1851

More than 200 franchise brand websites were reviewed by industry judges, and 75 were recognized as best in class, with Signal 88 finishing first, followed by Sport Clips and Painting with a Twist tying for second, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings in fourth and Chemdry, MaidPro and Soccer Shots tied for fifth.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled to see the work that brands have put into their online presence,&rdquo; said Nick Powills, Publisher of 1851 and CEO of No Limit Agency*. &ldquo;Potential franchise owners are very diligent with their online research before they&rsquo;re ready to talk to an actual person. It&rsquo;s essential for brands to have a solid online footprint, with a focus on search engine optimization and providing concise information in a clear format.&rdquo;

The Top 25 Gold Standard Winners were:

1.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.signal88franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Signal 88</a>&nbsp;

2.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.sportclipsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sport Clips</a>&nbsp;

2.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://paintingwithatwistfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Painting with a Twist</a>

4.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a>

5.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://chemdryfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chemdry</a>

5.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.maidprofranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MaidPro</a>

5. &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.soccershotsfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soccer Shots</a>

8. &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://mosquitojoefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mosquito Joe</a>

8.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://franchise.qualicare.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qualicare</a>

8.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownaritas.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rita&rsquo;s Italian Ice</a>

11. <a href="https://www.anytimefitnessfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anytime Fitness</a>

11. <a href="https://www.ownabostons.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boston&rsquo;s</a>

13. <a href="http://ownachopchop.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chop Chop</a>

13. <a href="http://lawndoctorfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lawn Doctor*</a>

13. <a href="https://www.pillartopostfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pillar to Post</a>

13. <a href="https://toppersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toppers Pizza</a>

17. <a href="http://ownatoastery.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Famous&nbsp;Toastery</a>

17. <a href="https://lennysfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lennys&nbsp;Grill &amp; Subs</a>

17. <a href="http://showhomesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Showhomes</a>

20. <a href="https://www.9round.com/fitness-franchises?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">9Round</a>

20. <a href="http://bottleandbottegafranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bottle and&nbsp;Bottega</a>

20. <a href="http://closetandstorageconceptsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Closet and Storage Concepts</a>

20. <a href="https://franchise.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wild Birds Unlimited</a>

20. <a href="http://executivehomecarefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Executive Home Care</a>

20. <a href="https://www.ownakona.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kona Ice</a>

20. <a href="https://www.pinotspalette.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinot&rsquo;s Palette</a>

20. <a href="http://tacojohnsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taco John&rsquo;s</a>

&nbsp;

1851 Franchise shined a light on the best the industry has to offer by announcing the Top 75 finalists of the 2017 Franchise Development Website Awards. &ldquo;You can clearly see that the quality of franchise websites has improved over the last few years. Franchisors are understanding that the website is critical to encouraging prospects to fill out an inquiry,&rdquo; said Sean Fitzgerald, Chief Brand Strategist of 1851.

The 2017 Franchise Development Website Awards placed design at the forefront, with sites being judged on motivating content, ease of application, usability, UI/UX design, site performance and SEO.

&ldquo;Your franchise development team is no longer a &#39;standalone&#39; team. Their lead flow is directly affected by the consumer&#39;s - your franchisees&#39; customers - online opinion. Think testimonials and social media. A merged, coordinated, digital effort is the winning formula here,&rdquo; said Rick Batchelor, CEO of <a href="https://qiigo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qiigo</a>.

Each category was meticulously evaluated by a panel of 12 judges and given a score on a ten-point scale; the website rankings are based on a composite average of these scores.

&ldquo;We are coming to the end of the Information Age as we have known it. People are drowning in irrelevant content,&rdquo; said Keith Gerson, President of <a href="http://franconnect.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FranConnect</a>. &ldquo;They need to find answers to their questions as quickly and succinctly as possible. However, many of the franchise development sites in our review are adding to the noise by blending their consumer sites with their development sites which only confounds prospects with exposure to irrelevant information.&rdquo;

The judging panel was comprised of industry experts: Fitzgerald, of 1851 Franchise; Powills, of <a href="http://nolimitagency.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No Limit Agency</a>; Batchelor, CEO and Jack Monson, Director of Digital Strategy, of Qiigo; Michelle Rowan, President of <a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franchise Business Review</a>; Craig Slavin, CEO of <a href="https://franchisecentral.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franchise Navigator</a>; Jamshaid Hashmi, CEO of ClickTecs; Kay Ainsley, Managing Director of MSA Worldwide; Keith Gerson, President of <a href="https://franconnect.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FranConnect</a>; Stan Friedman, President of FRM Solutions; Steve Beagelman, CEO of <a href="https://smbfranchising.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SMB Franchise Advisors</a>; and Todd Bingham, President of Pinnacle. Each judge was tasked with judging hundreds of submissions, from which they awarded 75 standout franchise development websites with a gold, silver or bronze designation.

&ldquo;A well-designed franchise development website can make all the difference in franchise sales, and brands that understand this deserve their recognition&mdash;these awards and subsequent industry guides serve as a blueprint for any franchise looking to succeed in the digital realm and beyond,&rdquo; <a href="https://clicktecs.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hashmi</a> said.

Rowan agreed, noting that brands that highlight franchisee satisfaction online have a greater chance of motivating a candidate to apply.

&ldquo;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franchise prospects want to know that the current franchisees give approval of the brand and the leadership</a>. A development website is an excellent opportunity to highlight existing franchisees and their satisfaction with the brand,&rdquo; she said.

In addition to recognizing the best franchise development websites in the industry, 1851 has pieced together a best practices resource guide that takes all sites&rsquo; successes into account and pools them into one cohesive strategy. These strategies can be applied to one-page templates, content management systems and any site scheme in between. The strategy stories can be found at <a href="http://franchisedevelopmentawards.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">franchisedevelopmentawards.1851franchise.com</a>.

&ldquo;It is clear that best practices in franchise websites are scattered,&rdquo; <a href="http://pinnaclefd.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bingham</a> said. &ldquo;There is such a wide variety in the design and content of the sites we reviewed.&rdquo;

<a href="http://www.franchisenavigator.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slavin echoed that sentiment</a>. &ldquo;Many franchises don&rsquo;t know who they should be attracting to their franchise, so they attempt to attract everyone. This is what we refer to as &lsquo;casting a wide net.&rsquo; We &lsquo;hope&rsquo; we put the net in the right sea; we &lsquo;hope&rsquo; we catch fish; we &lsquo;hope&rsquo; we pluck the right fish out of the net; we &lsquo;hope&rsquo; they come on board and so on and so on. This is why understanding who your target is so important to the process.&rdquo;

One best practice that has become clear is that if content is king, smartphones are certainly the queen.

&ldquo;The jury is still out on whether mobile apps or mobile sites will lead the way into the future,&rdquo; said Stan Friedman, President of <a href="http://www.frmsolutions.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FRM Solutions</a>. &ldquo;What is irrefutable, though, is that smartphones, not PCs, or MACs or tablets, are what your prospects will use to find you. Therefore, your development websites must serve a &lsquo;responsive design,&rsquo; or you&rsquo;ll lose opportunities to those concepts that do.&rdquo;

When creating a website for lead generation, <a href="http://smbfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beagelman said</a> it&rsquo;s important to leverage all assets of your franchise.

&ldquo;There are plenty of people visiting your site and not inquiring to own your brand. Make sure your messaging speaks to them &ndash; those who will spend a significant time researching your brand before they tell you they are interested,&rdquo; he said.

Although the website is the main point of contact in lead generation, a proper sales process will still guide the lead to sale.

&ldquo;<a href="http://www.msaworldwide.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners-2703176" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The development website certainly helps drive visits to leads, but the sales process is equally important</a>. Franchise sales is not as easy as simply driving leads. It&rsquo;s about nurturing them throughout the process,&rdquo; Ainsley said.

&nbsp;

75 Brands Earn Recognition in 1851 Franchise's Franchise Development Website Award Winners

1851 Franchise

11 of the Franchise Industry’s Top Technology and Franchise Consulting Experts Evaluated 200 Sites

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

75-brands-earn-recognition-in-1851-franchises-franchise-development-website-award-winners

Caring Transitions

Celebrating National Women’s Entrepreneurship Day by Honoring the Women of Caring Transitions

celebrating-national-womens-entrepreneurship-day-by-honoring-the-women-of-caring-transitions

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press franchise owners Shane, Carlene, and Steve Brunk, Treasure Coast, FL.

Minuteman Press Franchise Owners Across Florida Build Momentum

minuteman-press-franchise-owners-across-florida-build-momentum

Express Employment Professionals

Express Employment Professionals franchise, people talking in a lobby

Express Employment Eyes Palm Springs as a Hot Market for Franchise Growth

express-employment-palm-springs-coachella-expansion-franchise

Mellow Mushroom

image of mellow mushroom FSR Magazine’s NextGen 25 List of Rising Restaurants To Watch Beyond 2025

Mellow Mushroom Lands on FSR Magazine’s NextGen 25 List of Rising Restaurants To Watch Beyond 2025

mellow-mushroom-fsr-nextgen-25-rising-restaurants-2025

Beansquad

BeanSquad Franchise - What BeanSquad Did for This Amazon DSP Owner’s Books and Bottom Line

What BeanSquad Did for This Amazon DSP Owner’s Books and Bottom Line

beansquad-amazon-dsp-bookkkeeping

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Jobseekers Are Flocking to “Unglamorous” Jobs — And Home Service Franchises Could Benefit

Jobseekers Are Flocking to “Unglamorous” Jobs — And Home Service Franchises Could Be Poised To Benefit

jobseekers-shift-boosts-home-service-franchises

The future of recovery studios, health and wellness franchise

The Future of Recovery Studios: Why Wellness Franchises Are the Next Fitness Boom

the-wellness-boom-recovery-franchises-future-fitness

Design with government building & "Open for Business" sign against American flag backdrop

Government Reopens After 43-Day Shutdown, Bringing Relief to Small Businesses and Franchises

government-shutdown-ends-franchise-impact

As Starbucks and Dunkin’ Navigate a Changing Market, New Coffee Players Keep Gaining Ground

starbucks-dunkin-franchise-coffee-market-trends

Paris Baguette Welcomes Zac Sulma as New Chief Operating Officer

new-coo-zac-sulma

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Resources and Franchises for Minorities

75 Brands Earn Recognition in 1851 Franchise's Franchise Development Website Award Winners

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS