Should Franchises Have Separate URLs for Local SEO?

Takeaway Summary (For Quick Readers)

Yes — franchises should have separate URLs for each location, but not separate domains. The best structure for India-based franchises is a single primary domain with individual location URLs (subfolders) such as:
brand.com/locations/delhi/
This helps consolidate domain authority, simplifies SEO management, boosts “near me” visibility, and aligns with Google Business Profile requirements. Every location page should have its own unique content, NAP, Google Map embed, and internal links.

If you manage a franchise business in India — whether it’s a restaurant chain, salon brand, coaching centre, hospital network, or retail store — one question always pops up:

“Should franchises have separate URLs to rank better in local searches?”

With India’s search behaviour shifting heavily toward “near me,” “in [city],” and hyperlocal service intent, the answer matters more today than ever. And the short answer is:

👉 Yes, franchises need separate URLs for each location… but not separate domains.
Let’s break this down in a practical, easy-to-understand way.

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Why URL Structure Matters for Franchise SEO

Local SEO is all about relevance, proximity, and authority.
When you have multiple outlets across India, Google wants to understand:

• Which outlet serves which city?
• Which page belongs to which Google Business Profile?
• Which location should rank for “near me” or “service in Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore”?

A proper URL structure helps Google recognise each branch as a unique entity without breaking the brand’s overall domain authority.

Best URL Structure for Franchises in India

Based on your research, the most effective and scalable structure is:

✔ One main domain
✔ Separate URLs (subfolders) for each location

Examples:

• brand.com/locations/delhi/
• brand.com/locations/mumbai-andheri/
• brand.com/delhi/
• (Secondary option) delhi.brand.com

Why subfolders work best:

• You keep all SEO authority under one strong domain.
• Google crawls and indexes faster.
• Easier to manage content, citations, and NAP details.
• Perfect for national-level brands operating across Indian cities.

This approach is scalable whether you have 5 locations or 500.

Separate Domains vs Subdomains vs Subfolders (Simplified Breakdown)

Approach	Pros	Cons	When to Use
Separate Domains (e.g., delhibrand.com)	Strong local branding, flexibility	Authority split across multiple sites, more cost, higher risk of inconsistent SEO & NAP	Only if each franchise acts like an independent business with major marketing resources
Subdomains (delhi.brand.com)	Some flexibility, technical separation	Still diluted authority, more difficult to manage	Large enterprise setups needing isolated tech stacks
Subfolders (brand.com/delhi/)	Best SEO value, fastest to scale, easiest to manage	Less “independent” feel for franchisees	Best for 95% of franchises and multi-location businesses

Why Franchises Should Not Use Separate Domains

Many franchise owners think:
“Why not give each outlet its own website for better local SEO?”

Here’s why it’s a bad idea in most cases:

❌ Authority gets divided

Instead of one powerful website, you end up with 10–200 small, weak sites.

❌ Higher cost and complexity

Maintaining hosting, SSL, plugins, content, citations, updates — everything becomes expensive and unmanageable.

❌ NAP inconsistencies creep in

This leads to ranking drops across Maps and organic search.

❌ Poor user experience

Customers get confused when the brand looks different city-to-city.

Unless a franchise legally operates almost like a separate company, separate domains harm SEO more than they help.

What Should Each Franchise Location URL Contain? (Your Local SEO Checklist)

No matter what URL structure you choose, each location page must function like a proper local landing page.

Here’s what Google expects:

✔ Unique, non-boilerplate content

Include:

• Services offered in that specific city
• Local offers
• Neighbourhood references
• FAQs specific to that branch
• Areas served

Avoid copy-pasting the same content across all pages.

✔ Complete NAP details

Every page must include:

• Full name of the branch
• Address
• Phone number
• Opening hours

…and all of this must match the Google Business Profile exactly.

✔ Google Map Embed

Enhances:

• Local relevance
• Trust signals
• User experience

✔ On-page SEO Elements

• Title tag: [Service] in [City] – [Brand Name]
• H1: [City] [Service] – Official [Brand] Outlet
• LocalBusiness schema
• Internal linking from a “Store Locator”
• Location-specific customer reviews/testimonials

How to Align Franchise URLs With Google Business Profiles (GBP)

For India-based franchises, Google requires:

✔ One GBP per physical location

Not one GBP for all outlets.

✔ Each GBP must link to its own URL

Never send all GBPs to the homepage.

✔ Matching NAP everywhere

Your GBP, location page, and citations must all match.

This alignment helps:

• Rank higher in local packs
• Reduce “filtering” issues between multiple same-brand outlets
• Improve relevance for “near me” searches in Maps

When your URLs and GBPs sync correctly, Google instantly understands which outlet should appear for which user.

India-Focused Practical Recommendation (Based on Your Research)

If you’re a franchise owner, franchisor, or SEO agency working with multi-location brands in India, the ideal setup is:

1. Use subfolders

brand.com/locations/city-outlet/
This works best for:

• Restaurants
• Clinics
• Gyms
• Coaching centres
• Salons
• Retail chains
• Service-based businesses

2. Avoid separate domains

Unless legally necessary.

3. Build a Store Locator Hub Page

Example: brand.com/locations/
This should link to every outlet page.

4. Create unique location content

Focus on:

• Indian neighbourhoods
• Local landmarks
• Local offers
• Service availability by pin code

5. Map each GBP to its correct URL

This is crucial for ranking in Google Maps and Local Pack.

Who Should Follow This Guide?

This blog is designed for:

✔ Franchise Owners & Operators

Wanting more walk-ins and phone calls from local search.

✔ Franchisor Marketing Teams

Needing scalable SEO systems across 20, 50, or 500 outlets.

✔ Local SEO Agencies in India

Pitching enterprise-level solutions for consistent ranking growth.

✔ Freelance SEO Consultants

Who handle multi-location setups needing clear URL strategies.

✔ Multi-location Business Managers

Retail chains, restaurants, hospitals, and service networks who want a clean, scalable SEO structure.

Conclusion

So, should franchises have separate URLs for local SEO?

👉 Absolutely yes.
But those URLs should be subfolders on a single domain, not separate websites.

This structure helps you:

• Boost your Maps visibility
• Rank for “near me” and city-based queries
• Maintain strong, unified domain authority
• Keep SEO clean, consistent, and scalable across India

If you set up every location page correctly and align it with its Google Business Profile, your franchise will outperform competitors across organic and local search.