Pingmi Handmade M² completes two-store presence in Kaohsiung and launches franchise recruitment across southern Taiwan

Pingmi Handmade M², a made-to-order tea and drinks brand founded in Kaohsiung’s Sanmin District, has officially launched a franchise recruitment programme for southern Taiwan after establishing its Jianxing and Jinding stores. According to a report published by Minsheng News on 22 September 2026, the brand is currently focusing on Chiayi and areas further south, offering a new, regionally focused opportunity for those exploring Taiwan’s franchise market.

Starting with two Kaohsiung stores, with southern partners the priority

Pingmi Handmade’s two existing shops are both in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung: the Jianxing store is at No. 180, Jianxing Road, and the Jinding store is on the ground floor at No. 332, Jinding Road. Following the establishment of these two shops, the brand is now seeking franchise partners interested in running tea and drinks shops in southern Taiwan.

Its priority locations include Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung and Chiayi. For entrepreneurs comparing franchise options, this geographical focus is an initial screening point: whether a proposed location falls within the brand’s current expansion area should be confirmed during the first discussion.

It is important to distinguish recruitment areas from confirmed store openings. The available report confirms the two-store presence in Kaohsiung and the southern Taiwan franchise programme, but gives no new store addresses in other cities, opening dates or number of signed franchise agreements. The recruitment announcement should therefore not be taken to mean that expansion into other cities has already been completed.

The franchise process covers site selection, fit-out and opening preparations

According to the report, Pingmi Handmade’s franchise process begins with initial discussions, followed by an assessment of the local trading area and proposed site, shop planning, fit-out works, training, a soft opening and the official launch. This brings the search for premises, shop development and operational preparation into a single process, rather than focusing solely on signing an agreement or fitting out the premises.

Prospective franchisees can use these stages to structure their questions. For example, they should ask who is responsible for assessing the site, what information is needed for shop planning, how training is organised and how responsibilities are divided during the soft opening.

These are matters to verify during due diligence, not service commitments already disclosed in the report. Although the available information sets out the franchise process, it does not detail the scope of each stage, the responsibilities of either party or the charging arrangements. Applicants should obtain confirmation in formal documentation.

The 30–45-day preparation period is conditional, not a guarantee of a quick opening

The opening timetable is one of the more specific details in the recruitment announcement. The brand says that, once the premises and construction requirements have been confirmed, the overall preparation period is estimated at around 30–45 days. The actual schedule will still be adjusted to suit each shop’s circumstances.

The key point is that this estimate starts only after the premises and construction requirements have been confirmed. It should not be interpreted as a promise that a shop can open within 30–45 days of an initial franchise enquiry. Applicants who are still looking for premises, discussing plans or checking construction requirements should separately establish how long those preliminary steps may take.

Before committing to a lease, funding or staffing, applicants can ask the brand for a phased schedule specific to their proposed shop, including an explanation of how construction and training arrangements may affect the expected opening date. This helps avoid making an investment decision based on a single preparation-time estimate.

Fees and operating terms still need to be verified separately

The available report does not disclose the initial franchise fee, equipment and fit-out budgets, ongoing charges, turnover or payback period. The two-store presence and outline franchise process provide a starting point for understanding the brand, but are not enough on their own to assess a new shop’s total investment requirement or expected return.

For those following Taiwan’s franchise market, the concrete development is that a Kaohsiung-based tea and drinks brand has begun recruiting partners in the south. It is not yet an investment proposition supported by a full set of financial figures for comparison. Further assessment should distinguish the brand’s announced expansion plans from the costs, contractual terms and practical requirements of an individual shop.

Practical reminder: prospective applicants should first confirm that their preferred location falls within the recruitment area, then request a complete fee schedule, contract and preparation timetable. In particular, they should verify exactly what must be in place before the 30–45-day period begins, before committing to premises or investing funds.