Franchise brands are rethinking their site selection approach – Here’s why

In our latest webinar, Re-Thinking the Role of Site Selection in Franchise Development, we explored the evolving role of site selection in franchise development. If you missed the live session, here’s a recap of the most important takeaways.

Growth goals remain high – despite market headwinds

According to FRANdata’s 2025 Franchisor Survey, concerns about poor sales have surged in the last two years—making unit economics the top priority for franchise operators. Even as consumer spending softens, 81% of franchises report the same or higher growth targets compared to last year. But successful expansion requires more than a strong brand—it hinges on opening in the right locations.

Site selection is not just a real estate function

Leading brands are breaking down silos between franchise development and real estate teams, and moving site strategy to the forefront of the growth conversation. Aligning these teams early and often provides a competitive edge that can accelerate deals and reduce risk.

A 4-part plan to successful expansion

Site selection isn’t just about choosing a location. It’s about creating a repeatable, data-driven process that reduces risk and builds trust with franchisees. The webinar outlines a four-part approach:

• Bring real estate to the forefront to build credibility with prospective franchisees.
• Widen the scope of analysis to learn from both top and poor-performing sites.
• Take full advantage of mobile data, beyond estimated visit counts, to gain deeper insights.
• Double down on competition analysis to spot opportunities and red flags.

See the full framework

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how the most adaptive brands are navigating today’s market challenges and where site selection fits in their growth strategy. Watch the full webinar on demand.