Is the joining fee the same as the technology transfer fee?

it's different. The joining fee is different from the technology transfer fee, which is two different things. Usually, the joining fee includes the technology transfer fee. Franchise fee is a unique form of business operation, which means that the brand holder will take intangible assets of the enterprise brand, such as intellectual property rights (including inventions, patents, trademarks, copyrights), organizational management assets, etc.