Franchise

What Franchise does

Franchise India, founded in 1999 by Gaurav Marya, operates what it describes as Asia's largest integrated franchise solutions company. The business runs a two-sided marketplace connecting brand owners seeking franchise expansion with entrepreneurs and investors seeking franchise opportunities, supported by a digital platform that lists 18,000+ brands and intermediates deal flow across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Physical distribution is a core asset: 40+ offices (corporate and partner) cover 231+ cities, complemented by 60+ monthly events including the multicity Bharat Franchise Show, which serve as the principal deal-sourcing and brand-discovery mechanism in tier-2/3 Indian markets where digital-only acquisition is weak.

The monetization model is multi-stream. Franchise India earns brokerage on each matched deal (15% of franchise fees or 3% of project cost, subject to a ₹4 Lacs minimum), charges Independent Franchise Consultants (IFCs) a ₹7.5 Lacs + GST registration fee to access the network (4,000+ IFCs active), and operates a premium investor-engagement tier at ₹1.5 Lacs + taxes. Ancillary revenue lines include capital services and M&A advisory, event sponsorships, media (Entrepreneur India), and licensing services routed through subsidiaries such as Francorp, Bradford License India, FranGlobal, BusinessEx, and FranWork Brands. The technology stack is a CRM-enabled web directory and event-management system; no proprietary AI or algorithmic matchmaking is disclosed.

The company has executed 20,100+ deals since inception and is privately held with no disclosed external funding. The leadership bench has formalized succession, with Sonya Chowdhry (who joined in 2004) elevated to Managing Director alongside founder Gaurav Marya. Customer concentration is structurally low: brand-side listings span F&B (400+), Retail (350+), Health & Beauty (300+) and numerous other verticals, and demand-side volume is fragmented across thousands of IFCs and individual investors rather than concentrated in enterprise contracts.

Name

Franchise

Legal name

Franchise India Consultants Pvt. Ltd.

Website

https://franchiseindia.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Franchise India is a privately held, integrated franchise solutions company founded in 1999 that runs Asia's largest two-sided marketplace for franchise expansion, connecting 18,000+ brands with entrepreneurs across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh via 40+ offices and 60+ monthly events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Franchise Consulting & Brokerage

NAICS

Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533)

akta.pro primary industry

Franchise Resale & Franchise Brokerage (Transfers/Resales) (FSAEAIAG)

Keywords

• Franchise consulting
• Business brokerage
• Franchise development
• SME consulting
• Brand licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Faridabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Brokerage and Deal Facilitation: Franchise India acts as a business brokerage firm facilitating franchise deals between brands and investors. The company earns commissions on completed franchise transactions. Brokerage fees include 15% of Franchise Fees or 3% of Project Cost or 4 Lac (with 1.5 Lac Engagement Fee adjusted), whichever is higher, over a 3-year engagement period.
2. Premium Investor Services Subscription: Premium investor services offering exclusive franchise portfolio access, research-based recommendations, franchise M&A advisory, legal advisory, financial due diligence, funding services, real estate services, and dispute resolution. One-time engagement fee of 1.5 Lac + Taxes with 3-year commitment.
3. Membership and Subscription: Franchise India offers membership programs to investors providing access to franchise opportunities, business coaching, market intelligence, and event access. Membership includes free entry to exhibitions during the membership period.
4. IFC (Independent Franchise Consultant) Program: Revenue generated from licensing Independent Franchise Consultants who pay a registration fee of ₹7.5 Lacs + GST to become certified franchise consultants. Consultants gain access to CRM, brand portfolio, leads, and events.
5. Capital Services and Investment: Franchise India Brands provides investment capital to support growth and development of promising franchise concepts. Generates returns through portfolio company investments and strategic partnerships.
6. Event and Exhibition Revenue: Revenue from organizing large-scale franchise exhibitions and events across India including the Bharat Franchise Show, Franchise Investment Conclave, and Master Franchise Conclave.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Franchise India operates Asia's largest integrated franchise solutions platform, facilitating franchise deals between brands seeking expansion and investors aspiring to own franchise businesses. The company delivers end-to-end services spanning franchise brokerage, consulting (Francorp), brand licensing (Bradford License India), legal advisory (FranLegal), capital services, M&A advisory (BusinessEx), event management (Bharat Franchise Show, FRO/BOS), and an Independent Franchise Consultant (IFC) licensing program. Revenue is generated primarily through brokerage commissions on closed deals, premium investor subscriptions, IFC licensing fees, and event/exhibition revenue.

Product overview

Franchise India is Asia's largest integrated franchise solutions company, operating as a platform-plus-services organization. The core product is Franchiseindia.com, the world's #1 franchise website, which connects investors with franchise opportunities. The portfolio includes sub-brands: Francorp (franchising consulting), Bradford License India (licensing solutions), BusinessEx (SME M&A marketplace), Franchise India Brands Limited (brokerage arm), Entrepreneur India (SME consulting), and FranGlobal (international expansion). Services span franchise development, legal advisory (FranLegal), capital services, M&A advisory, event management (Franchise & Investment Conclave, Bharat Franchise Show), and the Independent Franchise Consultant (IFC) training program. The organization also operates media properties including Entrepreneur India and The Franchising World magazine, reaching 5 million collective visitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Francorp: Franchising consulting division of Franchise India providing franchise and business consultancy services
• Bradford License India
• Entrepreneur India
• FranGlobal
• BusinessEx
• Franchise India Venture
• FranWork Brands Limited
• Bharat Franchise Show
• Independent Franchise Consultant (IFC)

Products and services

• Franchise India Marketplace (franchiseindia.in) World's #1 franchise website providing franchise opportunities, business opportunities, partnerships, dealers, manufacturing, distribution, and retail listings; connects brands seeking expansion with prospective franchisee investors across 18,000+ brands.
• Franchise India Events & Exhibitions

Quantifiable outcome

• Franchise businesses achieve 60-80% success rates compared to ~90% failure rate for independent startups
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Franchise India Holdings Ltd (Parent)coreOthersParent holding company encompassing all Franchise India Group entities including franchise solutions, media, licensing, and investment divisions.
• Franchise India Brands Limited (FIBL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment and asset company of Franchise India Group providing brokerage, management, consulting, and capital services for franchise development and expansion.
• FrancorpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranchising consulting division of Franchise India with 24+ years of experience helping over 1000 businesses successfully start and scale franchise operations.
• Bradford License IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia's first complete licensing solution provider helping brands with brand licensing and intellectual property management.
• Entrepreneur IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSME and growth consulting division of Franchise India providing business advisory and growth strategies.
• FranGlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational business arm of Franchise India handling cross-border franchising and global brand expansion.
• BusinessExcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal marketplace for SME M&A deal-making, facilitating buying and selling of businesses alongside franchise opportunities.
• FranWork Brands LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Ms. Sonya Chowdhry MD, provides premium franchise consulting services and manages the Independent Franchise Consultant program with comprehensive training and certification.
• Franchise India EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent management subsidiary organizing franchise exhibitions, webinars, and the Bharat Franchise Show across India.
• Global Franchise ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for franchise investment conclaves bringing together curated Indian and international franchise brands across multiple investment levels and business formats.
• Master Franchise Conclave (JewelX)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier platform dedicated to cross-border franchising, bringing together top global brands, investors, and entrepreneurs to explore expansion opportunities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• 99Franchise: India-based franchise marketplace with similar focus on connecting brands with franchise investors. Direct competitor in the Indian franchise brokerage market with overlap in target customers and service offerings.

Direct peers

• FranNet: North America's largest franchise consulting network with a similar model of independent franchise consultants facilitating franchise matches. Operates a comparable two-sided marketplace connecting aspiring franchisees with franchise brands.
• Franchise Direct: International franchise marketplace operating across multiple countries, offering franchise listings, investment opportunities, and business brokerage services. Comparable to Franchise India's core marketplace offering.
• FranchiseBazar: India-based online franchise marketplace connecting brands with potential franchisees. Operates a similar business model to Franchise India with brand listings, investor matchmaking, and franchise consulting services.
• Franchise.com: Global franchise marketplace and directory connecting franchise opportunities with investors. Operates a similar digital platform for franchise matchmaking and broker services.

Broad incumbents

• MFV Expositions: Operator of major franchise expos including the International Franchise Expo (IFE). Comparable to Franchise India's Bharat Franchise Show and FRO events as a franchise exhibition organizer.
• JustDial: India's leading local search and business directory platform connecting consumers with businesses. Comparable distribution channel and audience reach to Franchise India's investor matchmaking platform.
• BizBuySell: Largest online business-for-sale marketplace in the US. While broader than franchise-specific brokerage, the business model overlap with Franchise India's BusinessEx division and SME M&A services makes it a comparable platform.
• IndiaMART InterMESH: India's largest B2B marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers. Analogous platform model and SME-focused audience to Franchise India's franchise marketplace, though broader in scope.

Regional players

• TradeIndia: Indian B2B marketplace for small and medium businesses. Comparable technology platform and SME audience, though TradeIndia focuses more broadly on B2B trade rather than franchising specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/franchiseeindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/franchiseindiabrandslimited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franchiseindiabrandslimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franchise