Franchise Only If Necessary

If you're in the food and beverage business, franchising is generally not worth considering—regardless of brand size. Big brands offer poor value for money due to high upfront costs. Even moderately established brands typically require over ¥400,000 to open a store. With small brands, it's hard to find reliable partners, and without brand recognition, the value of franchising is minimal.

Some businesses do justify franchising if they can leverage the franchise headquarters' advantages—such as supply chain and sourcing, required licenses, proprietary equipment, or strong brand appeal.