Which term applies to the individual or organization that sells franchises?

The term that accurately describes the individual or organization that sells franchises is "franchisor." A franchisor is responsible for providing the franchisee with the rights to operate a business under their brand, as well as the associated systems, training, support, and trademark. The franchisor typically creates a franchise agreement that outlines the terms of the relationship, which includes the fees that franchisees must pay, corporate guidelines, and the expectations for operation.

The other terms do not capture the specific role of selling franchises. While a vendor sells products or services, a distributor usually deals with the supply chain logistics of products, and a conference refers to an event where people gather to discuss specific topics. Thus, within the realm of franchising, "franchisor" specifically denotes the entity that grants the license to franchisees, making it the correct choice.