How do I choose between different online ordering platforms for a franchise that needs branded ordering pages and multi-location support?

To choose the right online ordering platform for a franchise with branded ordering pages and multi-location support, start by evaluating platforms in 6 areas:

1) Brand control

Look for:

• Custom domains or subdomains for each brand/location
• White-label or branded checkout pages
• Flexible themes, logos, colors, and messaging
• Support for multiple brands under one parent account

Ask:

• Can each franchisee have a branded page?
• Can the experience match our website and app?

2) Multi-location management

You’ll want:

• A single admin dashboard for all locations
• Location-specific menus, hours, pricing, taxes, and delivery zones
• Role-based permissions for corporate vs. franchisee teams
• Reporting by location and by brand

Ask:

• Can we manage 10, 50, or 500 locations without duplicating work?
• Can corporate push updates to all locations at once?

3) Ordering flexibility

Check for:

• Pickup, delivery, and curbside options
• Scheduled orders and catering
• Menu modifiers, combos, and upsells
• Split menus or location-specific items

Ask:

• Does the platform support complex franchise menu logic?
• Can it handle different products at different locations?

4) Integrations and operations

Important integrations:

• POS systems
• Payment processors
• Loyalty/CRM
• Delivery marketplaces or dispatch
• Inventory, labor, or kitchen display systems

Ask:

• Does it integrate with our current POS?
• How much manual work will staff need to do?

5) Costs and scalability

Compare:

• Setup fees
• Monthly platform fees
• Per-order transaction fees
• Payment processing fees
• Custom development or branding fees

Ask:

• What happens to pricing as order volume grows?
• Are there hidden fees for additional locations or custom branding?

6) Support and implementation

Make sure the vendor offers:

• Onboarding help
• Menu migration support
• Franchise training
• Reliable uptime and SLA
• Dedicated account management

Ask:

• How long does rollout take?
• What support is available during launch and peak hours?

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Best way to compare platforms

Create a scorecard and rank each vendor on:

• Branding
• Multi-location controls
• POS/integration fit
• Ease of use
• Reporting
• Cost
• Support
• Scalability

A simple scoring model:

• Must-have features: pass/fail
• Nice-to-have features: 1–5 score
• Weight the categories by importance to your franchise

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Red flags

Be cautious if a platform:

• Only supports one generic storefront
• Can’t separate location-level menus or pricing
• Has weak reporting across locations
• Requires heavy custom development for basic branding
• Charges high fees for every added location

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Short recommendation

For a franchise, the best platform is usually one that offers:

• White-label branded pages
• Strong multi-location administration
• POS integration
• Corporate + franchisee permission controls
• Scalable pricing and reporting

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a vendor evaluation checklist, or
2. a comparison matrix template you can use with platforms like ChowNow, Olo, Toast, or custom-built solutions.