Taiching and U-trust revise monthly fees as Yungching offers limited fee waivers to attract franchisees

Yungching Real Estate Group is adjusting franchise fees and territorial arrangements as it expands its franchise network. According to a report published on 15 November, the group’s general manager of business operations, Yeh Ling-chi, said Taiching Realty and U-trust had both revised their monthly fees and introduced monthly fee waivers with places allocated by region. For prospective franchisees considering Taiwan’s market, the offer deadlines and support provided by head office deserve attention alongside branch numbers.

Revised monthly fees alongside limited offers

Yeh said the monthly fee waiver scheme was available for a limited time and a limited number of franchisees, with different quotas for each region. The offer was due to close at the end of the year covered by the report. However, the report did not specify the size of the fee adjustments, the regional quotas or how long successful applicants would be exempt from monthly fees. The scheme should therefore not be interpreted as a long-term fee exemption.

In terms of territorial coverage, Taiching Realty franchises are also available in areas of New Taipei City not served by directly operated branches. This gives prospective operators another option when choosing a location, although the report did not identify the specific areas available or any territorial protection terms.

New franchises come from rival brands and the existing network

Liu Ping-yao, chairman of Yungching’s franchise division, said one-third of the franchise branches joining during the year covered by the report had switched from other brands, while two-thirds represented expansion within the group’s existing network. This suggests recruitment is aimed not only at outside operators but also at meeting demand for growth within the network.

He noted that, in the previous seller’s market, estate agents had focused more heavily on securing property listings. As market conditions changed, they needed to cultivate relationships with both buyers and sellers. This provides important context for the group’s emphasis on franchise support, rather than relying solely on fee incentives to attract new operators.

Systems, online marketing and joint-sales support

Yeh summarised the group’s strengths as its franchise brands, IT systems, online marketing and collaborative working environment. Its systems include the i Smart mobile platform and an ERP-based three-in-one property management and listing acquisition system. Online marketing channels include the Yungching property website and Housefun.

He also said that joint sales through the group’s regional branch network accounted for nearly 40% of transactions. This group-reported figure reflects its emphasis on cross-branch collaboration; it does not mean that every franchise branch can achieve the same proportion or sales performance.

Expansion targets should be distinguished from results

The report listed 52 new branches in total: 18 under Yungching Realty and 17 each under Taiching Realty and U-trust, mainly in central and southern Taiwan. Yeh set a full-year target of 100 new branches and said the group’s franchise brands had a market share of around 31%, with an ambition to reach 35%. These targets should be distinguished from results already achieved.

For prospective franchisees, a practical next step is to ask head office for written confirmation of the revised monthly fees, the length of the waiver, the fees payable once the offer ends and the territorial terms. They should then check how the systems and joint-sales support will work at branch level. Limited offers are worth comparing, but should not replace an assessment of long-term operating costs.