you must know before buying a franchise

On Sunday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m., Josh will present Legal aspects you must know before buying a franchise, focusing on the key legal considerations prospective franchisees should understand before investing in a franchise.

The session will explain the role of the Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement in evaluating a franchise opportunity, including what prospective franchisees should look for in the disclosure document and how information about fees, financial statements, territory rights, litigation, trademarks and the franchisor’s background can help identify potential risks, costs and obligations.

The discussion will also examine the transaction more broadly, including the differences between purchasing a new franchise and acquiring an existing franchised business, as well as considerations relating to acquisition structure, leasing, financing and potential personal liability.

About Josh

Josh is a corporate and commercial lawyer with extensive experience advising on all aspects of franchising, from helping start-up concepts establish their first locations to supporting established brands with networks of 50+ locations. He regularly advises franchisors and franchisees on structuring franchise systems, preparing disclosure documents, drafting and negotiating franchise agreements and navigating ongoing legal and regulatory requirements.

Josh also advises on the purchase and sale of franchised businesses, including multi-location transactions, and the corporate, commercial, leasing and financing issues that can arise as part of those transactions.

About the MLT Aikins franchising team

The MLT Aikins franchising team represents and advises franchisors, franchisees, master franchisees, area representatives and licensors on the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to Canadian franchises.

Our primary focus is advising corporate and franchised brands on establishing, structuring, developing and expanding in Western Canada. We work with clients at all stages of the franchise lifecycle, from initial launch and growth through ongoing operations and expansion to succession planning and business sale transactions, across a range of industries including quick-service restaurants and regulated professions.

MLT Aikins is a member of the Canadian Franchise Association.

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