Shisanmei Luosifen reaches over 70 locations in Taiwan, expanding through single-operator carts and on-site training

Taiwan’s small-scale franchise sector has seen further expansion. According to a report dated 9 November, Shisanmei Luosifen, founded in Taiwan in 2022, now has more than 70 locations across the north, centre, south and east of the island. The brand, which serves luosifen — rice noodles in a river-snail broth — primarily uses a ‘one person, one cart’ franchise model, with headquarters providing standard operating procedures, equipment and ingredients.

Single-person operation, with some locations focusing on dinner service

Shisanmei Luosifen says franchisees can set their opening hours according to site conditions and their own availability. Some locations focus on dinner service, opening for around four hours a day, with one person handling most preparation, cooking and serving. This arrangement applies to some locations rather than being a standard schedule for all franchisees.

Most of the brand’s current franchisees are aged between 30 and 40. They include career changers, first-time entrepreneurs and part-time operators, as well as people with family caring responsibilities who trade in the early evening and employees who have another job during the day.

Founder delivers on-site training, with opening times dependent on readiness

Headquarters has standardised the preparation, cooking and serving processes, and supplies the relevant equipment and ingredients. The founder visits franchise locations to provide hands-on training, covering rice noodle preparation, broth cooking, toppings and the serving process. Family members or partners who intend to help run the business can also take part.

The brand says trading can begin in as little as around three weeks after signing, provided the site and other preparations progress smoothly. This timeframe is conditional on readiness and should not be treated as a fixed opening deadline achievable by every franchisee.

NT$350,000 franchise fee and one-year contracts

Under the terms published by the brand, the current franchise fee is NT$350,000. The package includes a cart, operating equipment, site assessment, training and the supply of core ingredients. Contracts run for one year at a time. The brand says it charges no additional royalties or percentage of turnover.

The precise franchise arrangements and actual start-up costs still need to be confirmed according to site conditions and individual requirements, so the franchise fee should not be treated as the entire opening budget. Prospective franchisees should clarify the equipment package, ingredient supply arrangements and renewal terms before signing.

A smaller cart format still requires careful assessment of location and commitment

Shisanmei Luosifen says it interviews applicants before they join to understand their motivation and level of commitment, and to assess whether a single-person operation suits them. The brand plans to continue expanding through carts and standardised processes, supported by training and operational assistance.

Although a cart can reduce some equipment and staffing requirements, operators still need to consider local footfall, rules governing use of the site and day-to-day management. In practice, prospective franchisees should first establish which sites are available, work out a complete budget and assess how much time they can commit before deciding whether operating alone is right for them.