ScuteSuite

ScuteSuite is our custom-built multi-tenant platform for hosting and managing franchise client websites. Hosted on Digital Ocean, ScuteSuite functions as our own specialized hosting and management solution—similar in concept to Cloudways, but purpose-built specifically for the unique challenges of franchise website management.

Why We Built ScuteSuite

Franchise businesses have fundamentally different website needs than traditional clients. A franchisor might need to manage 50, 100, or even more individual location websites, where most content is corporate-mandated and consistent across all locations, but each franchisee needs the ability to customize specific elements like their About Us page, staff bios, or local promotions. Generic CMS platforms and hosting solutions simply aren’t designed for this “managed customization at scale” model.

ScuteSuite solves this by providing a centralized platform where we can:

  • Spin up new franchise location sites rapidly using templated sites
  • Push corporate-mandated content updates to hundreds of locations simultaneously
  • Control what franchisees can and cannot edit on their individual sites
  • Maintain brand consistency while allowing appropriate local customization
  • Manage all franchise locations from a single administrative interface

Key Capabilities

  • Rapid franchise location site deployment with standardized templates
  • Centralized content management with granular permission controls
  • Variable-based system for managing consistent content across many sites simultaneously
  • Bulk update capabilities—update once, deploy to all relevant franchise locations
  • Controlled customization zones where franchisees can update approved sections
  • Custom analytics platform (in development) that runs alongside Google Analytics to track the metrics we care most about:
  • Conversion-related events (when a user converted, on what page, from what source)
  • Landing page analysis (where users entered the site)
  • CallRail analytics integration for phone call tracking
  • Clearer visibility into the conversion funnel without digging through GA reports

Technology Stack

ScuteSuite is a completely separate platform from Drupal, custom-built specifically for franchise website management. However, it uses the same front-end codebase (theme, CSS, HTML structures) as our Drupal sites, which provides:

  • Visual consistency between franchise sites and traditional Drupal client sites
  • Familiar design patterns and components across all our client work
  • Ability to maintain a unified brand aesthetic regardless of underlying platform
  • Reduced learning curve when team members work across both platform types

While the front-end appearance is identical, ScuteSuite’s back-end architecture is purpose-built for multi-tenant franchise management rather than using Drupal’s CMS structure.

Questions:

  1. What is ScuteSuite actually built with? (Programming language, framework, database)
  2. What CMS powers ScuteSuite if not Drupal?
  3. Does it have its own custom admin interface for managing franchise sites? - Yes

ScuteSuite vs. Cloudways/Drupal:

We maintain two distinct platform approaches based on client type:

  • Drupal on Cloudways: Traditional clients with unique content needs and full editorial control
  • ScuteSuite on Digital Ocean: Franchise clients requiring centralized management, controlled customization, and multi-location coordination

This separation allows us to optimize each platform for its specific use case rather than forcing all clients into a one-size-fits-all solution.

Last Updated: April 2026