• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.91-107
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• 2021

As competition in the domestic franchise industry is more heated than ever, we examined the factors that affect the profitability of the coffee franchise industry, which has grown rapidly over the last decade, and explored what effect preparatory startup education has on the profitability of coffee franchise stores. Specifically, this study looked into whether preparatory startup education can increase store competitiveness, provide insight into store location selection, generate innovative management, and ultimately contribute to store profitability. To test these hypotheses, we employed structural equation modeling. Results showed that preparatory startup education has a significantly positive (+)effect on 1)business characteristics: taste, quality, price affordability, menu diversity, store ambiance, 2)location characteristics: suitability, and 3)innovation management: accessibility, delivery service, and SNS marketing. The factors with a significantly positive (+)effect on store profitability were taste, quality, and price affordability with regard to business characteristics, suitability in terms of location characteristics, and SNS marketing in respect to innovation management. We expect that this study will have practical implications for increasing the profitability of coffee franchise stores, which are facing excessive competition, and its findings will be useful for coffee franchise head offices as well as government when making relevant policy decisions. In addition, it is intended to deliver a message to franchise head offices, central government, and local governments that they should provide institutional support to coffee franchise stores such that delivery services can lead to substantial improvement in profitability, even when delivery costs are considered.