Choosing the site for a new franchise just got easier, with the release of a website to allow businesses to download traffic estimates information.

The geodemographic modelling business Spectrum Analysis, in conjunction with Veitch Lister Consulting and Harvest Digital Planning, has so far licenced the data to Shell, McDonald’s and Caltex but is now making it accessible through online subscription.

Peter Buckingham, MD of Spectrum Analysis, said “This is the first time in Australia you can readily access consistent traffic information from one source. The new website www.zenithtraffic.com.au allows you to look at roads in all major capital cities and many large towns.

“We’ve always thought the potential would be for medium and smaller companies. We want to hook it wider than just the big guys like Caltex.”

Buckingham said one-off maps, covering an area 2km by 2km, would cost about $500 for prospective franchisees if the franchise system was not a subscriber to the data.