Greetings to franchise professionals around the world.
I am Burang Riyadi from Indonesia, based in Jakarta. I have been active in franchise consulting since 1994. My passion for franchising began when I completed my final project for my Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1990.
Franchising in Indonesia gained recognition in the 1980s when international brands like KFC, Swenson’s, and others entered the market.
Indonesia has a massive population—currently the fourth largest in the world, with 284.4 million people. In fact, the United Nations recently designated Jakarta as the world’s most populous city, with 42 million inhabitants.
Although Indonesia is still a developing nation, the high volume of travelers entering and leaving the country creates significant potential for international brands to establish operations here.
From October 9 to 11 2026, Indonesia will host the International Franchise Expo at the Nusantara International Convention & Exhibition (NICE) PIK 2 in Jakarta—a brand-new, state-of-the-art convention venue. The event will also feature an International Franchise Summit, bringing together prominent figures from the global franchise industry.
Indonesia is a country that has specific franchise regulations. Any business intending to operate under a franchise model is required to register and obtain a Franchise Registration Certificate issued by the Indonesian government. This requirement applies to both international franchises entering the Indonesian market and local franchises offering partnership opportunities.
The franchise registration process in Indonesia is quite detailed; it involves mandatory financial statement audits by public accountants and a requirement to outline business management processes. Additionally, applicants must submit various documents that require legalization by the Indonesian embassy or diplomatic representative in the franchisor’s home country.
Some international franchisors employ partnership models that differ from traditional franchising, even though the ultimate goal—offering opportunities to develop and operate in Indonesia—remains the same. For instance, a Singapore-based brand might enter into an agreement with a local Indonesian entrepreneur, appointing them as an agent to facilitate the opening of outlets in the country. This appointed partner—acting as the exclusive agent for establishing these partnership outlets—handles franchise registration and manages the franchising process with local franchisees.
Partnerships may also be structured through licensing agreements or joint ventures, wherein the international licensor merely stipulates the terms regarding brand usage rights, while the Indonesian licensee handles operational management—subject to the licensor’s approval.
In essence, I would like to share with readers interested in the franchise sector that Indonesia offers immense potential for establishing franchise operations.
Burang Riyadi. MBA
WFA Associate – Indonesia
