Here’s something to add to your list of things to do before you sign a franchise agreement;

Take a look at the franchise’s online expertise.

In other words, are the things they’re doing online first-class?

Your Online Experience

Can you remember what your initial thoughts were when you first arrived at their website?

Did you like it? Was it professional? Or, was it kind of cheesy?

And, do you remember how easy their franchise website was to find?

Better yet, if you found their opportunity by yourself-online, can you remember what search term you used?

Google It Now

I have a little test that you can perform, right now.

Do a search on Google or Bing of the category the franchise concept is in.

For example, if the franchise you’re looking into is a food franchise that specializes in burgers, type “burger franchises.” See what comes up first. (Actually, see what comes up on the search engine’s first page.) Is “your” franchise listed?

Another search engine that you may want to try is Dogpile.

Dogpile is a metasearch site—that means that it searches multiple engines. I use it a lot; it’s pretty good.

The goal here is to find out just how strong the online presence is of the franchise opportunity you’re thinking of investing in…becoming the owner of.

I’ve provided a few more ways to do so in this franchise article at SBA.Gov.