GS25 Targets Entrepreneurs in Their 50s and 60s... Launches "Hands-On Startup Experience" Program

Half of New Store Owners Are in Their 50s and 60s...
Hands-On Experience in Daily Operations

Support Includes Personalized Consultations, Franchise Fee Discounts, and Digital Training

GS25, the convenience store operated by GS Retail, announced on August 18 that it is launching a new “Active Senior Entrepreneurship Experience Program” designed for aspiring business owners in their 50s and 60s. This initiative comes in response to the increasing demand for senior entrepreneurship, as those in the 50–60 age group now account for more than half of all new GS25 franchise owners.

The proportion of new GS25 store owners in their 50s and 60s rose from 44.6% in 2023 to 50.1% in the first half of this year. During the same period, the share of those in their 50s and 60s among all aspiring franchisees also increased, from 44% to 48.5%. Analysts attribute this trend to Korea’s transition to a super-aged society, combined with the convenience store business’s relatively low entry barriers and the prospect of stable income generation, which is drawing increased interest from this demographic.

The newly launched program goes beyond standard franchise information sessions, featuring visits to successful stores, hands-on experience in daily store operations, and personalized one-on-one consultations. The program will take place once a month for a total of four sessions, from August 21 through December, and is open to applicants aged 55 to 69.

Participants will receive training on a franchise owner’s daily routine, followed by direct experience of key tasks such as merchandise display, store management, and the POS system. Afterwards, they will tour stores that implement senior entrepreneurship models and receive tailored business consultations. GS25’s goal is to enable participants to gain first-hand experience in store operations before launching a business, thereby deepening their understanding of the convenience store industry and helping them assess their entrepreneurial suitability.

Program graduates will also be eligible for special benefits. Those who sign a GS25 franchise contract within one year of completing the program will receive a 1 million won discount on the franchise fee. Additionally, new senior franchisees will receive extra training, including customized online courses and a digital terminology guidebook.

Park Juhyun, Manager of Development and Planning at GS25, commented, “Our goal is to help entrepreneurs in their 50s and 60s experience store operations before launching their business, so they can choose the business model best suited to them. We will continue to strengthen customized support programs tailored to the different needs of aspiring entrepreneurs across age groups.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.