Trade Minister Promotes Franchising as a Faster Route to Starting a Business

Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, is encouraging the development of franchising as one way to help people start a business more quickly. The message appeared in a report by Indonesian news agency ANTARA dated 22 June 2026. For Indonesia’s franchise community, this provides a starting point for discussing ease of entry into business, alongside the importance of assessing readiness before entering a partnership.

Trade Minister encourages franchising

ANTARA’s headline summarised the minister’s message that franchising can offer a quick route to starting a business. The available extract also stated that Budi Santoso encouraged the development of this business model. The report focuses on support for a business model, rather than the announcement of a new outlet or the launch of a particular brand.

The available information is limited to the headline, publication date and an extract from the introduction. It therefore provides no basis for explaining where the statement was made, what form government support might take or what implementation measures might accompany it. Nor are there details of targets for franchisee numbers or investment value.

These limits matter to readers exploring business opportunities. An official’s support for franchising should not be treated as an endorsement of every partnership offer. The report also provides no basis for claiming that there have been regulatory changes, new funding assistance or guarantees of success for prospective franchisees.

A quick start is not a guarantee of results

The message about starting quickly should be interpreted carefully. Starting a business and achieving business results are two different things. The available report does not quantify how much faster a business could open or compare the process with setting up independently. The word “quick” should therefore not be read as a promise of a particular opening timescale.

As editorial guidance for the franchise community, prospective franchisees should turn this message into questions they can verify. Which parts of the preparation will the franchisor help with? What will prospective franchisees still need to do themselves? When must each task be completed, and who is responsible if preparations are delayed?

These questions help distinguish an attractive offer from readiness to put it into practice. If a brand promises an easy start, ask for a written explanation of the scope of its support. Avoid assuming that every requirement for opening is covered simply because an offer uses terms such as “business package” or “partnership”.

Checks to make before choosing a partner

As practical guidance, rather than details of any policy announced by the minister, prospective franchisees can prepare a checklist before speaking to a brand owner. The aim is not to find the most appealing promises, but to gather enough information to make a decision that suits their own capabilities and resources.

• A breakdown of funding requirements. Ask for separate figures for upfront payments, premises preparation, equipment, stock and operating requirements. Check which items are not included in the offer.
• Division of responsibilities. Clarify who handles site selection, outlet preparation, recruitment, training and ongoing support. Do not treat verbal explanations as equivalent to written commitments.
• The basis for business projections. If you receive revenue forecasts or an estimated payback period, ask about the assumptions and supporting evidence. Check whether the estimates are relevant to your intended location and management capacity.
• Agreement terms and duration. Read the rights, obligations, recurring fees, renewal terms and procedures for ending the business relationship. Ask for clarification of anything you do not understand before signing.

This checklist is suggested due diligence, not a statement that every brand offers the same support. For each offer, prospective franchisees should request the relevant documents and consider having them reviewed by a suitably qualified professional. There is no need to rush an investment decision simply because an opportunity is presented as something that must be seized immediately.

An opportunity for discussion within the franchise community

The minister’s encouragement can open up more focused discussions between brand owners and prospective franchisees. In QFA’s editorial view, those discussions should centre on clarity: what is being offered, what is required and what remains uncertain. This approach is more useful than treating speed of opening as the sole measure of an opportunity’s appeal.

For brand owners, one practical step is to prepare a clear explanation of their offer that can be readily checked. For prospective franchisees, the next step is to compare documents, test assumptions and align their plans with the resources available. Neither side should treat general government encouragement as a substitute for assessing a specific business.

Practical takeaway: treat the minister’s message as encouragement to explore franchising, not as a reason to skip due diligence. Before committing, make sure you understand the costs, support, responsibilities and terms of the agreement.