Top Franchise Development Websites

A panel of eight expert judges evaluated each franchise development site according to three criteria: first impressions, quality of content and ease of use. Sites were scored on a five-point scale in accordance with these three criteria, with the overall website rankings based on a composite average of the judges’ scores.

The first impressions metrics for each franchise development site are determined in consideration of five subfactors: usability, UI/UX design, site performance, SEO and mobile accessibility. The content metrics are determined by the presence and strength of three subfactors: motivating content, calls to action and reasons to buy now. The ease-of-use metrics score was determined in relation to location, depth and ease of application.

This year's judges include Stan Friedman, president of FRM Solutions; Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review; Thomas Scott, CEO of Brand Journalists; Tom Spadea, co-founder of Spadea Lignana Law Firm; Brent Dowling, co-founder and CEO of Raintree; Sean Fitzgerald, president of TruBlue Total House Care; Liane Caruso, senior vice president of Entrepreneur Media; and Kay Ainsley, managing director of ?MSA Worldwide.

Here the average scores for the 10 websites that came in between 41 and 50:

50. Great Steak

• First Impressions: 3.7

• Content: 3.7

• Ease of Use: 4.0

• Overall Average Score: 3.8

49. Hand & Stone

• First Impressions: 3.8

• Content: 3.8

• Ease of Use: 3.7

48. Elements Massage®

• First Impressions: 4.2

• Ease of Use: 3.3

47. FastSigns

• Content: 4.0

• Ease of Use: 3.8

46. Pizza Ranch

• First Impressions: 4.0

45. Just Love Coffee Cafe

• Ease of Use: 4.2

44. Essential Pros

45. ZIPS Franchising LLC

46. Restoration 1

• Overall Average Score: 3.9

41. Wild Birds Unlimited