B a c k   T o   T h o u g h t s
Franchising is a popular way for entrepreneurs to start their own business with the support and guidance of an established brand. When considering a franchise opportunity, researching the franchisor's web design is an essential step in the due diligence process. In this blog post, we'll be showcasing the top 20 franchise web designs based on their design, usability, and information provided.

1. Walk-On's

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is a popular sports bar franchise that has been growing rapidly in recent years. Their franchise sales website, is an excellent example of a well-designed and effective franchise sales website. Here are a few reasons why:

First and foremost, the website is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The homepage features high-quality images of the restaurant and its food, as well as a clear call-to-action inviting visitors to learn more about franchising opportunities. The website is well-organized, with separate pages for information about the franchise model, the company's history and mission, and support provided to franchisees.

2. Subway

Subway is a popular American fast food franchise that specializes in making sandwiches and salads. The company was founded in 1965 and has since expanded to over 100 countries, with more than 40,000 locations worldwide.

Subway's franchise website is designed to provide potential franchisees with a user-friendly experience, making it easy to navigate and find the information they need. The website offers comprehensive details on the franchising process, including the requirements for owning a Subway franchise, the initial investment costs involved, and the support provided to their franchisees. Additionally, the website features a list of current franchise opportunities, allowing potential franchisees to easily search for available locations in their area.

One of the website's strengths is its focus on the history and values of the Subway brand. The website provides a detailed overview of the company's history, including its founding and growth over the years. It also highlights the company's commitment to providing fresh, healthy, and customizable options for customers, as well as its dedication to supporting local communities.

3. 7 Eleven


The 7-Eleven Franchise website excels in captivating its audience of prospective franchisees through a multitude of engaging elements. The impactful video immerses visitors into the franchisee experience, igniting their entrepreneurial aspirations. Above the fold, the website effectively presents essential information with a clear hierarchy, making it easy for potential franchisees to appreciate the mood it sets, while accessing the details that go along with it. The innovative use of branded trim-colored stripes adds a dynamic touch, animating as users scroll down, and serving as a graphical treatment for new featured locations and trending cities, capturing attention and keeping the experience lively. The scroll experience showcasing the store at different times of the day further emphasizes the brand's dedication to serving customers around the clock.

Carefully crafted user journeys lead to an engaging storytelling experience, guiding visitors seamlessly through the website. The global map feature stands out as an impressive interactive tool, allowing users to explore store locations worldwide in a captivating and dynamic way, resembling a rotated sphere mimicking the globe. The "Take it to Eleven" video series adds a creative and stylish flair, blending branded words and lighting to create an inviting and aspirational atmosphere, while showcasing active individuals fully immersed in moment at 7-Eleven. Overall, this website's conversational, inviting, and beautifully executed design, coupled with the animated timeline, makes it a standout in the franchising world, leaving a lasting impression on prospective franchisees who can't help but be inspired by 7-Eleven's innovative and engaging approach.

4. Baskin Robbins™


The Baskin-Robbins Franchising website delivers a delightful experience to prospective franchisees through its thoughtful design elements. Starting with the new logo and complementary typeface, the website exudes a sense of brand cohesiveness and professionalism. The vibrant color palette and carefully crafted composition add to the site's appeal, instantly capturing the audience's attention. Navigation is made effortless with a playful yet hard-to-miss hamburger menu cleverly crafted from plastic spoons, adding a touch of creativity that aligns perfectly with the brand's ice cream theme.

Each page on the site is rich in detail, boasting creative branded elements and enticing ice cream compositions that stimulate the senses. The colorfully illustrated process provides potential franchisees with an immersive and captivating journey, offering insights into the brand's history and guiding them through a vividly colorful path towards becoming a franchisee. With a combination of aesthetic charm and informative content, this website effectively captivates and engages its audience, fostering a strong connection and driving interest among prospective franchisees looking to embark on an exciting and flavorful business venture with Baskin-Robbins.

5. Smoothy King


The Smoothie King Franchise website leaves a lasting impression on prospective franchisees with its strong sense of establishment and brand consistency. Navigating from page to page is seamless, reinforcing the brand's reliability and professionalism. The website's vibrant and colorful design, highlighted by a captivating video, expertly incorporates the boldest red hues, resulting in an eye-catching and memorable visual experience. 

The use of the "making a smoothie" recipe steps to represent the ownership journey is both creative and engaging, drawing potential franchisees into the narrative of their future success. A dynamic domestic map showcases available locations, empowering prospects with the excitement of choosing their ideal business destination. Cleverly using words like "We aren't blending in this area" injects a playful tone that aligns perfectly with the smoothie theme, conveying the brand's confidence and uniqueness. Overall, this website effectively captures the attention and interest of prospective franchisees, presenting Smoothie King as a flourishing and enticing opportunity for those seeking a vibrant and rewarding business venture.

6. Realty ONE Group

The Realty ONE Group Franchising website creatively captivates its audience of prospective franchisees through its engaging and unique design approach, setting it apart from traditional real estate websites. The above-the-fold section breaks the mold with its refreshing departure from typical real estate imagery and visuals, immediately piquing visitors' curiosity. Embracing an unconventional layout, the website avoids the boxy design often seen in this category, fostering a sense of modernity and innovation. The careful presentation of information ensures a user-friendly experience, providing just enough detail without overwhelming potential franchisees. The clean and clear depiction of their process and requirements simplifies the path to franchise ownership. 

The black and gold brand colors are skillfully incorporated throughout the site, including in high-quality imagery, elevating the brand's visual appeal and adding a touch of sophistication. Notably, the impressive brand video effectively communicates Realty ONE Group's global presence, distinct culture, and impressive metrics, significantly enhancing credibility and reinforcing the brand's positive image. Altogether, this website effectively engages its audience, showcasing Realty ONE Group Franchising as a forward-thinking and reputable choice for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to become part of a dynamic and innovative real estate franchise network.

7. Kumon

The Kumon Franchise website successfully captivates prospective franchisees by delivering easily digestible content in a straightforward and simple flow. Its thoughtful use of a refreshing color palette stands out from others, creating an inviting and positive atmosphere. The imagery on the site is carefully selected, featuring engaged children, passionate educators, and high-quality visuals that reinforce the brand's commitment to excellence. 

The graphical treatment throughout the website, from the logo to the use of geometric shapes and typography for headlines, exudes a kid-friendly vibe, making it relatable and approachable for both parents and children. This cohesive and well-designed website effectively engages prospective franchisees, instilling a sense of trust in Kumon's brand and mission, ultimately enticing them to join a rewarding venture that nurtures young minds and fosters a love for learning.

8. Dairy Queen®

The Dairy Queen Franchising website effectively caters to its audience of prospective franchisees through a well-crafted and visually appealing design. The website's above-the-fold section immediately captivates visitors with its strong graphics, textured backgrounds, and skillful use of brand colors, creating a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The thoughtful image composition, especially with historical photos, adds a touch of nostalgia, emphasizing the brand's longstanding legacy and success. The typography strikes a perfect balance between a friendly and personable script style for headlines and a clear and legible typeface for body copy, ensuring ease of readability throughout the site. 

The homepage efficiently covers essential information, minimizing the need for visitors to search for key details, while the top navigation offers clear navigation options, facilitating smooth user journeys. The strategic use of the vibrant red pop-color, applied sparingly but effectively, guides users and accentuates the brand's identity without overwhelming the design. Overall, Dairy Queen's website delivers a compelling experience, skillfully presenting crucial information while maintaining a visually appealing and inviting interface that resonates with potential franchisees.

9. Tropical Smoothy Cafe

Tropical Smoothie Cafe's franchise website effectively captivates its audience of prospective franchisees with its refreshing departure from the traditional black and red branding often stumbled upon in the franchise search journey. The well-crafted one-page design commences with an immediate visual escape to a tropical island, evoking a sense of mental transport, enticing visitors to envision the positive experience their products offer. The website's bright color palette, gradients, and curved section dividers create an uplifting and vibrant atmosphere throughout. The content is presented clearly, with short and sweet messaging that conveys key information without overwhelming the audience. 

The overall imagery is bright and cheerful, contributing to a profoundly positive impression that aligns perfectly with the brand's identity. As a result, this website effectively conveys the Tropical Smoothie Cafe's welcoming and invigorating ambiance, making it an enticing opportunity for potential franchisees seeking to be part of a successful and upbeat franchise network.

10. F45

The F45 Invest website achieves a compelling and immersive experience from the very first seconds, instantly immersing visitors in the intense, supportive world of their workouts. With a fast-paced, high-energy, and collaborative ambiance, the site successfully conveys the spirit and energy that characterizes F45 fitness centers. Notably, the inclusion of the F45AFTER program, designed for military service members, reflects their commitment to supporting veterans in transitioning their military experience into a successful career within the fast-growing franchise industry.

The website excels in showcasing the brand's credibility through featured press coverage, esteemed university partnerships, and glowing testimonials from satisfied franchisees. This collection of evidence bolsters F45's reputation and inspires confidence in potential franchisees, instilling a sense of trust in the brand's proven track record. Overall, the website serves as a powerful tool, effectively capturing the essence of F45's dynamic fitness community while also highlighting their dedication to providing opportunities for career growth and making a positive impact on the lives of those who serve.

11. Jimmy John's

The Jimmy John's Franchising website boldly captures the essence of their brand through a commanding  design, featuring a captivating interplay of big and bold typography, complemented by hand-drawn graphics and text. The website boasts a big and bold typography system, complemented by hand-drawn graphics and text, creating an inviting and personalized touch that aligns perfectly with the brand's identity. The strategic use of bold brand colors, along with carefully selected imagery, enhances the American-themed atmosphere, with stars serving as a consistent design element and a notable veteran program that adds a patriotic dimension. 

The website ensures a smooth scrolling experience as text and graphics load swiftly, providing seamless navigation through the content. Leveraging their well-designed packaging, the banners and image sections on the website are striking and eye-catching, presenting the brand as a solid and credible option for prospective franchisees. With an impressive track record of selling over 2,600 franchise units since 1983, the website effectively instills confidence in potential franchisees, positioning Jimmy John's Franchising as a trustworthy and lucrative business opportunity.

12. MaidPro


The MaidPro Franchise website effectively engages its audience of prospective franchisees by showcasing the success stories of their existing franchise owners prominently. The website's homepage banner strategically features individual franchisee stories with interactive pop-ups, drawing visitors into real-life accounts of thriving entrepreneurs within the MaidPro family. The "Hear Our Owners" section further reinforces this approach, displaying a clean grid of over 35 individual franchise owners, each sharing their success story through compelling videos. The website maintains a consistent color palette, staying true to their brand blues, while incorporating ample white space, contributing to a clean and inviting layout. 

Thoughtful content throughout the site effectively enables potential franchisees to visualize the experience of owning a MaidPro franchise, fostering a sense of connection and inspiration. By highlighting the achievements of their franchise owners, this website effectively establishes credibility and trust, providing compelling evidence that joining the MaidPro franchise family can lead to a fulfilling and prosperous entrepreneurial journey.

13. Happy Joe's

The Happy Joe's franchise website engages its audience of prospective franchisees through an invitation to join in on the joyful festivities. The fast-paced video sets the tone, showcasing the fun and camaraderie enjoyed by happy customers as they savor comfort food and share in joyous moments. The website's expanded color palette creates delightful visual breaks, adding to the overall energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Despite the vast amount of information available, the website efficiently organizes and presents it in a user-friendly manner, enabling visitors to explore with ease.

The friendly food graphics, adorned with smiley faces, foster a family-friendly ambiance, while the brand proudly positions itself as a place for kids of all ages, from 5 to 95, making it an exciting and inclusive option for franchise ventures. By highlighting the happiness and togetherness experienced at Happy Joe's, this website effectively appeals to potential franchisees seeking a joyful and fulfilling business opportunity in the food industry.

14. Paris Baguette

The Paris Baguette franchise website proves to be an effective and captivating one-page site for prospective franchisees. The website begins with an engaging video that features interviews with delighted franchisees, instantly showcasing the brand's success and the satisfaction of its franchise owners. It effectively sets the brand apart by highlighting its commitment to freshly baked treats made in-house daily, creating a unique selling proposition that differentiates them in the market.

The French-inspired bakery cafe brand pays homage to France through its color scheme, interior design, welcoming layouts, and emphasis on high-quality baked goods. The primary mission of sharing moments of joy with friends and family resonates throughout the website, reinforcing the brand's dedication to creating meaningful and memorable experiences for customers. Despite its concise and straightforward design, the website successfully conveys a franchise venture that feels exceptional and one-of-a-kind, leaving a good impression on potential franchisees who are seeking a distinctive and rewarding business opportunity.

15. Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts Franchise Website Design
Dunkin' Donuts Franchise Homepage features high quality photography and concise messaging.

Dunkin' Donuts is a popular American multinational coffee and doughnut company that was founded in 1950. Over the years, the company has expanded its operations and currently has more than 12,000 stores across 36 countries, making it one of the largest coffee and baked goods chains in the world.

The company's franchise web design is notable for its clean and modern appearance, which features a visually appealing layout that is easy to navigate. The franchising section of the website is particularly impressive, as it provides comprehensive information for potential franchisees. This includes details on available opportunities, support provided, and the company's history.

The research phase is a critical part of a prospective franchisee's due diligence, and the franchisor's website is an ideal starting point. We were amazed by how many brands (even some of the biggest) did not present their franchise opportunity with the same creativity and care as they do for their consumer-facing websites. As we know well at BOWEN, members that comprise B2B audiences are also individuals that need to be impressed by a brand's personability, trust-worthiness, and effort to be the best choice amongst their competitors. We hope this analysis inspires other franchises to step up their efforts in showcasing the one-of-a-kind opportunities that they look to offer entrepreneurs and next generation of leaders that will carry our their legacy. 

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