Caffe Bene Franchise
Korean café chain from 2008, offered in India only as a country master franchise (US$500K+ liquid capital). No Indian outlet; going-concern doubts.
About This Listing
Caffe Bene has no outlets in India. Outside Korea it grows through master franchise partners, and its overseas pages invite partners from any country to apply, asking for at least US$500,000 in liquid capital, so there is no single-café franchise for individual investors in India. It publishes no India-specific offer, fee or royalty. The Korean franchisor has had negative equity since 2016 (about -₩23.3 bn at end-2024), its auditor flagged doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern every year from 2018 to 2024, and it has filed no public accounts since its 2024 annual report.
Source: Caffe Bene overseas business, store and enquiry pages, Oct 2026; Caffebene audited accounts on Korea's DART (FY2024); TopDaily, Jun 2026
Caffe Bene franchise at a glance (terms checked Oct 2026)
Investment
₹4 Cr - ₹7 Cr*
Estimate — not published by the brand · incl. fee, fit-out, equipment, rent deposit, stock · excl. working capital, GST
Ongoing take
Not published
Franchise fee
Not published
Payback
Not published
* Not verified — the brand doesn't publish this; the figure comes from other published sources or FranchiseChuno's estimate (see "Reported elsewhere" and "Our estimates" below). Real numbers can differ.
- Franchisor made a loss of ₹8.9 Cr in CY2024
- Auditor raised going concern doubt
- Outlet network shrank from 244 (Korea, end-2021) to 99 (Korea, end-2024)
- Legal or regulatory action on record — see Reputation & News
- Disputes with franchisees: None found (records checked Oct 2026)
Outlets
172 verified
What we couldn't verify
- • Outlet closures
- • Franchisee satisfaction
- • Outlet claim matches reality
- • Ongoing take
Ask before you sign
- Speak to at least 3 franchisees who have run an outlet for 2+ years and see their actual monthly sales and profit — a franchisor making money doesn't mean its franchisees do.
- Get a written, itemised cost breakdown — the brand hasn't published one.
- Ask for the one-time franchise fee in writing, and whether any part is refundable.
Franchise terms checked against Caffe Bene's official overseas franchise page on 8 Oct 2026. Figures marked * aren't published by the brand — they come from other published sources or our own estimate, and aren't verified.
Ways to Partner with Caffe Bene
1 partner model published by the brand. Figures it doesn't publish are left blank.
Country master franchise
- Investment
- ₹4 Cr – ₹7 Cr
- Territory
- A country
- Who it suits
- Business experience, a customer-oriented approach, US$500,000+ liquid capital, US$500,000 net assets or borrowing capacity, and the ability to build a franchise network
Caffe Bene's published route abroad. It publishes no master fee, royalty, term or development schedule, and nothing specific to India; the investment range is our estimate.
Our Estimates
FranchiseChuno estimateCaffe Bene doesn't publish these, so here is our best read of the market and how we got there. They are our estimates, not the brand's figures — use them to plan, then confirm the real numbers in writing.
Starting an India master franchise (rights fee, first three cafés, launch)
₹4–7 Cr*
Caffe Bene publishes no master fee. Anchors: its own entry bar of US$500,000+ liquid capital (about ₹4.25 Cr at ₹85 per US$) plus US$500,000 in net assets or borrowing capacity. Assumptions: three opening cafés at our per-café estimate of ₹60 L–₹1 Cr (₹1.8–3 Cr); a country master fee of roughly ₹1.5–3 Cr, which is our judgement, not a published figure; and ₹50 L–₹1 Cr for training trips to its Korean academy, importing beans and supplies, and launch marketing. That gives about ₹4–7 Cr, below The Pizza Company's ₹5–10 Cr master floor because cafés are cheaper to open than full-service restaurants. Running costs while the network grows are extra.
Analyst judgement · Oct 2026
One Caffe Bene café of about 1,000–1,100 sq ft in India (if a master partner opens one)
₹60 L–₹1 Cr*
Anchored on Caffe Bene's own Korean opening-cost table: ₩160 M excluding VAT for a 99 m² (about 1,066 sq ft) café, about ₹99 L at ₹0.062 per ₩, with interior costs on a 2018 basis. Indian fit-out costs are lower: about ₹3,000–4,500 per sq ft (₹30–50 L), coffee and kitchen equipment ₹12–20 L, furniture and signage ₹8–12 L, rent deposits ₹6–12 L, and opening stock and working capital ₹4–8 L. It excludes any master-franchise fee, which Caffe Bene doesn't disclose.
Unit-economics model · Oct 2026
Reputation & News
6 red flags to checkWhat the press, courts and real franchisees or customers have said about Caffe Bene — summarised by us, with every source linked.
- In the news· 22 Jun 2026
Caffe Bene's network falls below 100 stores; auditor repeats going-concern warning
TopDaily reports that Caffe Bene's Korean stores fell from 176 (end-2022) to 99 (end-2024), its equity has been negative since 2016, its accumulated deficit reached â‚©84.2 bn at end-2024, and its auditor flagged going-concern uncertainty every year from 2018 to 2024. It also reports that the business-development team is effectively vacant and that brand marketing has largely stopped.
Source: TopDaily - In the news· 3 Apr 2025
Revenue drops to â‚©7.6 bn in 2024; losses continue
Sisaweek, citing Caffe Bene's business report, reports 2024 consolidated revenue of â‚©7.6 bn (down 40.9%), an operating loss of â‚©0.96 bn, a net loss of â‚©1.4 bn and total equity of -â‚©23.2 bn.
Source: Sisaweek - In the news· 23 Oct 2025
Korean store count shrinks to 122 at end-2023
FN News reports 122 Korean stores at end-2023 (3 company-owned, 119 franchised) and Hallyu Ventures as largest shareholder with 37.6%. It put the 2024 operating loss at â‚©1.4 bn; the audited accounts show â‚©0.96 bn, as Sisaweek reported.
Source: FN News (Newsis) - In the news· 13 Aug 2024
Six straight years of operating losses
Newsis, citing Financial Supervisory Service filings, reported Caffe Bene's operating loss widening in Q2 2024 and its store count falling from 244 (2021) to 176 (2022).
Source: Newsis - Legal / regulatory· 26 Jan 2018
Caffe Bene entered court rehabilitation in 2018
The Seoul Rehabilitation Court opened rehabilitation proceedings for Caffe Bene on 25 Jan 2018 after it applied on 12 Jan 2018, following heavy debts from rapid expansion and overseas investment.
Source: Etoday - Legal / regulatory· 31 Mar 2025
Fined by Korea's Financial Services Commission in 2020
Caffe Bene's FY2024 business report discloses a â‚©1.4 million fine imposed on 27 Feb 2020 by the Financial Services Commission for a breach of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act; it says the fine was paid.
Source: Caffebene FY2024 business report (DART)
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- In the news· 11 Oct 2018
Rehabilitation closed early in Oct 2018
Etoday reported that the court closed Caffe Bene's rehabilitation early, nine months after it began. The company said the court was satisfied it could meet its debts, and that it returned to an operating profit in the first half of 2018.
Source: Etoday
Legal & Contract Summary
Key contract terms at a glance — read before you sign.
Agreement Type
Not specifiedContract Duration
—Renewal Available
—Territory Exclusivity
—Non-Compete Clause
—Exit Clause
—Who Can Apply for Caffe Bene
Conditions the brand sets for partners, and the licences the business needs.
- Liquid capital: US$500,000 or moreRequired
- Net assets or borrowing capacity: US$500,000 or moreRequired
- Business experience: RequiredRequired
- Ability to build a franchise network: RequiredRequired
- Customer-oriented approach: ExpectedPreferred
Licences & registrations
| Licence | Issued by | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI food business licence or registrationNeeded by any café in India; not specific to Caffe Bene. | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | You |
About the Brand
Brand USP
A Korean café chain from 2008 that passed 1,000 stores in five years; its own locators now list 172 stores across seven countries, none in India.
Why invest in Caffe Bene?
Caffe Bene by the Numbers
Source marked on each figure172 (Korea 91; 81 in six other countries; none in India)
Stores on Caffe Bene's own locators · Oct 2026
Store locator4 countries, 108 stores (out of date against its own overseas locator: 6 countries, 81 stores)
Overseas footprint stated on its global page · Oct 2026
Brand claim99 at end-2024, down from 176 at end-2022
Korean stores in its franchise disclosure · Dec 2024
IndependentCaffe Bene Outlet Network
Outlet count over time
- Dec 2021244
Korea, end-2021 · newsis.com
- Dec 2022176
Korea, end-2022 · newsis.com
- Dec 2023122
Korea, end-2023 · fnnews.com
- Dec 2023119
Korea, end-2023 (franchised) · fnnews.com
- Dec 20233
Korea, end-2023 (company-owned) · fnnews.com
- Dec 202499
Korea, end-2024 · topdaily.kr
These counts come from different sources — brand claims, press reports and store locators — so they aren't a like-for-like series. Treat the brand's own claims as the upper end.
By country · Oct 2026
- South Korea (locator)91
- Mongolia30
- Saudi Arabia22
- Taiwan17
- Malaysia6
- Indonesia5
- Brunei1
- India0
Company Financials
Brand-level, publicly reportedThe franchisor's own company health — separate from what a single franchise outlet earns.
Revenue (CY2024)
₹47.3 Cr
Net loss (CY2024)
₹8.9 Cr
A profitable franchisor doesn't mean profitable franchisees. These are the company's numbers, not an outlet's. A franchisor can grow on fees and supplies while outlets struggle — talk to existing franchisees and see their accounts before you decide.
Company Health Check
What Caffe Bene's franchisor company has filed with the registrar and the courts — the checks a lawyer would run before you sign.
Group companies
- Hallyu Ventures Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)shareholder · 37.6%
- Sirius Equity Partnersshareholder · 25.1%
Source: Caffebene filings on Korea's DART (FY2023 and FY2024 audit reports, FY2024 business report) and Korean press citing them and Korea FTC franchise disclosures (Sisaweek Apr 2025, FN News Oct 2025, TopDaily Jun 2026); Seoul Rehabilitation Court record via Etoday (checked Oct 2026)
Full company recordsFinancials year by year, registered details, leadership and timelineShowHide
Caffe Bene Financials Over Time
Figures for the brand, from filed or reported accounts.
Source: Caffebene filings as reported by Sisaweek; ₩46.8 bn at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene filings as reported by Sisaweek; ₩29.0 bn at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene filings as reported by Sisaweek; ₩26.3 bn at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene filings as reported by Sisaweek; ₩22.4 bn at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene filings as reported by Sisaweek; ₩18.6 bn at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene audited consolidated accounts (FY2023 audit report, 2022 comparatives) on Korea's DART; ₩16.29 bn revenue, ₩2.13 bn net loss, at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene audited consolidated accounts (FY2023 audit report) on Korea's DART; ₩12.91 bn revenue, ₩0.92 bn net loss, at about ₹0.062 per ₩ · Caffebene audited consolidated accounts (FY2024 audit report) on Korea's DART; ₩7.63 bn revenue, ₩1.43 bn net loss, at about ₹0.062 per ₩
A profitable franchisor doesn't mean profitable franchisees. These are the company's numbers, not an outlet's. A franchisor can grow on fees and supplies while outlets struggle — talk to existing franchisees and see their accounts before you decide.
Company Profile
The legal entity behind the brand, its leadership, and its official channels.
- Registered name
- (주)ì¹´íŽ˜ë² ë„¤ (Caffebene Co., Ltd.)
- Company type
- Unlisted company, South Korea (filed periodic reports on Korea's DART disclosure system up to its 2024 annual report, Mar 2025; none since)
- Incorporated
- 17 Nov 2008
- Headquarters
- Paju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Leadership
- GGreta Pak (ë°•ê·¸ë ˆíƒ€)CEO
- KKim Sun-kwon (ê¹€ì„ ê¶Œ)Founder and former CEO (ceded control in 2016)
Social presence
Company details source: Caffe Bene website footer (business registration no. 206-86-29161); Newsis, Aug 2024
Caffe Bene Timeline
17 Nov 2008
Caffe Bene is incorporated in South Korea
SourceJul 2013
Expands abroad through master franchising
Korea JoongAng Daily reported 55 stores in China, 6 in the US and 2 in the Philippines, with entries into Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore under way.
Source2013
Passes 1,000 stores within five years of launch
Source2014
Debt reaches about â‚©150 bn after rapid expansion and overseas investment
Source2016
Founder hands control to Hallyu Ventures, a private-equity joint venture
Newsis, citing filings, reports that equity has been fully impaired (negative) since 2016.
Source25 Jan 2018
Seoul Rehabilitation Court opens court rehabilitation for Caffe Bene
Application filed 12 Jan 2018.
Source11 Oct 2018
Court closes the rehabilitation early, after nine months
Source2024
Revenue falls to â‚©7.6 bn with a â‚©1.4 bn net loss
Source31 Mar 2025
Caffe Bene files its 2024 annual report on DART, its last public filing so far
It had filed quarterly, half-year and annual reports until then; a DART search on 3 Oct 2026 shows nothing filed since.
SourceJun 2026
Korean store count down to 99 (end-2024); auditor's going-concern warning repeated every year since 2018
Source
FranchiseChuno Analysis
Our analysis of verified dataHow Caffe Bene looks once the numbers are checked side by side.
- !The franchisor company is loss-makingIts latest filed accounts show a net loss. Franchisors that lose money can cut support or change terms — ask how franchise operations are funded.
- ✓Brand operating for 18 yearsFounded in 2008. The brand doesn't state when franchising began.
- !6 red flags in the news or public discussionSee Reputation & News below, and ask the brand to address each one.
Data completeness
45%
- ✓ Terms checked against the brand's own page
- â—‹ Published investment (not an estimate)
- â—‹ Franchise fee
- â—‹ Royalty
- â—‹ ROI or payback claim
- â—‹ Agreement term
- ✓ Training details
- â—‹ Outlet cities verified
- ✓ Company financials
- ✓ Legal entity
- ✓ News & public opinion checked
Ask Before You Sign
Questions tailored to what Caffe Bene does and doesn't publish.
- 1Speak to at least 3 franchisees who have run an outlet for 2+ years and see their actual monthly sales and profit — a franchisor making money doesn't mean its franchisees do.
- 2Get a written, itemised cost breakdown — the brand hasn't published one.
- 3Ask for the one-time franchise fee in writing, and whether any part is refundable.
- 4Ask for the royalty and any marketing-fund fee, and how they're calculated (on sales or profit).
- 5Ask for the agreement term, renewal fee and exit or transfer terms.
- 6Ask whether you get an exclusive territory, and how large it is.
- 7Ask how the franchisor funds training and support while it's loss-making.
- 8Ask the brand to respond to each red flag listed under Reputation & News.
- 9Have a lawyer review the franchise agreement before paying anything.
- 10Visit 2–3 existing outlets and speak to their owners without the brand present.
Running the outletSpace, staff, launch steps, training, support and who does whatShowHide
Operations Required
What you'll need on the ground to run this franchise day-to-day.
Area Required
—
Staff Needed
—
Setup Time
—
Owner Involvement
—
Best Locations
Not published
Business Type
Not published
From First Call to Launch
Caffe Bene's onboarding process, step by step.
- 1
Brand-fit review
Caffe Bene first reviews how well the local market suits the brand.
- 2
Application
The candidate fills in the application form.
- 3
Agreement
The agreement transfers store operating rights and know-how.
- 4
Visit and meeting
Operating capability and the business plan are discussed with the overseas development team.
- 5
Site selection
The first café's location is chosen with Caffe Bene's store development team.
- 6
Training
Training for the first opening at the head-office academy in Korea.
- 7
First café opens
On-site training is given for the first opening.
- 8
Operations consulting
Consulting on systems, new menu development and organisation after opening.
Training & Support
What the brand provides to help you launch and run your franchise.
Location
Caffe Bene head-office academy, South Korea; on-site for the first café
Operations Manual
Step-by-step playbook for running the outlet
Supply Chain Support
Vendor sourcing, inventory & logistics
Technology / POS
Billing, inventory, and management software
Marketing Support
National & local marketing campaigns
Launch Support
Pre-opening setup and grand-opening assistance
Ongoing Field Support
Regular visits and operational coaching
Training Programme
Ongoing Support
What Caffe Bene franchisees say
We haven't yet heard from enough Caffe Bene franchisees to show anything. We publish totals once 3 or more people who run an outlet have answered and we've called each one to check.
I run a Caffe Bene outlet — share how it wentFrequently Asked Questions
What is the total investment for a Caffe Bene franchise?
What training does Caffe Bene provide?
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