Short answer: for most people, no. A few years ago a franchise made sense, because a new station owner could not easily get a driver app, a way to take payments, software to watch the chargers, and a name drivers trusted. Today each of those can be had on its own. Drivers can pay by scanning a UPI QR code with no app at all, the money can reach your own bank account, and the software can carry your name. So the question is no longer "can I do this without a franchise?" but "what would I be paying a franchise for?" This guide walks through that question gently, so you can decide with a clear head.
First, what a franchise usually gives you
It helps to be fair to the idea. A charging franchise typically offers four things:
- A brand that drivers may already know.
- An app that drivers use to find the charger, start it and pay.
- Payments, collected by the franchise and passed on to you later.
- Software and support to keep the chargers running.
In return, the owner usually pays a joining fee, shares a part of every session, follows the brand's rules on price and look, and signs for a fixed number of years. None of this is wrong. The point is simply to check whether you still need what you are paying for.
Then, what has changed
Drivers no longer need an app
The biggest reason franchises existed was the app. Without one, a driver had no way to start a charger or pay. With UPI, every driver in India already has the only app they need. They scan the QR code on the charger, approve the payment in GPay, PhonePe or any UPI app, and charging starts. No download and no wallet to top up. We explain exactly how it works in UPI charging: how drivers pay without an app.
The money can come straight to you
When a franchise collects payments, your earnings sit with someone else until they settle. With UPI charging on your own account, each session's money is credited to your bank the same day. You can see every rupee, session by session, without waiting for a statement.
The software can carry your name
Charging software has become something you can simply use, the way a shop uses billing software. It can show your own name, logo and colours to drivers, run on your own web address, and even come as a mobile app under your brand for regular customers. Read what charging station software should do for you.
Chargers speak an open language
Good DC chargers run on OCPP, an open standard. That means the charger is not tied to one company's software. If you are ever unhappy, you can move to other software without replacing the hardware. A franchise contract is often the only thing that ties you in.
Side by side
| Question | With a franchise | Your own station |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the chargers? | Varies by contract; often you pay for them but follow the brand's rules | You do, outright |
| Who sets the price per unit? | Usually the brand, or within the brand's limits | You do, and you can change it any time |
| How does a driver pay? | Often through the brand's app or wallet | Scan a UPI QR, no app needed |
| When does the money reach you? | When the franchise settles | The same day, in your bank account |
| What share of each session do you give away? | A fixed share, for the length of the contract | None to a brand |
| Whose name do drivers see? | The franchise's | Yours |
| Can you change software later? | Usually not during the contract | Yes, on OCPP chargers |
| Who looks after the chargers? | The franchise's support | The maker's warranty and maintenance contract |
The cells marked "varies" or "usually" are honest: franchise terms differ a lot, so read the actual contract you are offered.
The worries people have, and gentle answers
"Will drivers find me without a big brand?" Drivers find chargers on maps and charging apps. A charger on our network shows up on the Zevpoint app and public map from the first day, and with the optional roaming link it also appears in partner networks' apps. A clear sign at the roadside matters as much as a logo.
"I don't know how to run software." You do not need to. The dashboard shows each charger as online or offline, every session, and every rupee. Faults raise an alert by email, and most are fixed remotely by our team. See keeping a DC charger running.
"What if a payment fails?" With UPI charging, the driver's money is only held, not taken, until the session ends. Only what was used is charged. If anything goes wrong, nothing is taken, so there is no refund to chase.
"I don't want to deal with anything at all." That is a fair wish. In that case, leasing your land to a station owner is simpler than a franchise: someone else owns and runs the station, and you earn from the site. Read hosting a charger on your land.
A quiet checklist before you sign anything
- Write down what the franchise gives you that you could not get without it. If the list is only an app and payments, UPI covers both.
- Ask what share of each session you give away, for how many years, and what it adds up to over the contract.
- Ask who sets the price, and whether you can change it.
- Ask when the money reaches your bank, in writing.
- Ask what happens when the contract ends: do the chargers keep working with other software?
More questions like these are in questions to ask any charging company before you sign.
What we would do
We would own the station outright, take payments by UPI straight into our own bank account, put our own name on it, and pick chargers that run on OCPP so the software can be changed later. That is the model we build for owners: see own and operate, or book a site study to see what fits your plot.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a franchise to start an EV charging station in India?
No. You can own the chargers outright, take payments by UPI with no app, and run the station on software that carries your own name. A franchise is a choice, not a requirement.
What does an EV charging franchise give me?
Usually a brand, a driver app, payment collection and software support, in return for a fee, a share of each session and a fixed contract term. Check which of these you cannot get on your own.
Can drivers pay at my charger without an app?
Yes. They scan the UPI QR code on the charger and approve the payment in any UPI app. No download or wallet is needed.
Who sets the charging price on my own station?
You do. You can set a price per unit, different prices for different groups such as residents or staff, and change them at any time.
Will drivers find my station without a franchise brand?
Chargers on our network appear on the Zevpoint app and public map from the first day, and an optional roaming link lists them in partner networks' apps too.
