Free tool · for anyone weighing a franchise or business opportunity
Franchise Web Scorer
A glossy brochure leads with one big number, and that number is very good at drowning out everything else. This free scorer turns the decision into something you can see: weight five of the things that most often matter — total investment, projected return, franchisor support, brand strength, and lock-in — by how much they matter to you, rate two opportunities 1 to 5 on each, and it returns one weighted score per opportunity so the strongest overall fit rises to the top. Use it right here in your browser, or download the starter scorecard to keep.
| Criterion | Weightof 100 | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total investmentAll-in cost to open — lower cost rates higher | |||
| Projected ROI & paybackReturn and payback on realistic numbers | |||
| Franchisor support & trainingReal training, systems, and ongoing help | |||
| Brand strength & demandWhether customers already know and want it | |||
| Lock-in & exit flexibilityTerm length and a clear way out — shorter rates higher |
Weights total: 100 — balanced.
Take it with you — free, no signup
Direct download. No email, no account — just the files.
What it does
- Weights five core criteria by how much each matters to YOU, then scores two opportunities across all of them at once.
- Returns one weighted score per opportunity on a clean 1–5 scale, so the best overall fit — not just the best number on the brochure — comes out on top.
- Comes pre-loaded with an example where the higher-return opportunity doesn't win, so you can see the method working.
- Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, and nothing is saved.
Own it, don't rent it
Weighing more than two opportunities?
This free scorer weighs two opportunities across five criteria. The full Franchise / Business-Opportunity Decision Helper compares up to four opportunities across eight criteria you choose, computes each one's return on investment and payback period, ranks them, and names the gap between the best-fit and the highest-return opportunity — a 7-tab workbook you keep (Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice) plus three guides, including a due-diligence and questions checklist.
A one-time purchase you keep and reuse for the next big decision — the structured workbook between a blank spreadsheet and a rented decision app.
A decision aid, not financial, legal, tax, investment, or franchise advice. A weighted score is a tool for thinking, not a verdict. The example opportunities are fictional. A franchise is a major purchase — read the FDD and consult a franchise attorney and an accountant. Free to use; please don't resell or redistribute.