Your own business can be an alternative for people looking for a professional change, greater financial stability and opportunities for development. If you want to run your own business and do not have a large financial contribution to start, it is worth taking a look at the franchise model of Żabka – one of the leaders of the convenience market in Poland.
The publication's partner is Żabka
The number of franchise outlets – currently over 10,000 – proves that ready-made, proven operational solutions will facilitate start-up and operation. There are over 12,000 entrepreneurs running stores under a green banner, taking advantage of the network's comprehensive support in everyday business management.
Application and interview with an advisor
– The path to your own business begins by filling out the form on the website www.fanczyza.zabka.pl. Candidates specify their location preferences and declare their readiness to run a business, explains Marta Partyka, franchise development director at Żabka Polska. – After sending the application, they are contacted by a Żabka advisor who presents the details of cooperation and answers questions about the franchise model – he adds.
He emphasizes that the network does not require trading experience – the most important things are motivation, commitment and readiness to learn. Anyone can become a Żabka franchisee: from people looking for a change of job or industry, through young entrepreneurs just starting their careers, to women returning to the labor market or people from abroad. The minimum own contribution is approximately PLN 5,000. PLN, which makes the offer one of the most affordable on the market.
“Safe Start” program – learning in practice
After the initial interview, a recruitment meeting takes place during which the candidate's predispositions, organizational skills and readiness to run a business are discussed. Marta Partyka explains that the purpose of this stage is to adjust the entrepreneur's profile to the requirements of the franchise model, which is based on independent team management, care for customer relationships and compliance with network standards. Recruitment also includes the analysis of potential locations, which are selected on the basis of numerous business criteria, such as the number of inhabitants in the area, traffic intensity and transport accessibility, but also proximity to the future franchisee's place of residence.
Before the future franchisee decides to sign the contract, he or she can take advantage of the “Safe Start” program, under which, for a period of 2 to 4 weeks, he or she will become familiar with how the store operates and what his or her responsibilities would be. They will also learn customer service, accepting deliveries, using IT systems and product labeling principles.
– The program allows you to verify your expectations regarding running a retail business and enables you to better understand the specifics of running a store in the franchise model – emphasizes Marta Partyka. And adds:
– This is a solution that significantly increases the certainty of the decision to cooperate. After completing the program, the candidate decides to continue cooperation with the network or leave and choose a different career path. Since the beginning of 2025, out of over 275 people who took part in it, 146 have opened a Żabka store, and another 60 are people who continue to participate with the intention of opening a store in the near future – he adds.
Training and preparation for running a store
After a positive decision to cooperate, the candidate undergoes a comprehensive training process covering both theory and practice. During the training, he gains knowledge in the field of personnel management, customer service, logistics, food safety, accounting and the use of advanced IT systems supporting everyday activities. An integral element of preparation for the role of a franchisee is the Entrepreneurship Academy, carried out in cooperation with the Faculty of Management of the Warsaw University of Technology. This is an educational project that develops managerial, financial and organizational competences of both new and existing franchisees.
After completing the training, the franchisee receives a premises ready for trading – fully equipped, furnished and stocked. Żabka provides technical facilities, IT systems, refrigeration and exhibition equipment, and also finances the adaptation of the premises and participates in the costs of its rental. Thanks to this, the entrepreneur can focus on the most important thing, i.e. running the store and serving customers, without having to invest in operational facilities. This comprehensive support allows the franchisee to operate in a professionally prepared business environment and use the chain's logistics and proven operating procedures.
Support in everyday activities
Each franchisee has an assigned sales partner and a regional manager who support him in planning activities, analyzing results and current difficulties.
– The network also provides access to advanced digital tools, such as Optiplan, Żabka Assistant or Cyberstore, which facilitate the management of the store, staff, orders and stocking – informs Przemysław Kijewski, chief operating officer at Żabka Polska.
– These systems use elements of artificial intelligence, analyzing sales data and recommending operational actions in real time. Thanks to them, franchisees can manage the store from anywhere, even from a mobile phone, he adds.
He does not deny that the first months of operation are a time of intensive cooperation with field advisors and sales partners. Franchisees receive support in planning team work, logistics, marketing and building relationships with customers. The network also offers additional programs supporting development, such as: “Car to start” (for people opening stores in smaller towns far from their place of residence) or “Relocation Discount”, which supports the franchisee when he decides to change his place of residence to open a store in another location.
– Entrepreneurs can also count on the “Polisa na Biznes” insurance, unique on the market, which, on the terms agreed with the insurance company, protects them against various unforeseen situations that may arise while running their own business – explains Przemysław Kijewski.
Franchise development and community
The goal that Żabka wants to achieve is to build an active community of entrepreneurs. Currently, over 10,000 people cooperate with the network. franchisees aged 18 to 78, of which as many as 65 percent are women. Cooperation with the network enables not only achieving satisfactory income, but also a path for further professional development.
– Franchisees can become trainers, network ambassadors, mentors for new participants or members of the Franchise Council, which is a democratically elected forum that consults solutions implemented by Żabka and proposes their own initiatives – emphasizes Przemysław Kijewski.
– Franchisees can also take part in internal development programs, such as the Quality Champions League promoting best practices in management and customer service – he adds.
Safe business model
The vice president emphasizes that the Żabka franchise model combines the independence of an entrepreneur with the security and strength of a large organization. The franchisee operates under a recognizable brand, uses extensive logistics, marketing and technological resources as well as constant support in legal, accounting and training areas. Statistics show that this solution is effective and in the first half of 2025, almost 84 percent. franchisees running stores under the Żabka brand achieved revenue of at least PLN 30,000. zloty. In large cities such as Warsaw, these amounts are higher. In the capital, nearly 85 percent franchisees generated an income of at least PLN 33,000. zloty.
– This result confirms the stable position of the Żabka franchise on the market and the attractiveness of the business model – informs Przemysław Kijewski, chief operating officer at Żabka Polska – The entire process of joining the Żabka chain is transparent and orderly – from registration, through training and opening the store, to constant support in everyday operations. Thanks to the low entry level, ready-made infrastructure and strong operational base, the Żabki franchise is an attractive and safe way to start your own business. This is a model that allows you to combine the entrepreneur's independence with the comfort of operating within a professional support system, leading step by step to a stable business and the entrepreneur's own development – he adds.
The publication's partner is Żabka
