• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-75
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• 2022

This paper analyzes how franchise contract conditions are influenced by business structures as well as how contract conditions affect producer surplus by utilizing Korean franchise Information Disclosure Documents for the years 2014-2016. We find that franchise fees tend to increase in line with increases in the numbers of direct stores or the business period. Accordingly, it would be reasonable to check whether the franchise fee is excessive compared to the amount of reputation capital rather than to criticize the absolute level of the franchise fee. Regarding royalty contracts, the larger the discount in the raw materials purchase is, the higher the initial royalty is. Although this appears to be a royalty discount, it can be a means of inducing a raw materials purchase contract by initially setting a high royalty rate and then lowering it after the purchase contract is signed. Concerning the effect on producer surplus, the results show that an increase in franchise fees and royalties negatively affects the franchisee's operating profits but positively affects those of the franchisor's, leading to conflicts over the distribution of economic value added. Based on the findings here, we propose various policy recommendations, specifically reinforcing the contents in the Information Disclosure Document, further activating fixed-rate royalties, and strengthening the qualifications of franchisors when recruiting franchisees.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.35-50
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to uncover the mechanism of how initial fees are determined in the restaurant franchise business. Since the initial fees can be considered as a price of utilizing business models and operational knowledge of a certain franchise brand, it is critical to understand the fee decision-making process based on the strategic pricing theories. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of operational value on the determination of initial franchise fees grounded on a value-based pricing strategy. The Operational value is specifically categorized into profitability, growth, and stability of the franchise system. Research design, data, and methodology: The data used were collected through franchise disclosure documents and brand equity index provided by Korea Management Association Consulting. Data from 44 franchise restaurants during 2018 to 2021 are included in the sample. The panel dataset was analyzed by using generalized least squares estimation with R-Studio. Results: Profitability and stability positively influence initial franchise fees. However, growth did not influence initial franchise fees. Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrate that the operational value plays a critical role in determining the franchise fees. Specifically, franchisees recognize how much revenue a franchise system generates for them (i.e., profitability) and how stable the entire system is for operating business (i.e., stability) when they make purchasing decisions for franchise. The findings extend the pricing literature by applying pricing theories in the franchise fee context. Also, the study contributes to franchising and restaurant management literature by providing knowledge of how franchise fees are determined.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1-18
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• 2010

Plural governance system in which firms use vertical integration and market governance simultaneously are widely used across various marketing context. Typical examples of plural governance include franchise systems, in which firms own and operate some unit themselves while licensing the operation of some of their units to franchisees. Despite many scholars have attempted to explore the structure of plural governance over decades, there are few insights into its determinants. In this study, we examine the relationship between the proportion of outlets franchised and several franchisor's characteristics based on the perspectives of transaction cost analysis, resource scarcy theory and agency theory. Using franchisor data in Korean Franchise Disclosure Document over the 2006-2009 period, we test the effect of franchisor size, system growth rate, franchise fee, initial investment, and risk sharing on the proportion of outlets franchised. Except for the effect of system growth rate, the results of a series of multiple regression analysis supported the negative effects of franchisor size, franchise fee, initial investment and risk sharing on the proportion of outlets franchised.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.321-351
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• 2004

According to increase of Franchise Agreements, troubles related to those agreements and trading acts occur frequently. As Franchise system had come from Western countries, franchise agreement troubles tend to international disputes. In fact, those parties entered into a franchise agreement prefer arbitration to lawsuit as a dispute resolution system because arbitration is easy to risk-management for cost and time. The essential conditions for Franchise agreements are as follows ; for Franchise to grant Intellectual Properties to Franchisee, to give an impression of the same company between Franchise and Franchisee, to control and support Franchisee, for Franchisee to be an independent merchant, and to pay Franchiser license fee. Because Franchise Agreement is also based on liberty of contract, Franchise and Franchisee could enter into any kind of agreement. However, Franchiser can make an unfair agreement abusing a position of advantage. This paper check those unfair terms and conditions in Franchise agreement. Once they enter into an agreement, they should fulfil their contract. In case of trouble on performing the contract, both of them have to discuss to solve that trouble faithfully. But, they enter into either lawsuit or arbitration in accordance with agreement when they can't reach a decision in general. Specially, which is the most popular dispute resolution hands in case of Intellectual Property License agreement. General international Franchise Agreements have arbitration terms, but there is other case such as separate Arbitration Agreement if the want, which is separate from Franchise License agreement, so even though Franchise License agreement is invalidated, Arbitration agreement continues to exist, This paper reviews Franchise system and the terms of arbitration in Franchise agreement.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.87-104
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• 2015

This study, based on theoretical and practical understanding of franchising, aims to conceptualize franchising in terms of marketing mix and proposes new paradigm of franchising. New schema of the franchise marketing mix involves both customer gap and franchisee gap by including customer and franchisee contacts and sets activities that include components of franchise system as the factor of marketing mix. So we could suggest the franchise marketing mix, '4F' by introducing conventional marketing mix concept into this assumption. The 4F schema consist of four sub-dimensions: 'Format', 'Fee & Royalty', 'Franchising Process', and 'Franchise Communication', which correspond to '4P'. In perspective of marketing mix, we could divide the franchise system into primary activity and support activity, then we also could categorize the fundamental activity into four-classification system, 4F schema. We expect that franchise marketing mix, 4F can be useful both theoretically and practically as it not only is not too different from the conventional marketing mix, but it also proposes franchise value chain by including unique characteristics and contents of the franchise system.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.12 no.2 s.29
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• pp.18-38
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• 2006

We studied franchisees’ answers to the questionnaires to know their selective motives and criteria, their types and the reliability of a franchisor in the food-service industry. Then we showed the basic data about the selective criteria of a sound franchisor. The result of this study was as follows. First, we need a specialist and a department to present a financially sound franchisor. Second, we must determine the criteria of franchise fee, royalty and the other items on payment for the franchisor. Third, the alternative plan to trust the franchisor was needed for a large-scale franchisee.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-23
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• 2011

The Freedom of Information System has been introduced into the society based on the Fair Trade Transactions Act, which was established by Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on May, 2002. However, the system itself has showed limitations in guaranteeing a reliability and transparency of the disclosure document. Thus, since February, 2008, FTC not only made franchisors to register disclosure documents but also adopted the Disclosure Document Registration System, which forced them to provide registered disclosure documents to franchise applicants and franchisee. Franchisors consider the newly adopted Disclosure Document Registration System a restrictive system. However, considering the recent trend of fast growing franchising industry and the importance of being competitive, franchisors need to utilize the disclosure documents to promote their business and to gain trusts from franchise applicants by providing truthful information. In that way, franchisors will be able to establish a foundation that franchising industry might be successful and reduce the agency fee by cutting out conflicts with franchisees. Thus, this study aims to study the ways of effective preparation of disclosure document and its utilization from a franchisor viewpoint.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.185-197
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• 2012

Caffe Bene, one of the most notable coffeehouse chain brands in Republic of Korea, gives us some thought-provoking issues in terms of sustainable success. Despite harsh competition among various coffeehouse brands, Caffe Bene has been accomplished astonishing outcomes in domestic market and now ranked 2^nd place in sales among the global coffeehouse franchise in 2010 and 2011. These achievements were possible mainly because Caffe Bene adopted distinctive shop design, maintained aggressive marketing strategy, developed new menu, and combined the unique Korean culture with ordinary concept of café to make its place attractive. However, since Korean coffeehouse market is getting saturated and consumers are becoming savvy about coffee, Caffe Bene needs to find a new solution to overcome growth stagnation. Besides, many experts pointed out that irrational increase in the number of stores might hurt its business in the aspect of managing distribution channel and providing consistent services. Also, customers of Caffe Bene have shown that it has to complement its critical weaknesses: inferior coffee taste and relatively high price for a cup of coffee. Especially, some people view that the company is shifting its high rental fee, interior cost and PPL marketing cost to consumers by charging high price for coffee. To get over the problems, Caffe Bene is currently using C/S Consumer Management System though experts are questioning about the efficacy because of the conflict between purpose of the system and the headquarters' plan. Present CEO Kim also announced that the company will complete its logistics system in the latter half of 2012 to provide stores with more high quality coffee beans to improve taste of coffee. Thus, in this case, we describe how Caffe Bene succeeded in Korean market and enumerate its key success factors. Also, we specify the long-term goals of Caffe Bene and introduce the current policies and strategies to show how the company is working on to achieve its ultimate goal. By reading and analyzing this business case, students could get useful insights regarding franchise management and think about issues on competing in a saturated market. Also, it would be worthwhile to generate creative solutions for the problems that Caffe Bene is now facing to broaden the practical perspective.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.688-696
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• 2021

This study compared the current status, opening costs, and service of skin beauty franchises in Korea and the U.S. with the aim of providing data for skin beauty franchises. The main items in both countries include facial and body care, with 54 mean value in Korea, which is smaller than 361 mean value in the U.S. The U.S. franchise fee is about 1.5 times higher than that in Korea, and franchisees pay royalties of 20-60(ten thousand KRW) per month in Korea and 5-6 percent of annual sales in the U.S., as well as submit a net worth requirement and cash requirement. There are many spa services in the U.S. which creates differences in cost from Korea. and for the education, the cost was set in Korea while the time in the U.S. Every franchise offered facial and body care services. In addition, most Korean franchises run bridal care services, while in the U.S., waxing, men's treatment, hot stone, and spa services are offered. These differences are the result of differences in climate and race between the two countries, as well as differences in perception regarding the socio-cultural atmosphere, skin beauty, and openness.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.61-118
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to construct research framework for international franchising based on existing literature and to identify research components in the framework. Franchise can be defined as management styles that allow franchisee use various management assets of franchisor in order to make or sell product or service. It can be divided into product distribution franchise that is designed to sell products and business format franchise that is designed for running it as business whatever its form is. International franchising can be defined as a way of internationalization of franchisor to foreign country by providing its business format or package to franchisee of host country. International franchising is growing fast for last four decades but academic research on this is quite limited. Especially in Korea, research about international franchising is carried out on by case study format with single case or empirical study format with survey based on domestic franchise theory. Therefore, this paper tries to review existing literature on international franchising research, providing research framework, and then stimulating new research on this field. International franchising research components include motives and environmental factors for decision of expanding to international franchising, entrance modes and development plan for international franchising, contracts and management strategy of international franchising, and various performance measures from different perspectives. First, motives of international franchising are fee collection from franchisee. Also it provides easier way to expanding to foreign country. The other motives including increase total sales volume, occupying better strategic position, getting quality resources, and improving efficiency. Environmental factors that facilitating international franchising encompasses economic condition, trend, and legal or political factors in host and/or home countries. In addition, control power and risk management capability of franchisor plays critical role in successful franchising contract. Final decision to enter foreign country via franchising is determined by numerous factors like history, size, growth, competitiveness, management system, bonding capability, industry characteristics of franchisor. After deciding to enter into foreign country, franchisor needs to set entrance modes of international franchising. Within contractual mode, there are master franchising and area developing franchising, licensing, direct franchising, and joint venture. Theories about entrance mode selection contain concepts of efficiency, knowledge-based approach, competence-based approach, agent theory, and governance cost. The next step after entrance decision is operation strategy. Operation strategy starts with selecting a target city and a target country for franchising. In order to finding, screening targets, franchisor needs to collect information about candidates. Critical information includes brand patent, commercial laws, regulations, market conditions, country risk, and industry analysis. After selecting a target city in target country, franchisor needs to select franchisee, in other word, partner. The first important criteria for selecting partners are financial credibility and capability, possession of real estate. And cultural similarity and knowledge about franchisor and/or home country are also recognized as critical criteria. The most important element in operating strategy is legal document between franchisor and franchisee with home and host countries. Terms and conditions in legal documents give objective information about characteristics of franchising agreement for academic research. Legal documents have definitions of terminology, territory and exclusivity, agreement of term, initial fee, continuing fees, clearing currency, and rights about sub-franchising. Also, legal documents could have terms about softer elements like training program and operation manual. And harder elements like law competent court and terms of expiration. Next element in operating strategy is about product and service. Especially for business format franchising, product/service deliverable, benefit communicators, system identifiers (architectural features), and format facilitators are listed for product/service strategic elements. Another important decision on product/service is standardization vs. customization. The rationale behind standardization is cost reduction, efficiency, consistency, image congruence, brand awareness, and competitiveness on price. Also standardization enables large scale R&D and innovative change in management style. Another element in operating strategy is control management. The simple way to control franchise contract is relying on legal terms, contractual control system. There are other control systems, administrative control system and ethical control system. Contractual control system is a coercive source of power, but franchisor usually doesn't want to use legal power since it doesn't help to build up positive relationship. Instead, self-regulation is widely used. Administrative control system uses control mechanism from ordinary work relationship. Its main component is supporting activities to franchisee and communication method. For example, franchisor provides advertising, training, manual, and delivery, then franchisee follows franchisor's direction. Another component is building franchisor's brand power. The last research element is performance factor of international franchising. Performance elements can be divided into franchisor's performance and franchisee's performance. The conceptual performance measures of franchisor are simple but not easy to obtain objectively. They are profit, sale, cost, experience, and brand power. The performance measures of franchisee are mostly about benefits of host country. They contain small business development, promotion of employment, introduction of new business model, and level up technology status. There are indirect benefits, like increase of tax, refinement of corporate citizenship, regional economic clustering, and improvement of international balance. In addition to those, host country gets socio-cultural change other than economic effects. It includes demographic change, social trend, customer value change, social communication, and social globalization. Sometimes it is called as westernization or McDonaldization of society. In addition, the paper reviews on theories that have been frequently applied to international franchising research, such as agent theory, resource-based view, transaction cost theory, organizational learning theory, and international expansion theories. Resource based theory is used in strategic decision based on resources, like decision about entrance and cooperation depending on resources of franchisee and franchisor. Transaction cost theory can be applied in determination of mutual trust or satisfaction of franchising players. Agent theory tries to explain strategic decision for reducing problem caused by utilizing agent, for example research on control system in franchising agreements. Organizational Learning theory is relatively new in franchising research. It assumes organization tries to maximize performance and learning of organization. In addition, Internalization theory advocates strategic decision of direct investment for removing inefficiency of market transaction and is applied in research on terms of contract. And oligopolistic competition theory is used to explain various entry modes for international expansion. Competency theory support strategic decision of utilizing key competitive advantage. Furthermore, research methodologies including qualitative and quantitative methodologies are suggested for more rigorous international franchising research. Quantitative research needs more real data other than survey data which is usually respondent's judgment. In order to verify theory more rigorously, research based on real data is essential. However, real quantitative data is quite hard to get. The qualitative research other than single case study is also highly recommended. Since international franchising has limited number of applications, scientific research based on grounded theory and ethnography study can be used. Scientific case study is differentiated with single case study on its data collection method and analysis method. The key concept is triangulation in measurement, logical coding and comparison. Finally, it provides overall research direction for international franchising after summarizing research trend in Korea. International franchising research in Korea has two different types, one is for studying Korean franchisor going overseas and the other is for Korean franchisee of foreign franchisor. Among research on Korean franchisor, two common patterns are observed. First of all, they usually deal with success story of one franchisor. The other common pattern is that they focus on same industry and country. Therefore, international franchise research needs to extend their focus to broader subjects with scientific research methodology as well as development of new theory.