UFRAD AND DAMU’S FIRST FRANCHISING WEBINAR BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 200 PARTICIPANTS
UFRAD Franchise Association and Kazakhstan’s DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund held the first session of their joint webinar series on 5 November 2026, bringing together more than 200 participants. Launched under a cooperation agreement between the two organisations, the series aims to share Türkiye’s franchising and retail experience with Kazakh entrepreneurs and create new opportunities for collaboration. The opening session was titled “Franchise Fundamentals – How to Build a Scalable Business Model.”
Opening remarks highlight cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan
UFRAD President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın opened the webinar by thanking DAMU for its contribution to the series and emphasising the value of sharing franchising experience between the two countries. He noted that prospective franchisees should assess both the initial investment costs and the potential of the proposed location.
Murat Bapayev, Deputy Chairman of DAMU’s Management Board, highlighted the dynamism of Türkiye’s franchise market and the experience Turkish brands have gained by expanding through franchising. He underscored the value of sharing successful practices from Türkiye with entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan.
Building a franchise system and entering new markets
The session featured UFRAD Vice President Osman Faik Bilge and UFRAD Board Members Mesut Süren and Süleyman Soysal, an attorney.
Osman Faik Bilge discussed different franchise models and their associated investment costs. He also explained how brands can maintain consistent service standards across locations as their networks expand.
Drawing on the experiences of Turkish retail brands in Kazakhstan, Mesut Süren explained how franchise models can be adapted to local market conditions. He highlighted the importance of choosing the right business partner and considering customer profiles, local competition and operating costs when selecting a location.
Süleyman Soysal discussed key provisions in franchise agreements, including how to define each party’s rights and obligations, protect trademark rights and establish territorial exclusivity.
Participants’ questions on franchise investment and operations
The two-hour webinar concluded with a Q&A session on franchise investment and day-to-day operations. The speakers explained how initial franchise fees and sales-based royalties are determined and how these payments can affect the profitability of an individual location.
The discussion also covered how to assess different profitability scenarios before investing, how franchise agreements protect trademark rights, and what training and operational support franchisees receive before and after opening
