Enquiries about buying established businesses in Russia fall by 28.4%

Enquiries about buying established businesses fell by 28.4% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. The figures, compiled by Businessmens.ru, were cited by the publication Predprinimatel in an article dated 29 October. However, representatives of the franchise sector interviewed by the publication described a mixed picture: some reported fewer enquiries and openings, while others said interest in their offerings had remained steady or increased.

Where enquiries fell most sharply

According to the Businessmens.ru figures cited, the steepest decline was in food service, where enquiries fell by 35.8%. Enquiries in services dropped by 30.8%, while retail recorded a decline of 26.7%. All three sectors therefore saw fewer enquiries, although the scale of the decline varied.

These figures need to be interpreted carefully. They refer to enquiries about buying established businesses, not the number of franchise agreements signed or franchised outlets opened. The headline figure should therefore not automatically be read as a 28.4% fall in sales across all Russian franchises. It reflects the change in enquiries recorded by the platform over the specified period.

The reporting period also matters: the statistics cover the first quarter, although the article was published in late October. They allow a comparison between the start of 2026 and the start of 2025, but do not, on their own, show results for the first nine months or the full year. For prospective business owners, this is a reminder to check the period covered by any figures used in discussions about buying a franchise.

Turnover grew, but at a slower pace

The decline in enquiries sits alongside other figures showing the scale of Russia’s franchise sector. According to Franshiza.ru statistics also cited by Predprinimatel, Russia had 4,015 franchises and around 550,000 franchised outlets at the start of 2026.

Combined turnover reached RUB 3.81 trillion in 2025, an increase of 2.5%. Growth a year earlier had been 17%. The published figures therefore point not to a fall in turnover in 2025, but to a substantial slowdown in growth compared with the previous year.

There is no direct contradiction between rising turnover and falling enquiries: these are different measures covering different periods. Turnover measures business revenue, while enquiries reflect potential buyers’ interest at a particular stage of their decision-making process. The number of operating outlets, meanwhile, indicates the scale of franchise networks’ presence.

These distinctions are particularly important when discussing the sector’s growth prospects. An aggregate turnover figure does not tell us how easy it is for an individual brand to find a new partner. Equally, a decline in enquiries on one platform does not establish how existing franchisees are performing financially.

Franchisors report a mixed picture

For its article, Predprinimatel spoke to Topfranchise.ru founder Vasil Gazizulin, as well as representatives of Colizeum, Bezumno. Krutaya Shaurma, Poliglotiki and Kapitan Marmelad. Their assessments do not suggest a uniform decline in interest: some companies saw fewer enquiries and openings, while others reported largely unchanged or stronger demand.

The common themes concerned buyer behaviour and the costs of running existing businesses. Prospective partners have become more cautious about making decisions, while operating costs at established outlets have increased. These two observations were shared across the companies, despite differences in enquiry trends.

However, listing these brands does not mean that the same results can be attributed to each of them. The article describes different experiences within the sector, so it would be misleading to apply the overall decline to any of the named networks. Assessing an individual franchise requires its own comparable data.

Nor does greater buyer caution mean that people have abandoned the idea of starting a business. In the discussion presented, caution coincides with reduced activity at some companies and sustained interest at others. The main takeaway is therefore that demand is uneven, not that interest in becoming a franchise partner has disappeared.

What to clarify before franchise negotiations

Prospective franchisees should separate their enquiries into two areas: the recruitment of new partners and the performance of operating outlets. For recruitment, ask for separate figures on enquiries, signed agreements and actual openings over comparable periods. For existing outlets, establish how costs have changed and what assumptions underpin the proposed financial model.

Franchisors, in turn, should explain precisely which measure they are referring to when discussing demand. More enquiries, more signed agreements and a larger network are not interchangeable outcomes. Making these distinctions helps both sides discuss a potential partnership without overly optimistic or pessimistic generalisations.

Practical takeaway: national statistics provide context, but a decision to buy a franchise should be based on data from the specific network. Compare like-for-like periods, distinguish enquiries from openings and check that cost projections are up to date.