Aslı’s new franchise model attracts nearly 1,000 applications in two months

Aslı, the café and bakery brand owned by Eksim Holding, has received nearly 1,000 applications for its new franchise model in two months. Under the model, the brand covers the investment required to set up each store and charges partners no initial franchise fee. Applications remain open until 31 December. The programme aims to provide entrepreneurs who want to run a café with a turnkey store.

The brand funds store set-up

According to a BBM report dated 15 October 2026, Aslı’s new model aims to enable entrepreneurs to run their own cafés without a substantial upfront investment. The programme covers the full cost of setting up the store, including construction, fit-out and equipment. Successful applicants receive a turnkey store.

The financial framework announced for the model has two distinct elements: funding the investment needed to establish the physical store, and waiving the initial franchise fee for partners. The programme therefore goes beyond removing an upfront payment for access to the brand; it also covers the investment required to prepare the store for operation.

This distinction is central to the offer for prospective franchisees. Aslı’s proposition is built around the opportunity to operate a ready-to-use store. The emphasis is therefore on managing a business prepared by the brand, rather than financing the store’s set-up from the entrepreneur’s own resources.

However, funding the initial investment should not be taken to mean that there will be no financial obligations throughout the life of the business. For applicants, distinguishing between set-up costs and operating expenses after opening is the first step towards understanding the scope of the offer.

Nearly 1,000 applications reflect early interest

The report states that the new model attracted nearly 1,000 applications in just two months. This demonstrates interest among entrepreneurs, but the application total should not be confused with the number of stores opened or partners who have signed agreements. The figure refers to candidates at the application stage.

Applications will reportedly remain open until 31 December. The programme is open both to people with experience in the service sector and to candidates interested in running a café. Eligibility is therefore not limited to those who have previously managed a café; it also extends to entrepreneurs looking to move into the business.

Through the model, Aslı aims to offer entrepreneurs long-term investment opportunities and a sustainable approach to running a business. These are the programme’s stated objectives. The level of interest in applying is an early-stage indicator and should be assessed separately from any commercial results.

Applicants should find out what assessment stages follow an application. Expressing interest in the programme and taking responsibility for a store are different steps. Before applying, candidates would benefit from assessing their experience, the time they can devote to the business and their readiness for day-to-day management responsibilities.

A 90-day handover target after agreement

The model’s operational timetable begins once the parties reach an agreement. According to the report, location analysis and team training support are then provided, with the store expected to be handed over within 90 days. This period should therefore not be interpreted as a guaranteed opening deadline measured from the date of the initial application.

The inclusion of location analysis and team training shows that the programme extends beyond construction and equipment supply. The announced support also covers assessing where the store will operate and preparing the team who will work there. Alongside the physical set-up, the programme includes steps to prepare for opening.

The 90-day timeframe is an important planning point for candidates to clarify during discussions. Written confirmation of the conditions for handover, the training schedule and the point at which the operator assumes responsibility would make the preparation process clearer.

Responsibility for running the business remains key

Aslı’s announcement offers prospective franchisees in Türkiye an opportunity under which the brand funds store set-up. The main development is that the model has attracted nearly 1,000 applicants in two months, with applications continuing until the end of the year. Set-up support, the absence of an initial franchise fee and the proposed handover timetable after agreement are among the offer’s key announced features.

When deciding whether to proceed, candidates should look beyond how much they will need to pay at the outset. Discussions should address how day-to-day operating costs are shared, how revenue is allocated, staffing responsibilities, the contract term and exit conditions. These are not newly disclosed terms of the model, but matters that should be clarified before taking on a business.

Practical takeaway: Entrepreneurs considering an application should note the 31 December deadline and request written details of the investment support and their obligations after opening. When assessing a turnkey store offer, they should weigh the convenience of the set-up against the responsibilities of running the business.