7 Best Franchise LMS in 2024 for Successful Franchise Operations

Franchise training is the backbone of success for businesses operating under the franchise model. Major franchise giants like McDonald’s, 7‑Eleven, and Marriott attribute their success, in part, to robust training programs.

Be it training at the head office or on-site training, these programs equip franchisees with the skills and knowledge needed to represent a brand effectively in their designated territories.

Today’s franchise businesses operate in a dynamic environment, and having a robust LMS is like having a secret weapon. I’ve seen franchises struggle with inadequate franchise LMS solutions that hinder their growth and success.

Being in the training industry, I’ve witnessed firsthand how crucial having the right franchise LMS is to these businesses.

But with so many options out there, it’s easy to get lost in the maze.

Don’t worry!

I’ve compiled a list of the top 7 LMS for franchises. These platforms have proven themselves in the field, helping franchises streamline training, boost productivity, and foster growth.

List of the Best Franchise Learning Management Systems 

I put together this list of the best franchise LMS based on both my own experience and recommendations from people I know in the field.

I also factored in product reviews from external sources and feedback from satisfied clients.

1. ProProfs Training Maker – Best for Easy Online Employee Training & LMS

ProProfs is the best franchise LMS I’ve come across for onboarding and employee training. It truly understands the unique needs of franchise businesses in these areas and makes them super easy.

When it comes to onboarding, ProProfs shines. It guides new franchisees into the fold, making them feel like valued team members from day one.

The comprehensive onboarding process covers everything, from the company’s mission and vision to crystal-clear expectations.

ProProfs’ professionally crafted and engaging new employee onboarding courses and templates set it apart. It takes the often-dry world of compliance training and transforms it into an interactive, enjoyable experience.

This speeds up the learning process and ensures that franchisees are well-prepared to hit the ground running.

But ProProfs doesn’t stop at onboarding.

It understands that ongoing staff training is crucial for franchise success. Whether it’s product knowledge, technology, safety, or customer service, ProProfs can help you turbocharge your franchisees and achieve operational excellence.

What You Will Like:

• The drag-and-drop course builder makes it easy to create and customize courses
• The quiz maker offers a variety of question types and settings
• The reporting features provide insights into learner progress and engagement
• The mobile app makes it easy for franchisers to access courses on the go

What You May Not Like:

• Need more video conferencing tools; currently it supports only Zoom
• The free plan is limited to 10 users and does not include the premium course library

Pricing:

Free for up to 10 learners. Paid plan starts at $1.97/learner/month for 10+ learners. No hidden costs. 15-day money-back guarantee.

Case Study: McDonald’s – Owner & Operator Training for Success
One of the top-rated franchises, McDonald’s is a classic example of franchising. The success of their franchise model was attributed to maintaining consistency in operations and training played a major role in it.

Their aim was to maximize quality, service, and cleanliness, which helped franchisees optimize sales and profits. To ensure this, they provided:

• 12-18 months of training in a restaurant
• Self-directed, part-time training with a duration of 20 hours per week
• Seminars, conferences, and one-on-one training sessions
• Assessment of success based on competency

A majority of McDonald’s franchisees said that such training programs were helpful in running their businesses, and they were more likely to have profitable restaurants than those who had not completed the training.

2. EdApp – Best LMS for Mobile Learning

EdApp, in my opinion, deserves a spot among the top LMS for franchisees. It’s packed with features that simplify the creation, deployment, and management of all your training materials.

Whether you’re looking to educate new partners about your franchise policies or keep your existing franchisees up-to-date with the latest market trends (new regulations, technological advancements, or customer preference), EdApp has got you covered.

I appreciate EdApp’s mobile learning features, empowering my team to access training anytime. It’s a great tool for onboarding processes, making it flexible and efficient.

Whether on the go or at the office, EdApp ensures that our team has the training they need right at their fingertips. That’s invaluable in today’s fast-paced world.

What You Will Like:

• Uses microlearning that makes EdApp a good option for learners who have limited time or attention spans
• It has a variety of features to engage learners, such as interactive quizzes, games, and simulations
• Has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create and deliver learning content
• It is affordable. EdApp offers a variety of pricing plans to fit different budgets

What You May Not Like:

• The learning curve can be steep for some users. EdApp has a lot of features, so it can take some time to learn how to use it effectively
• The LMS can be slow at times. EdApp can be slow sometimes, especially when creating or editing content

Pricing :

Free plan (Lacks advanced analytics). Paid plan starts at $2.95/user/ month

3. LearningZen – Best LMS for Course Builder

I’ve had the pleasure of using LearningZen, and let me tell you, it’s a good tool when it comes to streamlining training for franchises.

One of the notable features is the course builder. It’s super user-friendly and allows you to craft training content tailored specifically to your brand.

Whether it’s videos, audio, images, or exams and assessments, you can integrate them into your courses.

What’s really neat is how LearningZen keeps your learners in the loop.

It automatically updates them on any changes, new products, or services, ensuring everyone in your franchising business stays on the same page.

What You Will Like:

• A variety of content types, such as text, images, videos, and quizzes to help you build engaging courses
• Scalable solution that can be used by businesses of all sizes. You can easily add or remove users as needed
• Gamification elements to keep learners engaged and motivated
• Powerful analytics to measure learner progress

What You May Not Like:

• There is a bit of a learning curve to using LearningZen, especially if you are not familiar with eLearning
• There is no native mobile app for LearningZen, so you can only access it on a web browser

Pricing:

Paid plan starts at $399/month (billed annually)

4. Kallidus – Best LMS for Customized Learning

Another tool on my list for franchise learning management systems is Kallidus. It has gained popularity thanks to its modern learning platform and an array of valuable tools that franchise owners and training managers can leverage.

I like its course builder, which simplifies the process of creating and updating custom franchise training content. If you already have training resources at your disposal, you can effortlessly upload them and transform them into engaging eLearning courses.

Moreover, Kallidus offers flexibility to align with your branding requirements, ensuring a personalized training experience.

What You Will Like:

• The interface is clean and intuitive, and there is plenty of documentation available to help users get started
• Users like the overall feel of the new Kallidus suite, especially the search and the impersonate function
• Can support a large number of users and courses, and it can be easily customized to meet specific requirements
• Offers features like single sign-on, role-based access control, and data encryption to protect user data

What You May Not Like:

• Some challenges in renaming lesson titles, editing course descriptions, and assigning roles
• You may notice some inconsistencies in the user interface and the functionality across different browsers and devices

Pricing:

Paid plan starts at $10,000/year

5. VioletLMS – Best LMS for Certificate Management

If you’re in the market for a franchise-focused LMS, VioletLMS is worth considering.

I’ve explored its features, and it’s a cloud-based solution tailored for both franchise owners and learners.

Its multilingual support allows course delivery in various languages and broadens your reach.

Gamification features like badges and leaderboards make learning engaging.

The integration with HRIS streamlines enrollment and data syncing, ensuring accuracy.

Managing certificates is hassle-free, and you can customize the certificate design, content, and validity according to your requirements. You can also verify the authenticity of the certificates using QR codes or URLs.

However, it’s worth noting that VioletLMS might have a steeper learning curve during initial setup and customization, which could require some extra time and effort.

What You Will Like: 

• Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and use for both instructors and learners.
• The rich content library offers various courses and resources that you can use or customize for your franchise training needs
• The feedback system allows you to collect and analyze the opinions and suggestions of your learners and instructors
• It has a predefined learning paths feature, which helps you to create and assign role-specific and personalized learning paths

What You May Not Like:

• It may not be compatible with all the devices and browsers that your learners use
• May not be affordable for your budget, as it has different pricing plans based on the number of users and features

Pricing:

Forever free plan available (Lacks quizzes and assessments). The paid plan starts at $0.50/month

6. OpenLMS – Best LMS for Personalized Training

Another franchise LMS that caught my attention is OpenLMS. It empowers personalized training with features like multi-tenancy, tailored brand experiences, diverse course catalogs, and customizable dashboards.

Irrespective of the business size, OpenLMS enables you to craft unique learning experiences that cater to individual learner preferences and organizational requirements, making it an ideal choice for tailored and effective training programs.

The LMS provides native assessment tools, H5P interactive content creation, and SCORM support. It also supports in-person or synchronous events and offers a mobile app for offline access and communication.

What You Will Like:

• Built on a robust partnership with AWS, ensuring excellent performance and scalability
• It’s an open-source tool which means no software license fees, allowing your investment to focus on service, support, and training
• Access to the Open LMS Training Academy for professional development, functional training, and teaching practices courses
• 98% client satisfaction rating and a 50-minute average reply time ensures your organization receives top-notch support

What You May Not Like:

• It requires programming knowledge to customize and maintain the platform
• May not offer the same level of customer support and service as a proprietary LMS. You may have to rely on the online user community or online resources for help and guidance

Pricing:

Paid plan starts at $1,800

7. uQualio – Best LMS for Course Management

If you’re in search of an all-in-one eLearning solution that simplifies the creation and management of franchise courses without the need to juggle multiple tools, uQualio is a great choice.

You can effortlessly build courses from scratch, upload and edit videos, manage course deployment and structure, and even engage directly with partners and employees.

uQualio’s white-label online video eLearning platform is versatile, offering cloud-based self-service options suitable for various training needs, including onboarding, product training, and customer support.

While exploring eLearning solutions, it’s important to note that uQualio simplifies the process but might require some initial training to efficiently make the most of its features. One potential drawback to consider is that uQualio doesn’t offer a free version. However, its pricing plans are reasonable.

What You Will Like:

• Very intuitive and user-friendly. Users can quickly create courses by uploading videos and adding questions, badges, and certificates
• Cost-effective and offers different pricing plans based on the number of active users and courses
• Features for learner engagement, such as video bookmarks, bite-sized learning, gamification, and social learning
• Supports multiple languages and allows users to customize their courses with their own branding and logo

What You May Not Like:

• Does not have a built-in video editor, which means users have to edit their videos before uploading them to the platform
• Need more integration features. Currently, it has a limited number of integration capabilities which may limit its functionality and compatibility

Pricing:

Paid plan starts at $19.99/month for 10 active users

Which Franchise LMS Should You Choose?

I would say that there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing the right franchise learning management system (LMS) for your business.

First and foremost, assessing your specific training needs and goals is essential. Factors like scalability, user-friendliness, pricing, integration capabilities, and customer support should be considered.

Another critical consideration is customization; the LMS should allow you to tailor the content and user experience to align with your franchise’s unique requirements.

Security and compliance are also paramount, especially when dealing with sensitive training materials.

My top three picks would be:

Option A: ProProfs 

ProProfs excels as a franchise LMS, especially for quick onboarding and regular training. Its professionally designed and ready-to-go training resources ensure faster training implementation. It ensures franchisees are well-prepared and offers ongoing staff training tools.

Option B: EdApp 

EdApp simplifies training creation, deployment, and management. Its mobile learning features allow flexible access, making onboarding efficient. While generally user-friendly, there might be a slight learning curve with its SCORM-compliant authoring tool.

Option C: LearningZen 

LearningZen streamlines franchise training with its user-friendly course builder, enabling tailored content creation. It keeps learners informed of changes, products, and services automatically. However, it may not be budget-friendly for smaller businesses, as its pricing plans are better suited for larger companies.

In my opinion, ProProfs emerges as the best franchise LMS due to its focus on easy and sustainable workforce training solutions. Its comprehensive onboarding process and engaging course content ensure that franchisees are well-prepared and enjoy the learning experience. ProProfs also offers tools for ongoing staff training, enhancing franchise success.

Learn More About Franchise LMS 

What is a franchise LMS?

A franchise LMS is a centralized online platform designed to meet the learning and development initiatives of franchisees. It allows franchisors to deliver consistent training materials, track progress, and ensure compliance with brand standards and operational procedures across multiple franchise locations, promoting uniformity and efficiency in franchise operations. Read this guide to know more.

Watch: What is a Cloud-Based Learning Management System?

What are the key features to look for in a franchise LMS?

Key features to consider in a franchise LMS include multi-lingual support, scalability, customizable content, compliance tracking, reporting and analytics, user-friendly interface, mobile accessibility, automated notifications, and integration capabilities with other franchise management tools. These features help ensure efficient training delivery, consistent brand standards, and streamlined franchise operations across multiple locations. Read this guide to know more.

How to choose the right LMS for a franchise?

Start by assessing scalability and making sure it can support multiple languages. Look for centralized content management and user-friendly interfaces. Ensure it aligns precisely with your franchise’s training needs and offers performance analytics. Don’t forget to involve franchisees in the decision-making process to find an LMS that suits your unique requirements and supports your franchise’s growth. View this checklist to know more.

Watch: How to Choose the Best LMS Software for Employee Training

Can a franchise LMS accommodate multiple user roles?

A franchise LMS typically accommodates multiple user roles. These roles may include administrators, franchise owners, managers, employees, and sometimes even customers or partners, each with different levels of access and permissions within the LMS. For example, ProProfs Training Maker offers customizable user roles, allowing you to define distinct access rights and privileges for different user groups, ensuring a tailored learning experience for everyone involved in your franchise network.

Watch: How to Add Multiple Instructors in Your LMS