Six questions large firm leaders should ask before any trade show
Trade shows can fill your diary and drain your travel budget. Before you block out two days and book the train to Birmingham (or anywhere else), pause and run through these six questions. They will help you decide whether the event earns its place in your diary – and whether your team should be there with you.
1. Does the delegate mix include decision-makers from other national and Top-100 practices so we can share ideas on strategy and growth?
Look for evidence that other managing partners, service-line heads and COOs are already registered; their presence signals high-level peer learning rather than a purely technical crowd.
2. Are the technology vendors able to support large client volumes and complex workflows, not just small-practice use-cases?
Check that exhibitors bring enterprise-ready roadmaps, reference sites and APIs that integrate with audit, tax and advisory platforms used by multi-office firms.
3. Can we pre-book private demos or proof-of-concept meetings rather than queue on the day?
A serious trade show should offer a concierge system that locks in 30-minute slots with solutions architects, ensuring your team gets hands-on time with the software that matters.
4. Does the agenda give clear guidance on new regulation and standards that matter to bigger firms?
You want sessions that unpack PIE audit reform, international quality standards, sustainability reporting and other large-firm pain points, not just SME tax updates.
5. Is there structured networking designed for firms of our size, so we meet true peers and potential alliance partners?
Look for invite-only roundtables, partner lunches or deal rooms that match you with practices of similar scale and ambition, rather than generic “speed networking.”
6. Does the show offer CPD that counts toward our staff’s annual requirements and supports their career pathways?
Confirm that shows are affiliated with bodies such as ICAEW, ACCA or ICAS, allowing directors and senior managers to log verifiable CPD hours while gaining strategic insight.
Why these questions matter
The right event accelerates that growth; the wrong one burns budget and momentum. By testing content depth, speaker quality and networking design, you make sure every train fare converts into insight, partnerships and revenue.
The FAB answer
The Finance, Accounting & Bookkeeping Show is built on these pillars. The AccountingWeb newsroom tracks policy changes the moment they land, and with more than 30,000 professionals visiting the site for straight‑talking coverage of tax, tech and regulation every day, our connection with the industry is unmatched.
We have also listened to our 2025 attendees, and among other improvements, the capacity for pre-booked 1-2-1s has been doubled. Arrive with a problem; leave with a shortlist, a quote and a peer reference.
Sound like the event for you? Book your tickets today and put FAB 2026 in your diary.
