How to Get More Reviews for Your Business (Franchise & Multi-Location Guide)
If you run one business, reviews influence decisions.
If you run multiple locations, reviews influence scale.
When someone searches for your service, the first thing they notice is not your website.
It is your star rating.
According to BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. That makes online reputation directly tied to revenue, search visibility, and conversion rates.
For franchise and multi-location brands, review generation must be systematic, not random.
Direct Answer: How to Get More Reviews for Your Business
To get more reviews across multiple locations:
Ask every customer at the right time
Automate review requests
Optimize each Google Business Profile
Respond to every review
Train staff to mention reviews naturally
Track review performance by location
Use reviews to improve SEO
Avoid incentivizing reviews
Consistency is what drives volume. Volume drives visibility.
1. Ask Every Customer (But Make It Easy)
Most satisfied customers are willing to leave a review.
They just need a reminder.
Harvard Business Review highlights that customers are more likely to provide feedback when the process is immediate and simple.
For franchise systems, that means:
Text message review requests
Automated email follow-ups
QR codes at checkout
Printed review links on receipts
The best time to ask is right after the service is completed.
Fresh experiences lead to higher response rates.
2. Automate Review Requests
Manual reminders fail at scale.
Multi-location businesses need automation.
Effective systems:
Trigger texts or emails automatically after transactions
Direct customers to the correct location’s review link
Track response rates by market
Automation ensures every location generates reviews consistently.
This protects brand equity across territories.
3. Optimize Every Google Business Profile
You cannot collect reviews efficiently if your profiles are incomplete.
Google reports that complete business listings attract more engagement.
Each location should have:
Accurate hours
Updated photos
Clear service descriptions
Correct categories
A direct review link
When leaving a review takes fewer clicks, participation increases.
4. Respond to Every Review
Responding to reviews improves both trust and engagement.
It signals to customers that your business is active.
Google publicly recommends responding to reviews because it demonstrates credibility and responsiveness.
For franchise brands, responses should follow a structure:
Central brand tone guidelines
Location-level personalization
Timely replies within 24 to 48 hours
Reviews are not private conversations.
They are public marketing assets.
5. Train Staff to Mention Reviews Naturally
Frontline employees play a major role in review growth.
Encourage simple, authentic language such as:
“If you had a great experience today, we’d appreciate a Google review.”
Avoid scripted pressure.
When review culture becomes part of training, participation rises naturally.
6. Track Reviews by Location
Franchise systems require performance visibility.
Monitor:
Star ratings by location
Monthly review volume
Review velocity trends
Common feedback themes
Response times
McKinsey & Company emphasizes that scalable organizations rely on measurable systems.
Reputation management should be part of your reporting dashboard.
7. Use Reviews to Improve Local SEO
Reviews are not just social proof.
They influence local rankings.
Moz identifies review quantity, quality, and velocity as contributing factors in local search performance.
For multi-location brands, strong review systems create a competitive advantage in every market.
More positive reviews often lead to stronger map pack visibility.
8. Avoid Incentivizing Reviews
Never pay for or reward reviews.
Google prohibits incentivized reviews and may remove them.
Instead, focus on:
Strong customer experience
Clear communication
Easy review links
Timely follow-ups
Authentic reviews build long-term trust.
Why Reviews Matter Even More for Franchise Businesses
In single-location businesses, one poor rating impacts one market.
In franchise systems, reputation affects:
Local visibility
Paid advertising performance
Conversion rates
Brand perception
Expansion credibility
BrightLocal reports that consumers trust online reviews similarly to personal recommendations.
For franchises, that trust multiplies across markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many reviews should each location have?
There is no fixed number, but steady monthly growth matters more than volume alone. Review velocity signals activity.
What is the best time to ask for a review?
Immediately after service, while the experience is fresh.
Should corporate manage review responses?
Corporate should provide guidelines, but locations should personalize responses.
Do reviews help SEO?
Yes. Review signals influence local search visibility and click-through rates.
Final Thoughts
Getting more reviews is not complicated.
It requires structure.
For franchise and multi-location brands, the formula is clear:
Deliver excellent service
Ask consistently
Automate requests
Make reviewing easy
Respond quickly
Track by location
When review generation becomes a system, growth becomes predictable.
In today’s digital landscape, your reviews are your storefront.
And your star rating often determines whether a customer chooses you or your competitor.