Why Does FBR Offer a Free Franchisee Survey?

Key Points: 

• Franchise Business Review offers a free franchisee satisfaction survey to ensure industry benchmarks and awards are based solely on franchisee feedback—not marketing spend.

• Participating franchisors receive an overall benchmark score and award eligibility with no cost, obligation, or risk.

• Paid survey options provide deeper data access and customization, as well as access to development and marketing programs.

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When franchisors hear that Franchise Business Review offers free franchisee surveys, one question almost always comes up:

“What’s the catch?”

It’s a fair question—especially in an industry where data, rankings, and awards are often tied to marketing spend. At FBR, we do things differently. That’s why we offer both a free and a paid franchisee satisfaction survey option—and why there truly is no catch.

This article explains why the free franchisee survey exists, what you get when you participate, and how it fits into FBR’s broader mission of improving franchise systems through unbiased research.

A Commitment to Trust and Transparency

FBR has been conducting independent franchisee satisfaction research for more than 20 years. During that time, more than 1,300 franchise systems have participated in our surveys, and hundreds of thousands of franchise owners have shared confidential feedback about their experiences.

Our credibility depends on trust. That means:

• Clear, upfront survey questions
• A confidential, third-party research process
• No pay-to-play rankings or awards

Everything we ask, how the data is handled, and what participating brands receive is explained before a franchisor ever commits.

Who Can Participate in the Free Survey?

We invite any franchise system with 10 or more open and operating franchisees to participate in our research.

The goal is broad industry representation. The more systems and franchisee responses included, the stronger—and more meaningful—our benchmarks become for everyone.

Why FBR Offers the Survey for Free

The answer is simple: Because franchisee satisfaction should stand on its own.

FBR’s annual Franchisee Satisfaction Awards are based only on the feedback of existing franchise owners—not on how much a brand spends, how aggressively it’s growing, or how polished its marketing looks.

Offering a free survey option ensures:

• Awards reflect real franchisee sentiment
• Rankings remain independent and credible
• The industry benchmark reflects a true cross-section of franchise systems

We believe validation and unit level economics are foundational to responsible franchise growth. If a system doesn’t have satisfied, engaged franchisees, it shouldn’t be recruiting new ones—no matter how strong the sales pitch.

What You Get With the Free Franchisee Survey

While the free option doesn’t include full data access, it still delivers meaningful value.

Franchisors who participate in the free survey receive:

• Their overall Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI) benchmark score
• Context showing how they compare to the highest- and lowest-scoring systems
• Eligibility for FBR’s Franchisee Satisfaction Awards

This allows franchisors to understand where they stand compared to other franchise brands—without cost or risk.

So How Does FBR Make Money? 

Franchisors who choose the paid survey want deeper insights into their system. They use the data we collect to understand what they’re doing well, what they need to do better, and how they can align franchisee expectations.

The paid option includes:

• Full access to all quantitative survey data
• Open-ended franchisee comments
• Results by category, including:
  • Training & support
  • Leadership & culture
  • Financial opportunity
  • Communication & trust
• Industry benchmark comparisons at the question level
• Optional custom survey questions tailored to your system

This level of detail helps leadership teams clearly identify:

• Strengths that can be leveraged in development and marketing
• Gaps where expectations may be misaligned
• Operational priorities that directly impact franchisee performance and retention

How Franchisors Use FBR Data Beyond Internal Insights

Brands with high satisfaction often choose to share their data publicly through FBR’s:

• Franchise validation program
• Lead generation program
• Advertising and sponsored content opportunities

And because FBR data is independently collected and benchmarked, it carries far more weight with franchise candidates than self-reported claims.

The Most Important Reason to Survey Franchisees

Beyond benchmarks, awards, or marketing value, there’s one reason every franchisor should participate:

Asking for feedback matters.

Inviting franchisees to share their perspective—and then using that data to drive improvements—builds trust, goodwill, and long-term loyalty. Even when scores aren’t perfect, the act of listening signals leadership, accountability, and respect for franchise owners as true business partners.

Why Some Franchisors Still Hesitate

Despite the lack of cost or risk, some systems are still hesitant to participate. Common concerns include:

• Fear of uncovering uncomfortable feedback
• Uncertainty about how results will be used
• Lack of internal resources to act on the data

If that sounds familiar, those are exactly the conversations we’re happy to have.

Let’s Talk About Your Questions

If you’re curious about:

• The exact questions on FBR’s standard survey
• The differences between the free and paid options
• How your system would compare to more than 1,300 others

Our team is happy to walk you through the survey process–no pressure, no obligation. We’ll even share ALL of our standard benchmark questions with you. 

And if something is holding you back, I’d love to understand that too. Franchisee satisfaction data is one of the most powerful tools a franchisor can have—and we believe every system should have access to it. 

Just schedule a time here to see what our surveys can do for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions About FBR’s Free Franchisee Survey

Is Franchise Business Review’s franchisee satisfaction survey really free?

Yes. Franchise Business Review offers a free franchisee satisfaction survey to qualifying franchise systems with no obligation, no hidden fees, and no requirement to purchase additional services. Any franchisor with 10 or more open and operating franchise units is eligible to participate in FBR’s franchisee satisfaction research.

Why does FBR offer a free franchisee satisfaction survey?

FBR offers a free survey to ensure its franchisee satisfaction benchmarks, rankings, and awards are based solely on franchisee feedback—not marketing spend, system size, or growth rate. This keeps the research independent and credible.

What do franchisors receive with the free survey option?

Franchisors receive their overall franchisee satisfaction benchmark score, visibility into how they compare to top- and bottom-performing systems, eligibility for FBR’s Top Franchisee Satisfaction Awards, and potential editorial exposure in FBR publications.

What is the difference between FBR’s free and paid survey options?

The free option provides high-level benchmarking and award eligibility. The paid option includes full access to survey data, open-ended franchisee comments, category-level results, industry benchmarks by question, and optional custom survey questions. Many franchisors use the data to identify operational strengths and weaknesses, align franchisee expectations, improve retention, guide leadership decisions, and support franchise development and validation efforts.

Are franchisee responses confidential?

Yes. All franchisee responses are collected and reported confidentially. Individual franchisee identities are never disclosed, and data is shared only in aggregate form.

 

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Related Content: Free Comparison Tool

Thinking about adding franchisee satisfaction surveys to your annual operating plan? If you’re not already using franchisee satisfaction research data to identify organizational priorities and accelerate development, now’s the time! This free survey comparison tool will help you get the most for your investment.

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