NOVA Group has introduced a new partnership model called “Light Franchise,” through which it aims to increase the number of franchisees in Ukraine from 553 to 5,000 by the end of 2026. The new format is designed not only to scale the network, but also to effectively open a new entry channel into the country’s logistics infrastructure for small businesses and private investors. The launch of the programme was announced at Nova Summit by Nova product manager Oleksii Harkavyi.
The key change in the model is that Nova Poshta’s franchising is becoming more modular and digitalized. Potential partners are offered the option to choose one or several business lines depending on their available capital, transport, real estate, or operational capacity. The options include opening a branch in owned premises, launching a pickup point based on an existing business, address delivery, parcel locker delivery, transportation between terminals and branches, as well as investing in a parcel locker as a standalone asset with a passive income model.
For investors and entrepreneurs, this means that Nova Poshta is effectively shifting part of its further network expansion into a distributed capex model, where the growth of its physical presence is financed not only by the company itself, but also through partner capital. This approach could accelerate expansion in major cities, including Kyiv, where access for private partners to the franchise model had previously been limited.
NOVA is also placing particular emphasis on digital management of its partner network. The company is developing a “Partnership Portal” and a mobile application through which franchisees will be able to track analytics in real time, monitor income and expenses, order packaging, and manage staff tasks. The full rollout of the new programme is scheduled for September 2026.
The investment appeal of the model is supported by the current franchise terms. On its official website, the company states that a partner can launch a turnkey business in as little as two weeks, expect a payback period starting from eight months, and receive more than 30% of total revenue. Forbes also notes that Nova Poshta’s traditional franchise model does not require an upfront franchise fee or royalties, while the estimated total investment for opening a partner branch ranges from UAH 500,000 to UAH 1 million.
The scaling of the franchise model comes against the backdrop of the company’s own large investment programme. In 2026, Nova Poshta plans to invest around UAH 3 billion in network development and automation, including the launch of new sorting terminals in Lviv, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr, as well as the opening of around 10,000 new service points. Of these, nearly 6,000 are expected to be parcel lockers, while around 300 will be branches.
The financial base for such expansion remains strong. In 2025, NOVA Group increased revenue by 21% to more than UAH 54 billion, while its network in Ukraine grew to 50,003 service points, including 15,817 branches and 34,186 parcel lockers. At the same time, the company’s net profit declined by 37% to UAH 2.6 billion.
Overall, the new franchise model appears to be NOVA’s attempt to solve two tasks simultaneously: to sharply accelerate market coverage and to bring thousands of small investors and entrepreneurs into its logistics ecosystem. For the market, this means the emergence of a more flexible investment instrument in service infrastructure, backed by a strong brand, an established customer flow, and a digital management system.
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