Thus, nowadays, the franchise business is experiencing rapid growth as one of the most perspective business models in Kerala. Bearing in mind the fact that Kerala is an economy on the rise with continuously escalating consumerism, it remains one of the best markets for franchising business models. With a diverse range of opportunities, Kerala also offers some of the most profitable franchises in Kerala, especially in the food sector, where the best food franchises in Kerala are thriving due to the growing demand for quality food options.
Whether you are an inexperienced business person or a professional looking for opportunities, considering the best franchise business in Kerala may be very helpful. In the sections that follow, we present some of the top franchise opportunities in the market today and provide important information to help you make your choice.
Why to Choose a Franchise Business in Kerala?
Robust Economic Growth and Industrial Expansion: Kerala’s economy is on the rise, with its industrial sector showing impressive momentum. Over the years, industrial growth has climbed from 12% to 17%, and manufacturing is playing a bigger role—up from 9.8% to 14%. This signals a thriving business environment that’s ripe for franchise opportunities.
Government Support and Investment Initiatives:The Kerala government is actively laying out the red carpet for investors. Through initiatives like the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025, they’re focusing on key sectors such as tourism, healthcare, IT, and food processing. These efforts not only attract investment but also create a welcoming landscape for franchise businesses to thrive and expand.
Emerging Franchise Trends in 2025: Franchising in 2025 is all about innovation and sustainability. There’s a noticeable shift towards tech-driven, eco-conscious models, with increasing interest in franchises offering green technologies or specialized services. If you’re thinking about starting a franchise that’s both future-forward and socially responsible, now’s the time—and Kerala’s the place.
Is a Franchise Business viable in Kerala?
The answer is yes, but like any business venture, it has to do with the location, the market response, and, most importantly, the demand in the particular area. The market in Kerala is quite competitive and with an enhanced economy there is much to gain when the right franchise business is established at the right location.
Some of the important places where franchising can be set up in Kerala are Kochi, Trivandrum, and Calicut. All these cities have developing IT parks, tourist destinations, and business areas, which are suitable for franchising.
Comparison Table for Best Franchise Business in Kerala
| Business Name | Founded | Services | Investment Amount | Profit Margin (%) |
| Naturals Salon | 2000 | Beauty services (shampooing, facials, manicures, pedicures, makeup, bridal) | 30-50 lakhs | 20-30% |
| KFC | 1952 | Fast food (fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, drinks) | 1-1.5 crore | 25-35% |
| Cafe Coffee Day | 1996 | Coffee shop (coffee, snacks, desserts, soft products) | 30-60 lakhs | 20-25% |
| Lenskart | 2010 | Eyewear (hearing aid sales, optical retail, eye exams, contact lenses) | 30-50 lakhs | 15-25% |
| Patanjali Ayurved | 2006 | Ayurvedic products, personal care, foods and beverages | 50-70 lakhs | 20-30% |
| Subway | 1965 | Fast food (sandwiches, salads, wraps, beverages) | 50-60 lakhs | 15-25% |
| DTDC Courier & Cargo | 1990 | Courier and logistics services | 2-5 lakhs | 15-25% |
| Baskin Robbins | 1945 | Ice cream, frozen desserts, cakes, beverages | 20-40 lakhs | 15-20% |
| Apollo Clinic | 2002 | Healthcare (diagnostics, health check-ups, pharmacy, consultation) | 1-3 crore | 20-25% |
| Domino’s Pizza | 1960 | Pizza delivery, carryout, and dine-in services | 30-50 lakhs | 10-20% |
Best Franchise Business in Kerala
1. Naturals Salon
Naturals Salon is one of the best franchise businesses in Kerala with low investment, providing beauty services to fit the needs of modern women. They boast of offering quality beauty treatments at fairly cheap rates – and so it has a steady traffic of customers. This franchise presents a golden opportunity to enter the profitable beauty and wellness market in Kerala, offering an attractive investment option for those seeking to start a business in this growing industry.
- Founded: 2000
- Services: Shampooing, masking, facials, manicures, pedicures, makeup, and bridal services.
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Growing beauty market; modern women seeking quality treatments at affordable rates
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise with complete beauty service model
- Investment Details: ₹30–50 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 20–30% profit margin, 3–4 years payback
- How to Apply: Contact through https://naturals.in/FRANCHISE/index.html
2. KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
Franchise Business in Kerala
KFC is an international fast-food company and, certainly, people all around the world know what it is famous for – fried chicken. Being one of the top franchise businesses in Kerala it occupies a very respectable position in the fast food segment. Due to its massive brand image and numerous customers, owning a franchise of KFC ensures the owner enjoys the highest return on investment. The fact that Keralites consume a lot of fast food makes this place perfect for this franchise.
- Founded: 1952
- Services: fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches especially wraps, and drinks.
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: High fast-food consumption, strong brand recognition, ideal for urban areas
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise with proven fast-food model
- Investment Details: ₹1–1.5 crore
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 25–35% profit margin, 3–4 years payback
- How to Apply: Apply through https://online.kfc.co.in/contactus
3. Cafe Coffee Day
Cafe Coffee Day is one of the most franchised coffee shops available in India. Kerala is an ideal franchise market for this coffee company because of the high interest in the café business in the region. The Cafe Coffee Day brand appeal due to the state’s increasing propensity towards casual dining and coffee makes it one of the most suitable franchise business in Kerala.
- Founded: 1996
- Products: Coffee, Snacks Offered, Desserts, Soft Products
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Growing café culture, casual dining trends, coffee consumption habits
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise for coffee shop operations
- Investment Details: ₹30–60 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 20–25% profit margin, 4–5 years payback
- How to Apply: Submit a franchise application through https://www.cafecoffeeday.com/business
4. Lenskart
franchise business in kerala
Lenskart is a reputed eyewear company and among the best franchise businesses to venture into in Kerala. Currently, Lenskart provides online and offline solutions for those customer who need stylish and affordable glasses. Thus the increase in demand for designer frames in Kerala this franchise business would be perfect for the businessman who wants to venture into the optical business.
- Founded: 2010
- Services: Hearing Aid Sales, Optical Retailers, Eye Exam, Contact Lenses
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Increasing demand for designer eyewear, tech-savvy population
- Franchise Models Available: Retail franchise model with online-offline integration
- Investment Details: ₹30–50 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 15–25% profit margin, 4–6 years payback
- How to Apply: Apply through Lenskart’s website: https://partners.lenskart.com/pages/lenskart-plan
5. Patanjali Ayurved
Franchise Business in Kerala
Patanjali is a very popular brand name and it deals with natural products and Ayurvedic products. Patanjali possesses a franchise business opportunity that fits well into this state because Kerala has a natural preference for Ayurvedic and herbal products. Being the largest franchise business opportunity in Kerala, this business house has a vast product portfolio that includes even personal care products and foods.
- Founded: 2006
- Services: Ayurvedic Products, Personal Care, Foods and Beverages
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Natural preference for Ayurvedic products, health-conscious consumers
- Franchise Models Available: Product distribution franchise with retail setup
- Investment Details: ₹50–70 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 20–30% profit margin, 3–5 years payback
- How to Apply: https://patanjaliwellness.com/franchise.php
6. Subway
Subway is one of the largest QSRs claim ch point fast food restaurant chains that deal with Sandwiches and Salads. Its fresh and healthy menu has worked for the organization and has placed Subway among the best franchise businesses in Kerala. Subway’s business model is quite promising and easily expandable due to the constant growth of the health-conscious people in Kerala.
- Founded: 1965
- Services: The needs and wants that we have addressed include sandwiches, salads, wraps, and beverages.
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Health-conscious population, demand for fresh and healthy food
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise with standardized operations
- Investment Details: ₹50–60 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 15–25% profit margin, 4–6 years payback
- How to Apply: Apply through https://www.subwayfranchise.com/
7. DTDC Courier & Cargo
DTDC is a familiar name in logistics and courier services. As the courier and logistics business is on the rise in Kerala, DTDC is one of the best franchise business in Kerala with low investment for those who want to step into the logistics business in Kerala. This franchise requires low investment and the support of a well-established and trustworthy brand, which means it’s highly profitable.
- Founded: 1990
- Services: Couriers & Messengers Domestic – International, Cargoes
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Growing e-commerce sector, rising demand for logistics, low entry cost
- Franchise Models Available: Service franchise model for courier operations
- Investment Details: ₹2–5 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 15–25% profit margin, 2–3 years payback
- How to Apply: Contact the DTDC https://dtdc.in/become-a-partner.asp
8. Apollo Clinic Franchise
Franchise Business in Kerala
Apollo Clinic is one of the largest healthcare groups in India and deals in many diagnostic services and general healthcare services. Since it’s in the healthcare sector, it is reputable for offering quality medical care, thus a strong brand. In the franchise model, the franchisor offers considerable assistance to the franchisee in training medical personnel as well as in the establishment and running of the franchised unit. This is the best franchise business in Kerala with low investment for people who want to invest in healthcare with a focus on health promotion, diagnostics, and treatment.
- Founded: 2002
- Services: Diagnostics, health check-ups, pharmacy, consultation
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: High healthcare demand, trusted brand presence, expanding medical infrastructure
- Franchise Models Available: Healthcare service franchise with comprehensive support and branding
- Investment Details: ₹1–3 crore
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 20–25% profit margin, 4–6 years payback
- How to Apply: Apply through: https://www.apolloclinic.com/for-franchisee/
9. Baskin Robbins Franchise
Franchise Business in Kerala
Baskin Robbins is the largest chain of ice cream and cake specialty shops in the world. Being a diverse product line, they get a chance to flood the market of desserts, which is growing in Kerala, with different varieties of flavors and frozen desserts. This tropical location of Kerala makes the brand attractive to own as a franchise due to the welcoming and cheerful appearance of the stores and the general goodwill associated with the brand thanks to its high-quality products. It is considered one of the best franchise opportunities in Kerala for those looking to tap into the thriving dessert market.
- Founded: 1945
- Services: Ice cream, frozen desserts, cakes, and beverages
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Tropical climate is ideal for ice cream, expanding dessert market
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise for ice cream and dessert retail
- Investment Details: ₹20–40 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 15–20% profit margin, 4–5 years payback
- How to Apply: https://baskinrobbinsindia.com/pages/franchise-enquiry
10. Domino’s Pizza Franchise
Domino’s Pizza is an international pizza delivery restaurant that offers its pizzas hot within the shortest time possible. The company is one of the biggest pizza joints in the world and provides a good franchise business in Kerala expanding the fast foods segment. The appeal of the brand to young tech-savvy entrepreneurs working in the food delivery business in urban areas of Kerala is that it relies heavily on technology in ordering and delivery.
- Founded: 1960
- Services: Pizza delivery, carryout, and dine-in services
- Why It’s Suitable for Kerala: Tech-savvy urban population, delivery-centric model, strong brand appeal
- Franchise Models Available: Business format franchise with delivery and dine-in options
- Investment Details: ₹30–50 lakhs
- Expected ROI & Payback Period: 10–20% profit margin, 5–7 years payback
- How to Apply: https://biz.dominos.com/about-us/franchising/
Advantages Associated with a Franchise Business
A franchise business presents the following benefits and is particularly suitable for first-time business people. The largest advantage is the acquisition of a solid business plan for getting started. While starting an independent business from the ground up does not have a market-proven model, a franchise does. This greatly minimizes the possibility of failure. In Kerala, various franchise business models in Kerala offer well-established structures, making it easier for new entrepreneurs to succeed with less risk.
Brand recognition is another main advantage associated with the use of mobile couponing. The franchisee gets customers right from the start since the franchisor already has a brand. Also, franchisors’ support and training are always available to the franchisees to ensure that the franchisees understand how to effectively run their businesses. Marketing assistance is also important since the franchisee gets to enjoy the national or regional advertisement of the franchisor. In Kerala, some of the best franchise opportunities in Kerala provide excellent brand recognition, ensuring that franchisees can capitalize on established reputations and marketing resources.
Finally, a franchise business minimizes risk whereas maximizing the probability of success in a competitive market enables an individual to have a defined blueprint of the business.
Conclusion
Kerala’s best franchise business gives many opportunities in various sectors including beauty salons and even fast food. All the franchises described here have a relatively smooth roadmap to success, mainly because of the secured brand image and well-defined blueprint. Starting from just buying a franchise of DTDC to starting a restaurant like KFC, there are plenty of good business opportunities in Kerala. Additionally, there are also several franchise businesses in Kerala under 5 lakhs, making it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the market. Select the franchise business that you have an interest in, funds to invest, and that will turn around in the long run in Kerala.
FAQs:
1. What is a franchise business?
A franchise business is a strategic form of organization where a franchisee is given the legal right to the sale of goods and services under the franchise maker’s trade name. The party who uses the trademark or the business format buys the license from the franchisor for a fee and submits it to regular royalties. This business model enables an individual to begin a business by having an identified brand with the backing of the franchisor.
2. Which are the top franchise business companies in Kerala?
The best franchises that can be purchased in Kerala can be relative to the kind of business you want to venture into. Some popular franchise businesses in the current world include food franchises such as KFC, health franchises such as Apollo Clinic, and educational franchises such as Kumon. These franchises thus present a well-established business model and a well-established brand name that is suitable for any businessman from the State of Kerala.
3. What is the amount needed to start a franchise in Kerala?
The cost involved to begin a franchise in Kerala may cost anything from ₹5 lakh to ₹3 crore or above depending on the company and the field. For instance, to own a Subway franchise the cost is anywhere between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 90 lakh, KFC on the other hand requires anywhere from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 3 crore. One should select a franchise according to its/their financial capability and purposes.
4. What is the trend of profit margin in the franchise business in Kerala?
Franchise businesses in Kerala earn different profit margins of franchise business depending on the business type and cost of operations. Normally, fast food chains such as KFC give only 15% to 20% profit margin and on the other hand healthcare chains like Apollo Clinic may give a margin of 20% to 25%. The level of profit that can be generated depends among other things on the location, the type of clientele to be served, and management efficiency.
