Koykan seeks franchise partners in Austria after entering Czech market

Croatian restaurant chain Koykan, which also operates in Czechia, is seeking franchise partners to enter Austria. It announced the move on 15 September 2026, according to an industry round-up published by GastroJobs.cz on 21 September. The brand currently runs nine restaurants across four countries and has ambitious expansion plans: it aims to reach 145 outlets by 2030. For prospective franchisees considering the Czech restaurant market, the news offers an opportunity to compare the support available, the investment required and the scale of the planned growth.

Austria as the next step after Czechia and Germany

Koykan operates in the fast-casual restaurant segment. According to the September round-up from GastroJobs.cz, its current network comprises nine restaurants across four countries, including Czechia and Germany. The latest announcement concerns the search for partners in Austria, rather than the opening of a specific Austrian restaurant.

This distinction matters when assessing the news. Recruiting partners is a step towards expansion, but does not in itself confirm an opening date or the number of future restaurants in a country. The available round-up provides no such details for Austria. Nor does it announce a new Czech outlet or a specific plan for further expansion in Czechia.

The Czech connection is primarily that the brand already operates in the country. This is not simply an overseas concept still considering a move into the region. The search for Austrian partners builds on the chain’s existing international presence and offers an indication of the direction being taken by a brand already represented in the Czech restaurant sector.

From nine restaurants today to a planned 145

Koykan aims to build a network of 145 outlets by 2030. Another published target is approximately 300 outlets by the end of 2034. Both figures are company plans, not counts of restaurants already open or contractually secured.

Compared with the current nine outlets, these targets represent a substantial increase in the intended scale of the business. However, the available information does not establish how much of that growth is expected to come from Austria, how many new outlets might be in Czechia, or how expansion will be divided between countries. The report also provides no phased opening schedule.

Prospective franchisees should therefore distinguish between the brand’s overall ambitions and the specific partnership on offer. The planned size of the network does not, on its own, answer questions about who will support individual outlets, how territories will be defined or whether head office has the capacity to support simultaneous restaurant openings. These are matters to verify during discussions, rather than facts established by the September announcement.

Investment and the franchise package

According to GastroJobs.cz, the company estimates the average investment per outlet at €400,000. This is a company estimate of the average, not a guaranteed cost of opening a restaurant in a particular Czech city. The available round-up does not include a detailed budget or the precise assumptions behind the figure.

The published franchise package includes technology, the supply chain, equipment and recruitment support. The offer therefore covers several aspects of setting up and running a restaurant. However, the list alone does not specify the scope of each element or its contractual terms.

Prospective partners should ask which costs are included in the quoted investment and which they will need to cover separately. In particular, they should check any premises conversion costs, pre-opening expenditure and the working capital reserve required. It is equally important to clarify exactly what recruitment support entails and what obligations partners have when using the supply chain. These are suggested due diligence questions, not statements about Koykan’s specific terms.

What the news means for investors considering Czechia

The September announcement primarily identifies the next direction of expansion and outlines the basic franchise offer. It does not establish the profitability of Czech restaurants, the investment payback period or the financial performance of individual partners. The investment estimate therefore cannot serve as the sole basis for a decision to join the network.

Anyone considering a franchise in Czechia should request the current terms for the Czech market and a financial model for their proposed outlet. An assessment should also distinguish between one-off costs and ongoing payments, verify both parties’ responsibilities and include discussions with existing operators, if the brand allows this. Only then can the advertised package be compared with the investor’s own budget and operational capacity.

Practical takeaway: Koykan’s search for Austrian partners forms part of an ambitious growth plan. Prospective franchisees considering Czechia should treat the €400,000 figure as an indicative company estimate and request a budget, contractual terms and supporting information for their chosen location before making a decision.