STARLA Ask us anything
The concierge answers strictly from Starla’s published rule set — it will never make an earnings claim, negotiate a fee, or confirm territory availability as a commitment.
Top questions
What is the total investment?+
Indicatively ₹8–10 Cr, comprising fit-out (₹1.6–2.4 Cr) and opening inventory (₹4.8–6.2 Cr), alongside the ₹1L application fee and ₹40L refundable security deposit.
Is there a franchise fee?+
No franchise fee for programme Years 1–2 signings — grandfathered for the full term. Ongoing charges are royalty (5%), marketing fund (2%), and technology fee (1%, floor ₹40,000/month), all on Net Revenue.
Who sets retail prices?+
Starla's pricing engine sets every price centrally. There is no manual pricing anywhere in the system — this protects your margin from discount wars.
Do I own the inventory?+
Yes. Inventory is partner-owned, purchased from Starla at the lowest possible transfer cost, serialized, and covered by a rotation programme and a published exit buyback formula.
How long does the journey take?+
Roughly 150–180 days across ten gated stages, Enquire through Open. No gate is ever skipped.
What territories are open?+
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are opening now. See the Territories page for live availability by city.
Is territory exclusive?+
You get a protected radius (3 km urban / 5 km non-metro) with a pre-agreed compensation formula for encroachment within 1.5× that radius.
How is financing handled?+
Typically 50–60% of inventory is bank-financed. Starla provides a project-finance pack and an approved-lender panel. Starla never guarantees partner debt.
What support do I get after opening?+
A named Franchise Business Consultant, Founder School certification, a hiring toolkit, a monthly Starla-prepared P&L, and AI copilots for the owner and the store.
What is Pipeline Mode?+
Enrolment now reserves your territory for 12 months while the network builds toward its next proving store. Your deposit sits in an escrow-style account, refundable in full if the window doesn't open.
Is the security deposit refundable?+
Yes, refundable subject to true-up at exit, per the terms in your Letter of Intent and the Deposit/Escrow Terms Letter.
How do I apply?+
Start at /franchise/apply. It takes about ten minutes; your mobile number is OTP-verified before submission.