Cost–benefit framework for K-12 foodservice outsourcing decisions

•This paper investigates cost-benefits of outsourcing K-12 foodservice operations.•Results of this study lead to a generic decision-making framework based on transactional costs and benefits.•Future research could increase understanding of foodservice outsourcing, and also guide management decision-making.

There is scarcity of research to investigate not-for-profit sector outsourcing decisions. K-12 school foodservices are not-for-profit operations, and non-core (non-academic) school functions, making them an ideal context to contribute to this literature. We propose a generic framework to investigate K-12 foodservice outsourcing decisions based on the transactional, cost–benefit view of outsourcing. In addition, this paper lays out an agenda for future research.