Keventers Franchise Cost in India: Model, ROI, Eligibility Criteria & Steps to Apply

Keventers is a heritage milkshake / dairy-beverages brand with roots going back to the 1920s, revived in 2014. It’s now a popular name in the quick service / beverage café space in India, known especially for its milkshakes, ice creams, cold beverages etc. The brand appeals via nostalgia (bottle shakes, vintage branding), quality, and wide presence.

They operate via franchises / owned outlets across many cities in India, and also in other countries.

Franchise Model

Here’s how the Keventers franchise model typically works, based on published information:

• Franchise Ownership / Operation: Primarily a FOFO model (Franchisee Owned, Franchisee Operated) — you as franchisee invest capital, run the outlet, follow brand standards.
• Formats: They offer a few formats depending on location & investment:
  1. Kiosk format — for small footprint spaces (mall kiosks, busy high-street counters). Smaller seating or walk-in only; less expensive fit-out.
  2. Standalone Café / High Street / Express store formats — larger area, seating, more elaborate interiors & higher investment.
• Contract Duration / Franchise Term: Usually 5 years contract term is common in offerings, with possible renewal.
• Support Provided: The brand generally provides training, recipe / product standardization, design & fit-out guidelines, marketing & brand support, supply chain coordination.

Investment & Cost

Here is an approximate breakdown of costs to expect — these are ranges from public-sources (franchise directories, business-opportunity sites etc.). Actual costs depend heavily on city (Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3), location (mall/prime high street), size of space, interior quality etc.

Cost Component	Approximate Amount / Details
Franchise / Brand Fee	~ ₹9,00,000 one-time. In some cases it may be allowed to pay over a period (installments).
Security Deposit	~ ₹1,00,000 refundable.
Equipment & Machinery	~ ₹7,00,000 to ₹7,50,000 (for milkshake machines, refrigeration/display counters, POS, etc.)
Fit-out / Contractor / Interiors / Signage etc.	~ ₹7,00,000 to ₹8,00,000 plus other setup costs; signage & collateral may cost ~ ₹1,00,000 separately.
Pre-Operating / Initial Marketing Costs	~ ₹2,50,000-₹3,00,000 or more depending on promotions etc.
Working Capital, Initial Inventory & Raw Materials	A few lakhs — enough to run the first few weeks/months inclusive of raw materials, staff wages until you get stable sales. Published sources estimate ₹2-5 lakhs depending on size.
Total Initial Investment	The common range cited is ₹25-₹30 lakhs for a standard outlet (non-mall / good high street). For premium locations or larger formats the cost may go higher. Kiosks might cost somewhat less.

ROI, Payback & Profitability Expectations

Here’s what public sources suggest, and what you should expect / verify.

• Revenue potential: In a decent high-footfall location, monthly gross sales of ₹3-6 lakhs are often cited. Sales depend heavily on traffic, pricing, product mix.
• Gross Margin / Net Margin: Some sources estimate gross margins might be 40-50%. But after deducting rent, salaries, utilities, marketing, wastage etc., net margins of ~15-20% are more realistic.
• Break-Even / Payback Period: Usually 18-24 months is the cited timeline under good operations, favorable lease terms etc. Big variation depending on city and location.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a Keventers franchise, you’ll need to satisfy (per public info + what is commonly asked) the following:

1. Capital / Financial Capability
   You need to have liquid funds / capital to cover the initial investment (₹25-30 lakhs or more depending on format) plus working capital for a few months. Having funds for lease/rent deposits also helps.
2. Location / Site Control
   A suitable space in a high footfall locale: malls, commercial high street, near colleges or multiplexes etc. The required space might be 100-300 sq.ft or more depending on the format. You may need to have lease rights or ability to take property on lease under acceptable terms.
3. Business / Operational Experience
   Experience in retail, hospitality or food & beverage helps. Even if not mandatory always helpful, because you’ll need to manage staff, inventory, customer service, hygiene etc.
4. Willingness to Follow SOPs & Brand Standards
   Strict adherence to product recipe, branding, interior design, service standards, cleanliness etc. Key for maintaining consistency.
5. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
   All necessary licenses (food safety / FSSAI, shop/trade license, GST registration, fire safety etc.).
6. Personal Traits
   Good communication, customer orientation, willing to invest time (franchises need attention especially initially), ability to hire and manage a small team etc.

Steps to Apply / How to Get a Keventers Franchise

Here’s a step-wise checklist you can use to apply and prepare:

1. Preliminary Research & Market Study
   • Visit existing Keventers outlets in your target city. See customer footfall, product range, pricing, competition.
   • Estimate rents, lease terms, power/water costs in the area.
2. Contact the Franchisor & Request Franchise Kit
   • Write to the official email for franchises (see contact section below). Request their franchise information pack. This pack should include the latest costs (capex, royalty, contract term), sample P&Ls of existing stores, site requirements, design/layout guidelines etc.
3. Site Selection & Approval
   • Identify 2-3 potential sites that meet area / visibility / footfall criteria.
   • Submit site proposals to Keventers for their site survey & approval.
4. Financial Planning & Funding
   • Prepare projected income, expense & cash flow models — estimate for first 6-12 months.
   • Secure funding: own capital, bank loan / NBFC if needed.
5. Agreement & Legal Review
   • Get the franchise agreement reviewed by a lawyer. Key things to check: duration, renewal terms, royalty / marketing fees, territorial protection (if any), obligations of franchisee vs franchisor, termination clauses etc.
6. Fit-Out, Equipment, Hiring & Training
   • Once agreement is signed & site approved, proceed with store fit-out per brand guidelines.
   • Purchase or lease equipment and get inventory ready.
   • Train staff as per brand’s SOPs.
7. Soft Launch & Full Launch
   • Soft open to test operations, fix issues.
   • Then ramp up with marketing / promotions.
8. Monitor Operations & Scale
   • Monitor sales, costs, customer feedback. Adjust operations if needed.
   • If successful, you may consider scaling with more outlets (if permitted by brand) or expanding format.

Risks & Important Due Diligence

When considering any franchise, especially food / beverage franchises, consider these risk areas:

• Lease & Rental Costs: If rent is high, break-even becomes harder. Hidden costs (maintenance, CAM etc.) add up.
• Supply Chain / Raw Material Cost Volatility: Milk, dairy products, ingredients may fluctuate in price. Quality & consistency are critical.
• Employee Costs & Turnover: Staffing, training, employee retention can affect margins.
• Competition: Beverage / milkshake / café space is crowded in many cities. Differentiation, location matter.
• Royalty / Ongoing Fees & Marketing Costs: Sometimes royalty + ad fund + supply markups etc. can eat into margins. Make sure you know all recurring costs.
• Operational Discipline: Operational inefficiencies, wastage (especially perishable ingredients), overheads, power consumption etc. You’ll need good management skills.
• Contract Terms: Be cautious about clauses that may penalize you heavily or limit your ability to renew, relocate or expand.

Contact & Official Franchise Email

Here are the official-level contact details (as per publicly available sources). Use these to request the up-to-date franchise kit and negotiate / ask questions:

• Franchise Contact Email: franchise@keventers.com
• Customer Feedback / General Contact: guestfeedback@keventers.com
• Franchise Office Address: 4th Floor, The Hub, Plot No. 66, Okhla Phase-III, B-Block, Pocket-4, Rangpuri Extension, New Delhi, Delhi-110020.
• Telephone: +91 11 4979 1000 (head office contact)

When you email, ask explicitly for:

• Latest franchise cost breakdown for your city (capex, royalty etc.)
• Sample P&L statements of 2-3 outlets (in similar city tier)
• Agreement terms (duration, renewal, exclusivity, ongoing fee structure)
• Support offered (design, supply, training, marketing)

Sample Figures & Case Illustration

To illustrate, here’s a hypothetical case for a franchisee in a mid-sized city (Tier-2), opening a standard standalone Keventers outlet (say ~200 sq.ft.):

• Franchise Fee: ₹9,00,000
• Security Deposit: ₹1,00,000
• Equipment & Machinery: ~₹7,50,000
• Fit-out & Interiors: ~₹8,00,000
• Initial Inventory + Raw Materials: ~₹2,50,000
• Pre-operating & Marketing: ~₹2,50,000
• Working capital buffer (staff, utilities, rent) for first 2-3 months: ~₹3-5 lakhs

Estimated Total Outlay: ₹25-₹30 lakhs (or more depending on location/higher rents)

Assuming moderate sales of ₹3-4 lakhs/month, with total expenses (rent, staff, raw materials, utilities, royalty etc.), you might expect a net profit of ₹40,000-70,000/month after the initial ramp-up, with payback in ~18-24 months. But again, that depends heavily on location, footfall, operational efficiency.

Final Expert View

Keventers is a strong brand in the beverage / milkshake / dessert space, with good brand recall, a nostalgic feel, and broad customer base. For an investor, it offers a reasonably well-defined model, decent margins (if managed well), and potential for growth.

However, success depends heavily on securing a good location (vis-a-vis rent/traffic), keeping operating costs under control, ensuring high quality and customer experience, and being aware of all the recurring fees and obligations in the franchise agreement.