Service 04 · Global Expansion
When the right next venue is in another country.
Cross-border franchising is not a bigger version of domestic franchising. It's a different discipline — one where small mistakes compound across borders, currencies, and legal systems.
Where we sit
Sydney, with one foot in Asia.
Our centre of gravity has always been the Asia-Pacific corridor. We can read the Australian Code of Conduct and a Mandarin-language master franchise term sheet — that second skill is rare in this market, and it shapes the kind of work we are most useful for.
Most of our cross-border mandates run in one of two directions: Australian brands extending into Greater China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia; or foreign brands establishing their first Australian footprint.
Questions we answer first
Five honest ones.
- 01Which market, and why now? Most cross-border misadventures begin with answering "where" before "why."
- 02Master franchise, joint venture, or direct entry? Each carries a different balance of capital, control, and speed.
- 03How is your IP protected before market entry? Filings happen first, or they happen too late.
- 04What does the playbook look like once localised? The parts that don't translate are usually the parts that matter.
- 05Who is your local partner — and how do you actually know? A handshake in Shanghai is not a substitute for diligence.
Hazards
Where it goes wrong.
- ▸Trademarks filed after market entry — and discovered to have been registered by someone else.
- ▸Master franchise fees structured without FX hedging over a ten-year term.
- ▸Royalty/service-fee characterisation with unintended withholding tax exposure.
- ▸Operational playbook translated without localisation — same words, different meaning.
- ▸Partner selection that prioritised relationship over capability.
Timeline
From decision to first international franchisee.
Stage 1 · 6–8 weeks
Market study & structure
Country selection, vehicle design, IP filings begin.
Stage 2 · 8–12 weeks
Partner search & diligence
Identifying, qualifying, vetting the local counterparty.
Stage 3 · 8–12 weeks
Negotiation & documentation
Master agreement, payment mechanics, dispute frame.
Total: typically six to nine months from decision to a signed master agreement.