Why Do Franchise Websites Take So Long to Build?

Franchise Website Development Timeline: Because Done Right Beats Done Fast, Every Time

If you’ve ever wondered why a franchise website seems to take longer to launch than a new season of your favorite Netflix show, you’re not alone. The franchise website development timeline can be longer than expected, but that’s for good reason. At Bright Pink Agency, we’ve heard it all: “We want to reveal it at our conference in 4 months” or “We need this up by the start of our busy season in 3 months!” Well, here’s a little secret: franchise websites are beasts. Any CMO who’s survived a website rebuild knows what I’m talking about. And any CMO who has NOT yet been through one thinks it should take faster.

Franchise websites, done right, are not just ordinary websites. They’re the Swiss Army knives of the digital world—multi-functional, complex, and designed to serve everyone from corporate HQ to individual franchise locations. And that, my friend, takes time.

So, Why So Long?

Think of building a franchise website not like building a house, but more like developing an entire neighborhood—cookie-cutter model homes, custom builds, a clubhouse, the whole shebang. We’re not just throwing up a shiny new homepage. We’re talking about dozens (often hundreds) of local franchise microsites, each one unique but part of the same family. It’s a delicate dance of consistency and customization. So, yeah, it takes longer. Let me break it down:

1. The RFP Process (3 months… or more like 6-9 months)

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: the RFP process. This can eat up time like a building permitting department. On a strike. During holiday season. We’ve seen brands take 6 to 9 months just to select their web design partner (I get it, there are lots of stakeholders in franchising). But by the time the ink dries on the contract, you’re already playing catch-up. My advice? Realign expectations early: actually building the website takes longer than talking about building the website.

2. Foundations (1-2 months)

We’re not diving straight into design, no matter how much you want to see mockups right away! This phase is where the magic (and planning) happens. We conduct SEO audits, interview stakeholders, map out the content strategy, and ensure everything is ready for the work ahead. Skipping the foundational steps is like building a sleek bachelor pad without ever asking who’s moving in—only to find out it’s a family of five with a dog and a cat. Suddenly, that trendy loft layout and single bathroom aren’t looking so great! When we take the time to start with the right steps, we’re making sure we’re building the digital ‘dream home’ your franchisees actually need—not a cramped studio with no room for growth.

3. Creative (1-2 months)

Now we’re in the fun part!  But creating the visual prototype for not just your corporate homepage, but for every page that matters, including the local microsites? That’s no small feat. The design needs to look on-brand, flow seamlessly, and make your customers rush to your CTA. The text needs to engage, inform, and persuade, all while attracting the right kind of traffic. It’s like creating the blueprints, renderings, and even picking out paint swatches for an entire neighborhood—every house needs its own character, but it all has to feel like part of the same community. And you can’t get there without rounds of feedback, user testing, adjustments, and polishing every pixel.

4. Development (2 months)

Think of the development phase like building the clubhouse (your corporate site) and the first model home (the demo microsite). No matter how good they look in renderings, they’re useless without pouring concrete and laying bricks. The same goes for your website. Development is where the walls start shaping up, but also the plumbing, the electric, the smart-home features, and the streets that connect it all together—your site’s navigation, functionality, and the integration of plugins and services. All of it needs to work at launch and be scalable for the future. And coding isn’t something you want to rush.

5. Content Migration (2 months)

Remember moving day? Multiply that by a hundred and you’ll get the idea of content migration. Franchisee microsites are filled with valuable content that needs to be transferred, restructured, and optimized. Each franchisee’s “house” needs to look and function like the model home but still feel personalized. It’s a huge task, and skipping this step would be like moving without labeling the boxes—you’ll end up with chaos.

6. Testing & Optimization (1 month)

Staging is great, but it’s often not until after you move in that you start finding some kinks in the new digs (a squeaky door here, questionable artwork choice there…) The same happens with a website. We need all the content moved in to properly test and ensure everything works flawlessly. Testing and optimizing for performance means your website is ready for prime time when it goes live. And then there are the things that can’t even be tested until the website is live and gets crawled by search engines (which is why our timelines expand past the launch day.)

Done Fast or Done Right? Pick One.

So, can a website be done faster? Technically, sure. We’ve done it in under 4 months when the stars aligned (and everyone had a lot of coffee). But, and this is a big BUT—fast isn’t always better. Rushing through this process might save you a few weeks upfront, but it can lead to headaches later. Imagine going live with a website lacking proper SEO. You’d be investing money in something that doesn’t work as hard as it should.

At Bright Pink Agency, we don’t cut corners. We believe in doing it right, even if it takes a little longer. The payoff? A website that not only looks great but performs like a lead-magnet and lead-capturing machine for your franchisees. And that’s the kind of website you want for the long haul.

The Bottom Line

Every time we wrap up a franchise website build at Bright Pink Agency, after the celebration (and the sighs of relief that everything has actually gone right), I ask our clients for constructive criticism and feedback. One thing almost always comes up: “I wish we had more time so we would all be less stressed towards the end.”

Give yourself (and your whole team) the gift of time by planning ahead. Your franchise website is not a digital brochure—it’s the heart of your brand’s online presence. It’s where customers find you, where leads are nurtured, and where franchisees shine. Don’t rush the process. Think big. Think long-term. Build something that works today and scales for tomorrow.

If you’re ready to start planning your 2025 website, let’s chat. The journey may take a little longer, but the destination will be worth it.