Microfranchising for development: The case of Krishi Utsho

The development world has long embraced micro-finance, and there is a lot of hype about micro-entrepreneurs, but what exactly is a micro-franchise?

A micro-what?

Micro-franchising “has its roots in traditional franchising, which is the practice of copying a successful business and replicating it at another location by following a consistent set of well-defined processes and procedures.” CARE Bangladesh’s social enterprise Krishi Utsho demonstrates how micro-franchises can complement traditional market-based approaches to ending poverty.

Krishi Utsho  

In technical terms, Krishi Utsho  could be referred to as an “agro-input micro-franchise network.” Less densely, Krishi Utsho is a system of stores, all linked by a common brand but owned by individuals, which sell products like feed, seed or veterinary medicines to farmers. Think McDonald’s but with higher social impact.

This blog originally appeared on the Inclusive Business Hub (IBH). Please visit IBH for the full blog.