Tenpo Joho Service Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nihonbashi-Koanicho 8-2, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenji Shigetomo), a company specializing in commercial real estate leasing for retail stores, has released a new book titled 'The Tenant's Guide to Store Opening: How Franchisees Can Choose, Lease, Protect, and Close Stores Without Relying on Headquarters' in Kindle format on June 9, 2026. This practical guide addresses the industry-wide issue of franchisees overly relying on headquarters for site selection by offering a 100% tenant-side perspective, comprehensively covering everything from store opening to closure.

The Key to Franchise Success Lies in 'Site Selection': Structural Risks of Relying on Headquarters

Based on the author’s experience with over 1,000 store leasing cases, the decisive factor in the success or failure of a franchisee is overwhelmingly concentrated in 'site selection (location planning).'

Stores that fail often share common issues: insufficient validation, lack of trade area analysis, and locations where rent does not match projected sales.

Blindly trusting headquarters' optimistic revenue forecasts leads to a significant gap between actual sales and rent burden, forcing early withdrawal.

Even when owners decide to exit due to unprofitability, they are often trapped by penalties and restoration costs—creating a 'contract trap' from which they cannot easily escape.

The book emphasizes a critical insight: headquarters have a structural difficulty in saying 'no' to proposed locations. Therefore, franchisees must develop their own ability to evaluate properties, the author asserts based on real-world experience.

A Rare Practical Guide with a 100% Tenant-First Perspective

Most information on store development and site selection is tailored to headquarters staff aiming for chain expansion. Explanations often focus on protecting headquarters' rights, such as contract drafting and brand consistency.

In contrast, this book is written entirely from the tenant’s (lessee’s) perspective—neither favoring landlords nor headquarters.

It comprehensively covers the entire lifecycle of a store: reading market conditions in a tight property market, negotiating rent reductions with solid justification, identifying dangerous clauses in contracts, and minimizing losses during closure.

It includes immediately actionable know-how such as pitfalls of turnkey properties and the '11-item business profile document' needed to pass landlord reviews without relying on headquarters materials.

Backed by 1,000 Store Transactions and an Entrepreneur Community

Author Kenji Shigetomo is a practitioner with hands-on experience in over 1,000 store leasing deals and currently operates his own company-owned stores.

He has written a regular column on retail real estate for 'Business Chance,' a specialized magazine in the franchise industry.

Additionally, the 'Tenpo Keiei Club' (Store Operators Club), which he founded, has over 300 members, with a network extending to more than 1,000 stores.

The book’s core content is derived from practical insights gathered within this real-world community of franchisees, direct operators, and franchisor executives (more details at https://tenpo01.jp/).

Book Overview

・Title: 'The Tenant's Guide to Store Opening: How Franchisees Can Choose, Lease, Protect, and Close Stores Without Relying on Headquarters' ・Series: Store Management: Field Guide ・Author: Kenji Shigetomo (Tenpo Joho Service Co., Ltd.) ・Format: Kindle eBook ・Release Date: June 9, 2026 ・Length: 99 pages / File size: 1.3MB / Language: Japanese ・Price: 500 JPY (tax included) / Available for free with Kindle Unlimited ・ASIN: B0H4NJS4VJ ・Product URL: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0H4NJS4VJ

Company Overview

・Company Name: Tenpo Joho Service Co., Ltd. ・Representative: CEO Kenji Shigetomo ・Address: BIZMARKS Nihonbashi Kayabacho 6F, 8-2 Nihonbashi-Koanicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0016 ・Business: Commercial property leasing services, operation of the 'Store Operators Club' community for business owners ・Company Website: https://tenpojs.co.jp/ ・Store Operators Club: https://tenpo01.jp/

Contact for Inquiries

Tenpo Joho Service Co., Ltd. PR Contact: Kenji Shigetomo Email: info@tenpojs.co.jp Company Website: https://tenpojs.co.jp/ Store Operators Club: https://tenpo01.jp/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: New Product