Kakao will launch a monthly membership service for self-employed people. The structure provides marketing services and food ingredients to self-employed members at a lower expense than before. It is seen as a strategy to strengthen a B2B (corporations-to-corporations transaction) business targeting the self-employed to increase platform market share.
According to a compilation of ChosunBiz reporting on the 11th, Kakao is preparing to launch the Kakao Biz Membership service. The target is self-employed people who use Kakao's business services, with Kakao handling customer and business management, and the company working with partners to build a membership service system covering marketing, food ingredient supply, and delivery order management. It is said to be working to secure more partner companies.
An official said, "Ideas related to this have steadily come up in the past, but the lack of marketability kept the business from taking shape," and noted, "The organization under Chief Product Officer Hong Min-taek is in charge of advertising and commerce, so I understand it was promoted by that team."
The monthly subscription fee is 14,900 won, and joining the membership allows access to partnership services such as marketing, food ingredient supply, and delivery order management at a lower expense than before. Kakao provides 30,000 won in advertising support funds, and CJ Freshway offers a 20,000 won coupon pack for its partner mall. Marketing agency Revu will discount experiential group marketing expense by about 60%.
Not only in dining but also in retail, education, and life services, self-employed people in a range of sectors can use the membership to pursue marketing and operational efficiency.
This business model is designed as a "co-prosperity partnership structure" between Kakao and partner companies. After subscribing to Kakao Biz Membership, self-employed people must separately sign up with marketers, food ingredient suppliers, and other vendors. From Kakao's perspective, it secures membership subscription fees, while partners can increase new customer inflows and repurchase rates. Even if a self-employed person cancels the membership, there is room to continue using only the existing partner services.
Kakao plans to strengthen its B2B business targeting self-employed people by launching the subscription membership service. As of Apr. 2025, the number of self-employed people is 5,615,000. Among them, wholesale and retail and lodging and food service businesses account for more than half. Self-employed people can secure a means to handle marketing and advertising and delivery order management in a "one-stop" fashion.
Kakao's attempt is being evaluated as a test bed for a platform-type subscription business aimed at the domestic self-employed market. It is currently preparing for a beta service. If the business takes hold successfully, Kakao is expected to secure a foothold to support the overall digital infrastructure of the self-employed, including delivery, advertising, and marketing.
A Kakao representative said, "We are reviewing various measures to support the growth of partner companies, including small business owners."