Choosing Your International Expansion Structure

5 lessons · 3 knowledge checks · Structure Decision Tree

What's inside

1. 1The Decision That Locks In Your Next 10 Years6 min

   After choosing their first market, Vietnamese founders often jump straight to "where do I find a partner?". But one decision must come FIRST: under what structure will you hand that market to a partner? This is the decis…

2. 2The 5 Structures — What Each One Really Is8 min

   There are five main structures for taking a brand international. They differ fundamentally in who funds it, who controls it, and how money flows back to you. Understanding all five is a prerequisite before sitting down t…

3. 3The Decision Matrix — 5 Levers7 min

   Don't choose a structure by gut feel or by what "everyone else uses." Evaluate these five levers systematically — together they point to the right structure for each specific market.

4. 4The Master Franchise Trap — and How to Avoid It7 min

   Master franchise is the most attractive structure for a capital-light founder: one signature, a whole country "covered," and the master fee arrives immediately. But that very attractiveness is the trap. It is the structu…

5. 5Match Structure to Your Situation + Decision Tree7 min

   You now know the five structures, the five levers, and the biggest trap. The final step is to map it all onto your specific situation. Here are a few common patterns, before you use the Decision Tree for your own recomme…