India and the Education system have a relationship that dates back to the 8th century BCE. While Takshshila (now in Pakistan) is regarded as the oldest learning centre, the Nalanda University fits the bill of the modern University education system. Scriptures, Vedas, Stupas, are all proof that the ancient Indian Education System was very evolved. With changing era, colonization and later Independence, the education system in India has seen drastic changes from its ancient, often described as glorious past, to the modern system. The current system consists of public and private schools imparting education at the pre-primary primary and secondary levels.

1. VOLUME - 10, ISSUE -4, 2019
KALOREXContemporary Education.Global Attributes. Local Values.
Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff
MD & CEO, Kalorex Group
The Premier
Franchises to
Watch in 2019

4. From the
Editor
Kick-Starting
Your
Entrepreneurial
Journey
or many, the road to entrepreneurship starts with a
Fsimple notion, “I want to do something on my own and
be my own boss”. While it does get them thinking, the
notion alone isn’t enough to start the ride. To transform into
reality, one needs a business idea, a plan, finance, infrastructure,
people, market research about the target customer and much
more. At times, achieving clarity over these points and
arranging the how-to gets so overwhelming that many people
drop the complete idea and get back to their usual world.
However others, who persist, look for options that best-fits their
dreams. And many find their answers in Franchising.
Buying a franchise is often considered easier than starting one’s
own business from scratch. But then every coin has two sides.
And before finalizing an option, one must go through the pros
and cons. A franchise lets an aspiring entrepreneur buy into an
existing, successful business model with a proven track record.
It also assists the franchisee with a successful training program,
gets together a solid supply chain, and provides expert technical
support. Some of the best-known franchises in the world have
an impressive success rate, with fairly low chances of failure.
The biggest advantage, as supported by statistics, is that of a
franchise, being an established one, has lesser chances of failure
compared to an independent start-up. It also provides the
franchisee with basic know-how on starting the new set-up. In
most cases, it provides them with equipment, supplies, trained
personnel (at times), and even sets up the new place for them
right from furniture to lighting. Franchisees also benefit from
the brand value and star power, if any, associated with the
franchise.
On the downside, adhering to the strict guidelines set up by the
franchise can be a bit domineering. Apart from the basic fee, the
royalty fee that needs to be paid irrespective of the sales that
occur during the fixed period can be a bit inconvenient. Also, at
times, the franchisees are not allowed to bring about any change
to the set-up or menu in case of restaurants, which might seem
to some like stifling ideas.
Starting a business—a franchise or an independent venture —is
a matter of choice. Those who seek a life different from the
usual 9-5, also understand that being an entrepreneur is a 24*7
job. While the franchise offers the initial comfort to the
establishment, the business still needs to be run by the
franchisee. And that is where their business acumen needs to
run and make decisions that ultimately transform their idea of
being an entrepreneur into reality.

5. SME-SMO Executives Manoj, Ketki
Circulation Manager Tanaji
Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale
Technical Specialist Amar, Pratiksha
Co-designer
Savita PandavArt & Picture Editor
Art & Design Head Amol Kamble
Associate Designer Poonam Mahajan
Copyright © 2019 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Corporate Ofces:
Insights Success Media Tech LLC
555 Metro Place North, Suite 100,
Dublin, OH 43017, United States
Phone - (614)-602-1754
Email: info@insightssuccess.com
For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com
Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Ofce No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk,
Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017
Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85
Email: info@insightssuccess.in
For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in
sales@insightssuccess.com
October, 2019
Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ https://twitter.com/insightssuccess
Cover Price : RS. 150/-
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal
Managing Editor
Contributing Writers
Sneha Sinha
RNI NUMBER: MAHENG/2018/75953
Business Development Executive Kajol Karale
Business Development Lead Ashwini Pahurkar
Sapana Shinde
Rahul Niraj
Business Development Manager Megha Mishra

6. KALOREXKALOREXContemporary Education.
Global Attributes. Local Values.
CXO Standpoint
Hotel and Restaurant
Franchising in India
36
CONTENTS
10

7. 18Birla Open Minds
Preparing Today for Tomorrow
22 Kids Cube
International
Doors to a World of Fun and Learning
24Maple Bear
Delivering Wholesome
Education across Boundaries
30Pebbles Pre-School
Focusing on All Facets
of a Child's Growth
28 Nasah Petals
Engrave Your Special Moments
34 Zee Learn
The Perfect Cloud
Transformation Partner

8. The Business of
Starting a Business
s per a KPMG and Franchise Association of India (FAI) report, the market size of the
AIndian franchise industry is currently estimated at $50.4 billion. The industry started
with a big-bang in the 1990s with the liberalization and globalization era setting in. The
industry insiders claim that India has already made its place as the second-largest franchise
market globally. With around 1.5 lakh franchisees and 4,600 franchisers operating in the country,
they envision that the industry would grow to at least about USD 140-150 billion in the next five
years.
If you are looking for a business opportunity and wondering about the franchise aspect, this
edition of Insights Success, brings to you, “The Premier Franchises to Watch in 2019 ”. With a
well-established name in the market, these franchise are looking out to expand their wings and
herein lies the opportunity for those to want to start as entrepreneurs.
The Cover Story of this issue features Kalorex Group, a professionally managed autonomous
institution, with key focus on K-12 education which believes in empowering children to succeed
in all spheres of life.
Also featuring in this issue are Birla Open Minds, who have been focussing on transforming
education making it more relevant and contemporary, yet rooted in values; Kids Cube
International, which works with a vision to shape children’s futures with an all-inclusive
approach; Maple Bear, which focuses on the social, cognitive and theoretical development of
each child under its care; Nasah Petals, a company that creates customised floral and gift
packages; Pebbles Preschool, an ISO Certified international standard pre-school founded with
an aim to provide the best start in education for children in the age group of 2 to 4 years; and Zee
Learn Limited, a leading educational organization from the Essel Group that addresses
educational and learning requirements.
The issue also highlights the viewpoints of Amit Tejpal, Founder, Tejpal Hospitality, who
shares his insight regarding Hotel and Restaurant Franchising in India.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did while curating it!
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019

12. Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff
MD & CEO, Kalorex Group

13. KALOREXKALOREXContemporary Education.
Global Attributes. Local Values.
We at Kalorex believe in ‘Shaping
Glocal Learners’ - combining the
elements of Global attributes with
Local values.
Cover Story
“

14. India and the Education system
have a relationship that dates back
th
to the 8 century BCE. While
Takshshila (now in Pakistan) is
regarded as the oldest learning centre,
the Nalanda University fits the bill of
the modern University education
system. Scriptures, Vedas, Stupas, are
all proof that the ancient Indian
Education System was very evolved.
With changing era, colonization and
later Independence, the education
system in India has seen drastic
changes from its ancient, often
described as glorious past, to the
modern system. The current system
consists of public and private schools
imparting education at the pre-primary
primary and secondary levels. Higher,
specialized and multidisciplinary
education is imparted via several
Government and private colleges. Free
and compulsory education is provided
under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, as a
fundamental right to children between
the ages of 6 and 14. Reservation
system in the higher education
provides an opportunity for the
underprivileged to learn at par with the
rest of the population.
Filling the Lacuna
Despite all the efforts, there still is a
huge gap in the demand and supply
situation in education in India. With
increasing levels of awareness and a
desire to provide the best of
educational experiences and all round
exposure to their children, the need for
establishing quality benchmark K-12
schools & Preschools catering to a
holistic and integrated educational
approach has increased manifolds. To
meet this need, Kalorex Group came
into being in 1995.
A professionally managed autonomous
institution, Kalorex’s key focus, since
inception, has been K-12 education. It
believes in empowering children to
succeed in all spheres of life. With 40
+ institutions and growing, Kalorex
follows a cradle to career approach-
addressing need of all segments of
educational domain.
The Opportunity
The Indian education market is
expected to almost double to $180
billion by 2020. The rapid expansion of
the digital learning market and the
world’s largest population in the age
bracket of six to 17 years act as
boosting factors. But the sector
continues to be plagued by poor
infrastructure and a shortage of trained
teachers. Currently, in the K-12
segment, there are 1.5 million schools

15. with 260 million students. Of the 1.5
million schools, 1.1 million are run by
the government. The additional
capacity requirement in the K-12
segment is 40 million and teachers’
requirement is 2 million. The demands
for education exists both at the student
and employment level with 619 million
populations (students) falling in the 0-
24-year age group.
These favorable demographics bring
enormous economic opportunities.
However, the ability to seize these
opportunities depends on how
successfully the challenges plaguing
the Indian education system can be
addressed.
An Educational Reformist
A visionary, Dr. Manjula Pooja
Shroff is regarded by many as the
change agent for schooling in the state
of Gujarat. When she relocated to
Ahmedabad after her marriage, she
realized that though Ahmedabad had
very good schools in the mid 90's, the
contemporariness was missing. Her
passionate devotion to education gave
birth to the first DPS in Gujarat. Her
attitude of being ahead of her time and
incorporating innovative practices in
the teaching process has been
instrumental in keeping DPS
Ahmedabad’s name a front runner in
the education sector. Using technology
in the classroom and creating SMART
classes has been one of the firsts in the
country. From a humble beginning
from a rented premise, the school
today boasts of a sprawling campus
with state of art facilities and grounds.
Being an educationist at heart, she is
not only hands on in the teaching and
learning process, but is also
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
Kalorexians are
known for bringing
laurels to their
country resulting
out of a diverse
exposure given
by the Kalorex
institutions and
its relentless
pursuit for
excellence
“

16. instrumental in connecting to her staff
in every possible manner. She lives the
Core Values she has set for KALOREX
and these percolate in the teams
working with her in her various
ventures.
Brand Kalorex
Kalorex is a well-established name in
the Education sector, managed by a
professional group of edupreneurs. The
group is high on culture and values,
catering to the entire spectrum of K-12
learners. Technology and Research
based pedagogy practiced across all
Kalorex institutions have resulted in
the development of the best brains time
and again over the years. The Alumni
of Kalorex are placed at leading
corporates, business houses, research
and development centers and space and
defense institutions across the
world.Being a preferred choice for
high quality education across all
segments of the society, Kalorex is a
trusted name amongst parent
communities be it for National or
International Boards of Education.
The objective of Shaping Glocal
Learners is embedded into the DNA
and ethos of each and every one of the
1300+ employees dedicated to the
cause of Kalorex. Dynamism,
Humanistic approach, Living in the
Gap (Continuous Learning Mode),
Ownership, Speed with Accuracy are
the beliefs which are practiced by
every Kalorexian day in day out.
Kalorex wishes to expand to 100 cities
across India, through a strong network
of Business associates. The 40+
Institutions of Kalorex is a mix of self-
owned and investment led partnerships
by Investors who wish to make a mark
in education under leading brands like
Delhi Public Schools, Calorx Public
Schools, Calorx Olive International
School, Kalorex preschools in India.
Associating with Kalorex
India is transforming into a Knowledge
economy, the general level of
awareness has increased thereby
creating a demand for high quality
education like that of any other product
or service with the economy opening,
paying capacities have increased,
towns are seeing transformation and
cities are overflowing. A good school
dedicated to the cause of creating
empowered citizens will see no barrier
in their expansion plans. Kalorex does
the same through its franchise
opportunity.
The prospective Kalorex partner in
Education should have a very clear
defined vision of providing best quality
education through a time tested model
of brand mentorship. The Investing
Partner should be open to wide
spectrum of ideas, innovations and
acceptability to follow the best
practices in education brought in by the
brand.On being associated with
Kalorex, it offers an end to end support
Projects like Visamo Kids
Foundation for the under –
privileged children and
Kalorex Prerna for the
students having learning
difculties are the special
initiatives of Kalorex
“

17. and five mandatory training & support
practices for its partners namely:
Training & Development
Systems, Process and Procedures
Operational Knowhow
Educational Pedagogies and
Curriculum
Content & Creative
Staying Ahead with Technology
Digital literacy: As a group, Kalorex
has not only focused on technology but
has also ensured that the students and
teachers understand and develop
Digital Literacy, as is the need of the
hour. The Kalorex Taxonomy
emphasizes upon this aspect and
inculcates these values through teacher
– student workshops, case studies,
organizing rallies and awareness
drives. Cyber bullying, e-mail
etiquettes, social media security,
plagiarism, netiquettes, etc. are all
addressed through planned
programmes conducted in each
Kalorex school.
THE CORE VALUES THAT KALOREX STANDS FOR
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE – Focus on Academic Achievements
LIVING IN THE GAP – Continuous Learning Mode
RAISON D’ETRE – Finding reasons for our existence & innovating
EMPOWERMENT – Decision making and implementation
THE X – FACTOR – Speed with accuracy
KINETIC – Dynamic & Evolving
NUMBERS THAT MATTER
24 + years | 40 + Institutions | 14 Cities |
12000 + Students | 24 Nationalities | 1300 + Employees
CBSE | IB |IGCSE | State Boards | Preschools |
K-12 Schools | CSR Projects

18. Updated Technology: Technology
plays a major role in all departments of
Kalorex.It has always been a major
enabler for learning since the inception
of the Group. School portals are
designed to track the progress of the
curriculum, interactive white boards
keep the students and teachers engaged
interested in the teaching – learning
activity. Online exchange programmes
with International schools also take
place to give students a Global learning
experience. Platforms like Skype and
Hangouts help to facilitate meetings
with members at various locations. The
in-house Kalorex App helps to connect
the parents to the school activities and
keeps them updated. The Yali Online
Store enables placing orders for books,
uniforms or Kalorex merchandise. The
administrative machinery is well
attuned with the latest technology to
keep records and data. GPS tracking
systems in the school buses ensure
safety of students and helps in updating
parents for any delays or re-routings.
Academics: The Kalorex Curriculum
Framework, specifically designed for
Pre-schools and K-12 schools,
encompasses 5 Base Learnings –
Activity based, Project based, Lab
based, Task based and Building based.
With this the focus is also on
Language, Media and Digital
Literacies. Teachers are trained in
using Active Learning Strategies
through regular workshops. Class
observations and academic audits
ensure that teachers engage students in
class and prepare challenging tasks for
building enquiry.
Bringing Change – One School at a
Time
Kalorex believes in replicating its
success formula not only for itself but
also for the associate partner. A win-
win relationship is very important in
education. Thereby Kalorex sees its
partners as partners in progress. In the
next 5 years, Kalorex envisions to have
its presence with over 100 institutions
with multiple investment models
favouring good returns on
investment(ROI) and brand value to its
associate partners comparable to the
best in the industry. Kalorex has
ambitious plans to expand in many
more states in the country to target 100
project in the next 5 years in all target
segments; Pre- schools, K-12 schools
and franchise and management models.
Kalorex in its
journey to excellence
has garnered
numerous awards
and accolades from
esteemed Educational
association in India
and overseas
“

20. ‘‘‘‘We focus on providing
contemporary and
world-class education
for Nurturing India’s
Tomorrow
Birla Open
Minds
Preparing Today for Tomorrow
The future of any society or country depends on how
it brings up its tiny tots. The more values we put
into them, the better the chances of them growing
up as responsible young citizens. Education thus plays a
crucial role in how their minds shape up as they grow. In
these formative years, the onus lies on parents and the
education sector fraternity to nurture these minds. The
preschools are a child’s first social group where they learn
what it is like being out there on their own. The image that
they carry forward from here stays for a good period of
time with them.
For the last 11 years, Birla Open Minds have been
focussing on transforming education making it more
relevant and contemporary, yet rooted in values. The
following excerpt showcases how they make it happen.
Kindly brief us about the company.
Birla Open Minds was formed 11 years ago, with the idea
to transform education across the country and ensure
quality progressive education is available throughout the
vast landscape of our country. Keeping in line with the
contribution the Birla family has had in education since pre-
independence, it was this singular focus which has made the
brand reach over 100 schools across 18 states and 60 cities
and continues to grow at a good pace. The company not
only provides and encourages people to embrace the
educational sector and give back to the society, but also
provides them the know-how and tools via dedicated
support through each and every aspect, ranging from but
not limited to; Infrastructure, IT, Academics, Curriculum,
Teacher training along with Marketing and branding to
name a few, which further helps them become a true
Edupreneur.
Brief us about the Founder/CEO and the source of
inspiration to be in the industry.
The Birla family has had a long association with
educational initiatives since the pre-independence era in
India, and hence the Chairman, Mr. Yash Birla was keen
to ensure this continues and was instrumental in envisioning
Birla Open Minds. Under his guidance, Birla Open Minds
continuous to give back to the society whilst making it a
viable choice for our prospective and existing partners to
join the Birla legacy in transforming education. Under the
| October 2019 |18
Mr. Nirvaan Birla
Director

21. leadership of Mr. Nirvaan Birla, the company continues to
cross each obstacle in its path with great ease and is looking
forward to leaving a lasting footprint in the industry going
forward.
What are the distinct products and services provided by
your company, setting you apart from your
competitors?
Birla Open Minds had spent the initial half a decade closely
monitoring each curriculum and their shortcomings. Post
which, our specialised team worked tirelessly to bring out
our specially designed curriculum that caters to the needs of
children keeping in mind the traditional and progressive
aspects that are required in todays day and age. This
amalgamation of best practices across boards such as
CBSE,ICSE,IB & IGSCE enables smooth transition for
children across schools and cities should the need arise and
also ensures that not only the student, but the teachers
continue learning various new aspects which enable them to
ensure that the education being imparted is relevant and fun
at the same time.
Academics stands at the core of Birla Open Minds
hierarchy, however it is also the “x” factor that Birla Open
Minds provides to its franchise partners and stakeholders
that plays a critical part in setting us apart from our
competitors. The individualised attention from each
department be it Operations, IT, Infrastructure, Marketing,
HR all individually ensure that a dedicated franchise
relationship is maintained and keenly overseen on a regular
basis. This enables us to spot any existing or upcoming
problem areas and timely rectify the same.
What are the key attributes that helped the company to
overcome the challenges in its initial phase?
Patience and perseverance would be the key attributes that
helped the company to overcome the challenges in its initial
phase. In fact, we could say that these two attributes still
continue to ensure we meet our goals in a disciplined
manner.
What are the benefits gained by your clients while doing
business with you?
We do not believe in terming our clients as “clients” and
prefer calling them our partners instead. It’s a transparent
policy we follow with them, which ensures they always
have the option to give us constructive feedback and
opinions and visa versa. This benefits both parties and
ensures that an incremental upgradation of the system is
constant. Our partners gain immense know-how on the
operational aspects of the industry and also gain an insight
into educational aspects that are available across the world,
but for some reason were not on their radar.
What is the role of your employees behind your
company’s success? How do you keep them motivated?
Birla Open Minds would not have come to fruition without
the employees of the company. It is their tireless approach
to the betterment of the educational requirements in todays
world that keeps Birla Open Minds motivated to go the
extra mile! Each and every employee brings with them
fresh ideas and more importantly executional expertise,
which is very crucial for any company. Sharing the success
of their efforts with them in a transparent manner and
ensuring they feel part of the Birla family’s vision for the
industry are some of the ways we keep them motivated.
What would be your advice for the budding startups
and entrepreneurs in the industry?
I would advise them to faulter. Faulter often, as it is that
very fault / wrong decision which will ensure that they learn
from their experience and build on top of it. Life isn’t easy
and businesses certainly aren't. The economics of any
industry today keep evolving and changing overnight and
one must have the patience, discipline, intent and drive to
overcome any such challenges. If they have a focussed
approach to their goal, they will certainly reach there with a
beaming smile and the friendship and support of
unparalleled co-workers.
What are the key points that you consider while
choosing or getting in talks with a new Franchisee?
For us, a partner’s vision and their involvement in the
project are crucial. There is a stringent KYC process that
we follow internally, however the former aspects in our
experience have been the critical factor between success
and failure of franchisees more often than not.
How does the company leverage technology to keep a
tab on its growth and expansion?
Technology is key to every business and industry today. We
utilise it to reach out to areas where prospective partners are
looking for opportunities in the educational industry with a
well known and respected brand. It enables us to bring the
platform to the partners doorstep. We manage our 100 plus
network of schools across india via technology, which play
a crucial role in the timely dissemination of information
across the Birla Open Minds network.
Brief us about your company’s future perspectives?
Birla Open Minds is of course looking to further its
presence in the country and even begin its franchise
business abroad. In addition to this expansion, we are also
venturing into the E-learning space through our separate
vertical of Birla Brainiacs, which will be headed by a
separate team solely focussed on ensuring a seamless online
experience for its users, breaking the barriers for
comprehensive online content for all
|October 2019|
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
19

24. ‘‘‘‘At Kids Cube,
every child is provided
with love and caring
environment
which gives them an
all-round learning
experience with fun
Kids Cube International
Doors to a World of Fun and Learning
Parenting is easier said than done. The moment a
child steps-in in the parent’s life, they start thinking
about securing the child’s future. Apart from
monetary investment, the basic security that they provide to
their kids is through education. Through proper and
effective education, they want the child to grow into a
responsible citizen, and build a life of its own. The first step
towards formal education comes in the form of pre-schools.
When choosing a preschool, parents look for one that
provides the right kind of exposure to the practical world.
They look for a preschool that can instill self-confidence in
the young ones and provide an ambiance that is amicable,
secure, caring and feels like a second home to the kids. For
parents in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, all these qualities
translate into Kids Cube International Preschool. With
over sixteen centers in the two states, Kids Cube is
providing quality education with a child-friendly
atmosphere and passion to shape children’s future with an
all-inclusive approach, incorporating holistic methods for
children development.
Leading the Way
C S Mahalakshmi is the Founder of Kids Cube
International Preschool. A commerce graduate, she worked
with an Auditing firm in the initial stages of her career. She
then started working in a preschool as a teacher and then as
Centre head. Before starting Kids cube in 2014, she
garnered extensive experience in the industry while
working in many reputed preschool brands in different
positions. As the founder, she also heads the curriculum and
training team.
She was recently selected as one of the “3 Emerging
Women Entrepreneur of Bangalore” by e Talk, a thought
leadership platform. A firm believer in karma, she says, “I
firmly consider the quote, “If You Believe, You Can Do It”.
I follow my heart, it gives me a sense of positive direction
and fulfillment. It would be a pleasure to motivate and
encourage every child in our school to dream and develop
that dream to success.”
| October 2019 |22

25. Everybody Wins
For Parents and Kids:
Kids Cube’s curriculum is a blend of multiple intelligence
methods and Montessori Methodology. To provide the best
to children, the educational system is designed around well-
researched concepts such as ‘Inquiry-based learning’ and
“3C approach (’Character, Competence, and Content)”. To
make learning entertaining, It has devised various
interesting activities ensuring a stimulating environment for
the holistic growth of children. Leveraging technology, it
uses mobile apps for parent-teacher communication. It also
uses social media tools for marketing and to build a
relationship with its partners and community.
For Partners:
Kids Cube International is a preschool solution with a
unique no royalty concept. It provides Preschool Franchise
without royalty making it an investor-friendly model with
quality education. It provides hand holding solution to its
partners to set up the business. It provides end to end
solutions for preschool. e well-defined process and
structure help in quality reaching the end customer. e
interactions, activities, materials, learning
opportunities, and health and safety routines are
observed and rated as a measure of process quality.
It provides Teachers training and Centre Head
Training. It also provides a well-researched
curriculum and intensive training for staff to manage the
preschool. Periodic audits are done to ensure the quality
and marketing support to increase admissions.
While looking for a new franchise partner the preschool
looks for Edupreneurs who have:
• Passion to ignite young minds
• Good Educational Background
• Readily available Investment
• Proper Infrastructure
e Team
Successful Employees Achieve Goals. Team Kids Cube
comprises individuals with expertise in early childhood
education with a combined experience of more than 30
years. One of the most important factors in a successful
business is employees. When people are doing their jobs
effectively, morale in the office gets a boost. Kids Cube
treats its employees with respect as the first and foremost
motivational factor. Regular appreciation and involvement
provide strong motivation for them to always do their best
to be reliable and effective. Management is keen on
showing interest in employees’ lives, and building a
relationship with them to helps build understanding, loyalty
and strong motivation.
Future Plans
Kids Cube International is planning to establish a strong
presence in Bangalore. It has also started working to open
its preschools in other states as well. It is aiming for a
presence in all the states of India in the next 5 years. e
founder adds, “We want to incorporate the latest trends and
the best education methodologies in our curriculum. We are
also planning to start a Primary school in Bangalore, which
focuses on the overall development of the child.”
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
|October 2019| 23

26. Maple Bear
Delivering Wholesome Education across Boundaries
The Canadian education system is globally ranked
among Top 10 by The Program for International
Assessment (PISA), a triennial independent study
done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD). Bringing Canada’s track record of
excellence in education, with 400+ schools running around
the globe is The Maple Bear Education System. Part of the
Modi Group, Maple Bear South Asia has 130+ successful
schools running within South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka & Nepal).
Attending Every Child’s Need
Infant Care & Early Learning
Bear Care Infant Care & Early Learning is for children
from 6 weeks to 18 months of age. The Bear Care
program’s warm, welcoming and nurturing learning
environment is designed to keep the infant safe while
allowing for exploration and discovery.
Pre-school
Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s
experiences between birth and age five have a major impact
on their future opportunities. Maple Bear sets high
standards to ensure children’s readiness for elementary
school.
Elementary (Class 1 To 5)
Maple Bear has developed an excellent, hands-on, rigorous
and relevant elementary curriculum in each subject area
based on the highly successful Canadian approach to
learning and instruction. The Elementary Program is
designed to educate the whole child – physically,
intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
After School Programs
Maple Bear also offers a number of distinguished programs
that have been specially selected and meaningfully crafted
to enrich and complement the child’s learning. These
programs range from 2 hours up to 6 hours per week.
Computational Thinking Program
‘Computational Thinking’ is a powerful universal problem-
solving technique, which is not just about preparing young
learners for coding but helping them navigate the world at
large. The Maple Bear Computational Thinking Program
for levels starting Senior Kindergarten up to Grade 4 aids
the development of computational thinking skills at the
Mr. Rodney Briggs,
President & Co-Founder,
Maple Bear Global Schools
Mr. Alok Kumar Modi
Chairman,
Maple Bear South Asia
| October 2019 |24

27. early childhood level to help children become articulate and
think logically.
Corporate Program
Bear Care gives corporates the perfect opportunity to build
a family-friendly workplace with a strong childcare support
system for their employees. Depending upon the location,
budget, employee strength, and space availability, the
company can either choose to set up a customized Bear
Care facility on-site or avail the service at over 130 Maple
Bear schools in South Asia.
Powered by Maple Bear Program for K-12 Schools
The Maple Bear powered by program offers K-12 schools
an opportunity to implement the Maple Bear methodology
and pedagogy in the Elementary Classes for Levels 1 to 5.
The educators are constantly empowered to imbibe and
deliver the curriculum to the learners. The program is
adaptable to all boards including the different state boards,
CBSE, ICSE, and IB.
Maple Bear ECE Program ((Early Childhood Education –
Teacher Training Program)
Early Childhood Education has now been recognized as the
most important need in the current scenario world over.
With the growing demand, there is a need to have quality
educators in the field of preschool. Over the years of
dedicated research done by more than 72 Canadian experts,
Maple Bear has developed the best-in-class child-centric
learning methodology and now Maple Bear South Asia
introduces an Early Childhood Education course, called
ECE (Early Childhood Education – Teacher Training
Program)
The Foundation
The idea to develop Maple Bear Canadian schools grew out
of the work of the Canadian Education Centre Network
(CECN), a non-profit organization supported by the
Government of Canada and the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada which was mandated to market Canadian education
abroad to attract foreign students to study in Canada. Maple
Bear was born after CECN managers overseas recognized
there was a domestic demand for high quality, bilingual
Canadian education from emerging middle-class parents,
many of whom had studied outside of their own countries in
general and in Canada in particular. The first Maple Bear
Canadian School to open was in Indirapuram (New Delhi),
India in 2005. Today, there are 423 schools in 20 countries
with more than 41,000 students studying at Maple Bear
schools worldwide.
Mr. Rodney Briggs, President & Co-Founder, Maple
Bear Global Schools, graduated from the University of
Manitoba with a B.A. and M.A. (International Relations).
In 1996, Rodney joined the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada as the Vice-President responsible for the CECN
project. In 1997 he became the first President of the newly-
formed non-profit company, the CECN. In this capacity, he
was responsible for building the network from three centers
in the Asia-Pacific region into an entity with a presence in
17 countries spanning the globe.
Alok Modi, Chairman, Maple Bear South Asia, is a
dynamic entrepreneur and part of one of India’s foremost
business conglomerates – The Modi Group of Companies,
with diverse interests ranging from glass, education to
travel. Known for his forward-looking approach and
incisive vision, Modi plays a vital role in the Group with
expertise in conceptualizing, strategizing and setting up
new ventures. It was under his leadership that Modi
Edutech (Modi Group) entered into a joint venture with
Maple Bear Global Schools to form Maple Bear South Asia.
Mr. Sumit Taxali, CEO, Maple Bear South Asia,
graduated from Hindu College, MD University, in
Computers and started his career journey at an early age
with a Financial Institution in the Sales & Marketing
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
Mr. Sumit Taxali
CEO,
Maple Bear South Asia
|October 2019| 25

28. division. A seasoned sales enabler, he has worked closely
with Educational Institutions across India. He holds a
verifiable success record of conceiving, developing and
executing the strategies and initiatives that drive revenues,
growth, competitive market positioning, profits, and
shareholder value.
The Global Advantage
Maple Bear schools benefit from its distinguished academic
faculty of Canadian trainers, curriculum writers, and quality
assurance personnel. A large faculty of experienced teachers
and education administrators constantly update it to develop
a new curriculum, new training materials, and
methodologies and school policies. It provides continual
professional training and support for teachers throughout
the year to ensure consistency and quality. Canadian
Trainers as well as trainers from the regional head office
mentor teachers and introduce them to the latest pedagogies
and instructional strategies.
Every Maple Bear school undergoes inspection that covers
everything from safety equipment to smooth center
operations, to classroom performance. All Maple Bear
schools have clean, secure facilities and low student to
teacher ratios. Schools also use a customized ERP software
(M.B.B.S. - MAPLE BEAR BUSINESS SOLUTION) with
great features including the Parent App, Visitor
Management and Online fee collection from Parents.
For Edupreneurs
Maple Bear, as a franchise, opens doors to infinite global
platforms of experience, knowledge and proven methods of
running a successful school. Starting a Maple Bear
Canadian School/Preschool does not require heavy
investment or a large space. It offers a holistic support
system to address all spheres from setting up, running and
operating a school to its franchisees. The School looks for
the following attributes in a prospect franchisee:
• Passion towards education and belief in the system of
early childhood education
• Belief in the vision and mission of Maple Bear
• A no-compromise attitude towards delivering the
program as per the quality standards defined by Maple
Bear
• Leadership skills
• Willingness to learn
Maple Bear provides such entrepreneurs with the following
and more:
• Comprehensive Curriculum based on proven Canadian
methodologies
• Multiple stages of teacher trainings by Canadian and
local trainers throughout the year
• Customized ERP (MBBS) software to manage the
complete centre operations smoothly
• After School Programs - Early Mom & Tots, Mom &
Tots, English Plus Programs and more
• Complete Marketing Support including brand collaterals
& online platforms, designing city-specific, region-
specific and localized marketing campaigns
• 360° quality assurance audits to guarantee quality control
• Mentorship and guidance with overall school operations
& business growth planning strategy
• Vendor support (uniforms, books, teaching aids, furniture
& fixtures) for end-to-end school operations
• Recruitment & training of staff
• Annual convention of Maple Bear School Owners for
knowledge sharing and exchange of industry best
practices
A Multi-dimensional Growth Plan
From just 3 preschools in 2005, Maple Bear has grown to
400+ schools in 20+ countries. Its approach towards growth
is multi-dimensional. This includes expanding its network of
schools, increasing its enrollments across the schools and
also creating more opportunities for revenue generation by
diversifying its portfolio of programs. In the first half of
2019 alone, Maple Bear has added 15 new centres to its
network in South Asia including India and Nepal. It is now
looking at growing this number to 500 schools within the
next few years.
Maple Bear’s mission is not just to expand its network but to
provide budding entrepreneurs with a promising platform to
help realize their dreams to support the fast-expanding start-
up culture in the region.
‘‘‘‘Our programs designed
by Canadian experts,
strive to build quality
schools that promote
education through
experiential learning
| October 2019 |26

30. ‘‘‘‘Our speciality is
engraved flowers
that can set a curve
on your loved
one’s face
NASAH PETALS
Engrave Your Special Moments
O
f all the divine creations, flowers are perhaps
bestowed with some special powers. Their mere
presence is certain to light up a human face.
Flowers have their own language it seems. Their symmetry,
colours and fragrance have always intrigued human beings
who have been trying to replicate them in various art forms.
They are the most simple way to greet people you know or
may be total strangers.
Whatever be the occasion or your relation with a person,
there’s always a flower that you can present them.
Throughout history, flowers have been used as special
symbols to communicate an idea or a feeling. Different
flowers and even different colours of the same flower are
often used to express sentiments.
Roses, for example are used to communicate a myriad of
emotions. For example a red rose is used to express feelings
of love, while yellow means friendship.
In case, one is not aware of which flower to choose for a
particular situation, Bangladesh-based Nasah Petals are
here to the rescue. Founded with an idea of bringing
uniqueness at a private wedding ceremony, the idea
bloomed like a flower itself and turned into a full-fledged
company that is revolutionising the floral and home decor
market in South East Asia.
Faiyaaz Hasan
Nafeez Hasan,
Co-founders
| October 2019 |28

31. A Novel Idea
Nasah Petals started out with the intention of developing
the unorganized floral and home décor retail market. It
launched its operations from Dhaka, Bangladesh and in less
then 3 years, scaled from 1 to 5 outlets. It plans on opening
2 more outlets in the coming 9 months. The company
believes in providing high quality to customers and so
cultivates the finest quality flowers. Its innovative idea of
engraving natural flowers and working with other 100%
eco-friendly products is in sync with nature and merges
with its aim of think green, become green.
Nasah adds a mesmerizing dramatic touch to the flowers
with the help of its content engraving machines. It prints or
engraves customised content on roses. The customer’s
message is engraved on roses creating a customised
experience. It also delivers happiness through its floral
themed gift packages including engraved flowers, chocolate
bouquets and customized gifts. These customised hampers
can be curated as per the customer’s wish. It also offers late
night deliveries for special surprising moments. The
company loves to give homes an instant makeover with
delicate and beautifully designed vases, home decor items,
artificial flowers and other garden related services.
The Founding Brothers
The Founder Faiyaaz Hasan was struck with the idea
during Nafeez Hasan’swedding, about 4 years ago. He
wanted to assist with the wedding preparations with
something new and exciting. During his research, he came
across a concept of engraving fresh flowers with content.
This immediately had caught his eye which allowed him to
further research on the product and industry. What started
as a concept of being different in a wedding went onto
become their first commercial product for Bangladesh. The
brothers since then, have been managing and growing the
company.
Spreading Happiness through Business
Nasah works with three point key focus:
• Prepare and distribute customised roses and various
types of personalised hampers and bouquets.
• Create a model through which licensees could equip
themselves with the company’s packages in order to
initiate a flexible income source (work at home model).
• Sell and distribute its range of flower engraving
machines (Flower Printers)
As a franchisee, it provides a platform for young
entrepreneurs to establish their own business. It is currently
providing franchising options to entrepreneurs from
Australia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, Indonesia,
Philippines, and Singapore.
Nafeez believes that the most outlining benefit of this
business is that there is no recession in this business. He
says, “People will not stop marrying, celebrating or
spending on chocolates and gifts. The business will go on.”
In addition to that, Nasah’s franchise partners enjoy
• Higher profitability and ROI
• Low operating cost and staffing requirement
• High customer base due to high demand
• Mentoring to operate the business efficiently, training
and constant support
• Right to adjust the business operations according to
one’s own country’s culture, desire and demand
• Innovative ideas and support for national marketing and
advertisement
Nasah Petals, as a partnering company looks for people
who have
• Passion to start their own business
• Crave for success
• Ability to think out of the box
• Eagerness to take on the venture
Taking it Forward
The founding duo have achieved success through
Determination, dedication and persistence right from the
start. They advise the young entrepreneurs saying, “Don’t
be afraid of failures! Each failure will take you one step
closer to Success!”
For its own growth, Nasah Petals would like to be a leader
in the fresh flowers and home décor segments of
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, etc. It also hopes to introduce
industry related services like garden management, organic
produce delivery, etc. Nasah Petals is willing to take the
advantage of the rapidly growing floral industry and
together with its partners, is on a mission to spread the
majestic essence of flowers all around the world.
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
|October 2019| 29

32. ‘‘‘‘Pebbles is
Committed
to Pre-School
Education for
over a decade
Pebbles
Pre-School
Focusing on All Facets of a Child’s Growth
Like all things good, which change for better with
time, the Education system also needs evolution.
Two decades earlier, pre-schools were very rare in
India. But now, especially with nuclear families and double
incomes, pre-schools have become essential. But kids, at
this tender age of below five years, don't need an education
that is all work and no fun.
When Mr. Kennedy Nesamoney came back to Chennai
after completing his education in Africa, he saw the gap
firsthand. Coming from a family of educators, and having
witnessed how kids abroad are nurtured through various
activities, he was quick to see an opportunity. Even though
Chennai had a bunch of daycare centers, a typical preschool
that caters to the overall development of kids below five
years was missing. Without spending much time in
speculations, he set out to establish his first preschool
venture in 2000 by the name Pebbles Pre-School. The
school has spread its arms to the states of Tamil Nadu and
Uttar Pradesh.
Catering to the Exact Need
Pebbles was founded at a time when Chennai was still
contemplating the need for preschools in society. The
preschool concept, being in its initial stage of development,
was a bit challenging for the team. Mr. Nesamoney recalls,
“Joint families were the order of the day. There used to be
people at home to take care of the little ones like
grandparents, uncles and aunts and mothers who did not
have a career to take care of. Today things are different,
there are many nuclear families where both parents work
and nobody at home to take care of the little ones. We were
able to overcome this by educating parents on the
importance of preschool education for kids. We were also
able to instill confidence in the parents by providing a safe
and hygienic environment and qualified trained staff to take
care of the child.”
After convincing parents with the need for pre-school, the
next task was to establish a premise that spoke high about
the promises that the team was making. Tackling the first
challenge of hot and humid weather, the management had
air-conditioned all the classrooms in the establishment. By
doing so, Pebbles became the first preschool in Chennai,
with air-conditioned classrooms. Up next, the classrooms
Kennedy Nesamoney
Founder
| October 2019 |30

33. were fitted with everything to the child’s scale, allowing
them to be independent of adults. The next priority was
maintaining a healthy child-teacher ratio, thereby ensuring
more care and individual attention to the child. At Pebbles,
apart from adequate infrastructure and teachers, everything
is built upon its extra-ordinary curriculum. It helps children
to achieve complete school readiness in all areas of
academic and social learning.
Teachers – The Pillars
Teacher’s skill plays a strong role in influencing the child's
power to grasp and learn concepts. At Pebbles Preschool,
teachers are trained in the best possible way and ensure that
they are completely prepared for their responsibilities.
However, handling the kids in real scenarios is much
tougher than earning educational qualifications and
attending training. Kids need more caring and warm
approach. In the classrooms of Pebbles, one can see that
magical approach with massive assistance from the highly
experienced support staff. Along with that, the management
regularly conducts in-service training and information about
the latest trends in early childhood education and care as
well.
The teachers and other employees at Pebbles are highly
talented individuals who have a passion and enjoy the work
they are doing. The management provides them an
environment that promotes healthy work-life balance for
women, which in turn makes them dedicated to the work
they are doing. Mr. Nesamoney adds, “We motivate them by
giving them a feeling of belongingness to the organization.
We are very transparent in our operations and make each
person aware of their contribution to the betterment of the
organization.”
Partnering for Growth
For expansion, Pebbles looks at associating with highly
motivated entrepreneurs who can easily carry forward their
vision. It looks for people who:
• Have a Passion to run a playschool;
• Are willing to invest and sustain until it becomes
profitable;
• Understand the advantage of taking up a franchise over
setting up one on their own
• Look for long term association for mutual benefits.
Franchisees who partner with Pebbles get benefitted by
being part of a renowned brand that has an experience of
almost 2 decades. They can leverage a very well prepared
in-house curriculum that focuses on all facets of a child's
growth. Proper manuals are in place to assist them in day to
day operations. Pebbles also provides complete training and
support to run the outlet at very affordable rates.
Looking Beyond Competition for Expansion
Pebbles is in an expansion mode and even with limited
branches, it is rated on par with the bigger players in the
industry. Leveraging technology, its digital presence on the
internet and especially social media, is assisting its growth.
The team feels that digital presence is the future for the
growth and expansion of any organization.
Aware of the competition in the market, the team opines
that the Playschool industry is not a bed of roses as most
people would think. It needs a lot of passion and dedication.
It is also not like a restaurant where one can put in money
today and expect results tomorrow. Mr. Nesamoney further
adds, “Playschools usually flourish over a while and most
of the business happens through word of mouth. It is also a
very sensitive industry as we have to take up the
responsibility of handling little ones.”
Pebbles is a 20-year-old brand. Very few players in this
industry have a foundation that dates back 20 years. With
this strong base, it would be moving forward in a phased
manner by extending its franchise across India as an
affordable high-quality brand.
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
|October 2019| 31

36. ‘‘‘‘Our work is a
result of feedback
from parents and business
partners through robust
research and consumer
understanding
Zee LearnDelivering an Experience called Learning
The franchise market in India has the potential to
grow to $20 billion by 2020 and is already growing
at an impressive rate of approximately 30% per
year. For the people who are willing to start a business,
franchising is a good option available due to the moderate
risk and low investment as compared to running their
venture. The support provided by franchisers is the major
plus point for getting into a franchising business as they
help with all the end to end solutions right from consultancy
to guidelines for a stress-free setup and operations. For
young and first-generation entrepreneurs, it is always
beneficial to join hands with an entity or organization that
specializes in a specific sector.
One such brand with a positive proven record and a name
that resonates across the globe is Zee Learn Limited. The
brand owes its beginnings to its hugely popular parent
company, Essel Group and that to its Chairman Mr.
Subhash Chandra. Zee Learn started with Mr. Chandra’s
belief that India’s future can be brighter only if quality
education is imparted to its future generation to help
prepare them to take on every challenge that tomorrow
might throw at them. Started in 1994, Zee Learn Ltd, as a
leading educational organization has delivered success,
respect, and immense satisfaction to all the associated
parents, students, and franchisees. It is a public listed
company and addresses educational and learning
requirements right from the age of 1.5 years until the child
turns into a confident adult ready to take on the world of
tomorrow.
Names Built of Hardwork
In the last 25 years, Zee Learn has scaled new heights and
spread quality education in more than 800 cities and towns.
It’s Preschool brand, Kidzee is today Asia’s largest
Preschool network with over 2000 centers. Global learning
and research have helped it stay ahead of the curve and its
roots in India helped it contextualize it for the Indian
audience. This has created a unique learning experience
through its trademarked pedagogy – iLLUME. We are also
one of the leaders in the K-12 Education segment with over
130 operational schools across India by the name of Mount
Litera Zee School.
Zee Learn also offers vocational training in the field of
animation, VFX and design through Zee Institute of
Creative Art (ZICA). It is India’s first full-fledged Classical
and Digital Animation Training Academy that trains youth
in classical 2D and modern 3D animation. Zee Institute of
Media Art (ZIMA) offers industry-oriented education in the
field of film and TV. As part of its commitment to offering
Mr. Debshankar
Mukhopadhyay
Chief Executive Officer
| October 2019 |34

37. the finest quality education across different segments and
age groups, the group founded Mount Litera School
International (IB School) in Mumbai.
With the recent acquisition of Mahesh Tutorials, Zee Learn
has strengthened its position in the supplementary
education sector offering coaching for aspirants appearing
for entrance exams like IIT, Engineering, MBA, MBBS and
ICAI at pan India level with around 160+ centers. Moving
ahead with times, it has conceptualized and developed
effective Digital Education ecosystems. These ecosystems
are designed to improve outcomes with a granular approach
using a pedagogically robust engine. Digital forays like
Kidzee Learning App, Kidzee Tab, Robomate, R+
notebook, etc. give its students an innovative learning
option with an edge.
A Man of Focus
Mr. Debshankar Mukhopadhyay is the Chief Executive
Officer of Zee Learn Limited. In his role, Mr.
Mukhopadhyay takes full responsibility for identifying the
strategic vision of the company and ensuring its execution
to achieve growth for Zee Learn and its brands. He is
actively involved in overseeing relationships with
stakeholders and partners of the business.
He is a strategic thinker who brings deep insights into
market needs and helps the organization to scale up by
offering superior value to customers. A sensitive leader, he
strongly emphasizes a team-based approach in the business
to achieve business objectives. With a rich experience of
more than 23 years in the education and financial services
sector across South Asia, his functional expertise lies in
effective business management and network & channel
development.
A Relationship built on Trust
For Zee Learn, trust is the basis of its relationship with
Business Partners that has kept more and more
entrepreneurs wanting to associate with the brand. One of
the key factors that build trust is complete transparency
with its customers. As Mr. Mukhopadhyay puts it, “This
ensures that they have faith in us and don’t see us as
someone who just has a plain business relationship with
them but they see us as a family where they look up to us as
the experts in our respective category and believe in our
vision of nurturing talents across the country.”
When entrepreneurs associate with Zee Learn, they stand to
get several benefits like:
• A proven business model that delivers a robust ROI.
• Support in catchment analysis, operations, legal,
academic, business and enrolments via marketing
• Dedicated key accounts manager at disposal to get a
resolution for all queries
• Assistance in developing infrastructure and designing
interiors
• Provides time tested books, publications, and other
learning resources
• Continuous updates on current educational
developments
• Reduced setup cost as a result of being part of a larger
group
Partners who believe in the same philosophy are important
for mutual growth. To ensure its brand value, Zee Learn
follows a standardized procedure before signing any new
franchisee, the steps include:
• Business Partner profiling
• Scrutinizing the franchise application
• Location analysis to help the Franchisee open it in a
rewarding area
• Signing agreement
• Setting up of the franchisee – operations team works
closely to guide this entire process
Through the above pointers, the company gains information
about the education qualification, income, social status,
inclination towards education, involvement commitment,
etc to understand whether the partner is the right fit for a
franchise. This evaluation is discussed internally and only
after a go-ahead from our senior team, a franchise comes on
board.
Building a Future
Zee Learn has always believed in one philosophy which is
“What is right for the child”. Anything and everything that
makes the child better is something that it focuses on and
communicates. Its goal is to respond to the call of creating
the emerging leaders of tomorrow. The Team adds, “We are
committed to impacting a synergy of skills, knowledge, and
values in our children to lend them their inner voice for the
21st century. We envision today’s children as tomorrow’s
leadership icons. We have impacted a milestone departure
from the teacher-led to the child-centric learning. Our
learning environment enables each child to realize their
unique learning style, while our MI-aided methodology
helps them discover their own creative and aesthetic
potential.”
Going further, Zee Learn would strongly continue to
expand its footprint and ensure that every Indian child is
imparted the best of education to prepare them to prosper
and succeed as the future leaders and citizens of a vibrant
India.
The Premier
Franchises
to Watch in 2019
|October 2019| 35

38. & RESTAURANT
FRANCHISING
IN INDIA
HOTEL
hat Is ‘Franchising’
WThe term franchising essentially stands
for “An arrangement where one party
(the franchiser) grants another party
(the franchisee) the right to use its
trademark or trade-name as well as
certain business systems and processes,
to produce and market a good or
service according to certain
specifications. The franchisee usually
pays a one-time franchise fee plus a
percentage of sales revenue as royalty,
and gains (1) immediate name
recognition, (2) tried and tested
products, (3) standard building, design
and décor, (4) detailed techniques in
running and promoting the business,
(5) training of employees, and (6)
ongoing help in promoting and
upgrading of the products”. (as defined
by www.businessdictionary.com
To put this more simply, and in food
and beverage terms, it’s a situation
where a hotel or restaurant company,
expands its business by allowing third
parties to open up their brand outlets,
usually by paying a fixed percentage or
charging a fixed percentage for the
brand name.
How does Franchising Work
Franchising is the easiest way for an
investor to get into the Hospitality
trade (Hotels or Restaurants). It
ensures being a stakeholder in a
recognized brand, and the thought of
owning a well-known restaurant or
hotel is what drives most people to
Franchising. It works by essentially
following the same standards as other
outlets of the brand across the region,
for which training is imparted by the
Franchisor.But, not all outlets you see
multiplying are through Franchisee's, a
lot of companies prefer to run and
operate their stores, for this we must
understand the system ‘Self-Operated’
and “Franchise-Operated”
restaurants/hotels.
Self / Brand Operated Franchising
| October 2019 |36

39. Amit Tejpal has worked at
12 five star deluxe hotels
of ITC Hotels and Oberoi
Hotels & Resorts in India,
and now owns Tejpal
Hospitality, which
conceptualizes and
executes Hotel &
Restaurant projects for
clients .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CXO Standpoint
Amit Tejpal
|October 2019| 37

40. In this situation the Franchisor allows investment from third-
party investors, like you or me, to put up money in acquiring
the outlet location (rented/leased/owned), put up some more
money in doing up the interiors, lighting, air-conditioning,
plumbing, etc., which has to be followed completely as per the
Franchisor’s instructions, and thereafter the Franchisor will
pay the Franchisee a fixed percentage of the monthly revenue.
An example of this is seen in KFC Restaurants, where the
investor sets up the property for KFC, and they send in their
own trained staff to run the show. In most cases like KFC, the
investor gets a fixed percentage on ‘total sale’ (minus GST).
Usually, this percentage is between 6% - 15% across the
board. In this kind of a situation, even the investor walks in
and spends like a regular customer, and can have no say in
foodproductionareaslikeachangeofrecipe,etc.
For Hotels, an investor may set up a 3*/4*/5* Hotel on his
own money and arrange for a larger well-known Hotel
company to run it for them, while the investor receives a
fixed percentage of the sale. For example, in the 5*
category, all Hyatt and JW Marriott Hotels in India are run
similarly. The employees are on the payrolls of the Hotel
Company, but the property belongs to a third party owner.
Another example of ITC Fortune and Taj Gateway Hotels
can be offered in the 4* Hotels category. In this case,
however, the investor need not walk-in like any ordinary
customer, he gets the same respect or more than that of the
General Manager, with usually everything on the house.
Franchise Operated Outlets
In this situation the Franchisee just uses the brand name and
brand standards of a well-known brand, however, the staff
are on the Franchisee’s payrolls, not the brand’s. Like in the
above case, the investor here has to find a suitable location,
set it up with appropriate interiors, etc. as per the guidelines
of the Brand, recruit staff, and run the show himself, but
within the guidelines of the Brand. In this situation, the
investor or Franchisee pays the Brand a fixed percentage of
the sale, in return he gets Brand Standards, and Marketing.
Most good brands also regularly hold training for all of the
franchisee’s employees, assisting them to embrace the
Brand’s standards
An example of this in Hotels can be seen in OYO Rooms,
who have recently started ‘self-operating’ some hotels
under the banner OYO Townhouse, whilst the bulk of their
hotels are under a ‘Franchise operated’ scheme, where they
market the property via their App and e-portal, manage the
reservations and charge a fixed percentage. Another ironic
example is ITC Hotels, wherein the case of Fortune Hotels,
they become the Franchisor, for their Luxury 5* Deluxe
Hotels like Sheratons and Luxury Collection, they actually
pay Royalty to Starwood Hotels (now owned by Marriott)
for the use of Brand Name and Brand Standards, whilst
operating the Hotels themselves. For restaurants, there are
numerous examples like this in small waffle chains, ice
cream, donuts, frozen yogurts, South Indian fast food, etc.
brands. Even Baskin Robbins and Subway operate
similarly, where the investment is made by the investor and
the owner has to run the show with support from them. The
better the brand, the better the support an investor will get.
Should You Go for It?
There is however one thing to note when an investor goes
to a big company to get a Franchisee for a ‘Self-operated’ or
‘Brand operated’ outlet, where he will only have to pay
once and the Brand will run the show for him, it involves a
lot of purchase from that brand. For example, an investor
cannot even buy an oven of his choice, he has to buy
exactly what the Brand has told him, and more often than
not, from the same vendor that the Brand has adopted in the
past, even if the investor wants to buy a better oven or
fridge or fryer, etc. Same for every single item purchased,
right down to the furniture. This adds up on the expenses,
and some brands even manufacture their machines/kitchen
equipment, just for this purpose.
To sum it up, Franchising works for anyone who has the
investment to own a brand store. To give you an idea, in a
metro city like Kolkata, a Baskin Robbins 15ft*20ft store
costs between Rs. 15-20 Lakhs, a Subway Franchise costs
upwards of Rs. 60 Lakhs, KFC / Pizza Hut Rs. 1 - Rs. 1.25
cr. Hotels could cost between Rs. 10 cr to Rs. 1000 cr (yes
one thousand) depending on size and location. The largest
restaurant Franchise chain currently in the World is Subway
with over 30,000 outlets worldwide, and KFC (Owned by
Yumm Foods, which is further owned by PepsiCo) is not
too far off, and the reason behind their phenomenal success
is Franchising.
| October 2019 |38