The best franchise management tools will help you streamline and grow your business. Connecteam is a leading option, with everything from employee scheduling and time tracking to in-app chat and an integrated training portal.
Franchise management software can help streamline day-to-day operations across your franchise business, but it’s not always easy to find a solution with all the tools you need.
The best platforms are comprehensive—enabling you to communicate quickly and effectively with your team, ensure all employees understand their responsibilities, and create smooth onboarding and training processes. Top options will also include operations management tools like employee scheduling, time tracking, and customizable task or job tracking to make it simple to manage your staff.
With the right software, you’ll save money, work faster, and understand everything that’s happening with your business. Below, we cover 6 of the best franchise management software tools and the key features to look at when choosing one.
If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.
Our Top Picks
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Best all-in-one franchise management software
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Good for franchisors managing multiple franchisees
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Good for growing franchise networks
Why trust us?
Our team of unbiased software reviewers follows strict editorial guidelines, and our methodology is clear and open to everyone.
See our complete methodology
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Tools considered
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Tools reviewed
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What to Look For in a Franchise Management Software Tool
Look for the following features when you’re choosing a franchise management platform for your business—and remember that the very best options will combine all of these tools.
- Employee scheduling tools will help you create shift schedules quickly and easily. Drag-and-drop scheduling interfaces, customizable templates, and the option to set recurring schedules will save you even more time. Break, overtime, and time-off management features ensure compliance and prevent any over- or understaffing issues.
- In-app communications. Features such as in-app chat and a workplace updates feed ensure your team stays connected regardless of location. Communication features should be secure, easy to use, and integrated with the rest of your franchise management tools.
- HR management tools such as an employee training center and customizable digital onboarding will help you streamline hiring and upskilling. These can also help you ensure consistent work practices and ongoing employee development across multiple franchise locations.
- Secure document management. Provides you with a way to safely store business files such as contracts, employee documents, operational guidelines, and business records. This ensures all your workers have easy access to important company information.
- Time-tracking tools should be mobile-friendly and easy to use. Look for a time clock like Connecteam that offers one-touch clock-in and out, geofencing, overtime tracking, automatic reporting, and more.
- Timesheet and payroll management tools. Look for automatic timesheet generation and payroll integrations to save you time and reduce the risk of costly payroll errors. Connecteam, for example, produces error-free digital timesheets and directly integrates with Gusto, QuickBooks Online, Paychex and Xero for payroll processing.
- Task and project management tools. Create and assign tasks to your employees, track project progress, and ensure efficient workflow management across multiple locations. Features such as task descriptions, due dates, and digital checklists help keep your employees on target and your projects moving forward smoothly.
- Reporting and analytics features will help you understand exactly what’s going on in your business. Real-time payroll and time clock analytics can help you understand who’s on the clock and what they’re doing. The best software will help you monitor franchise performance, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.
- Customizable alerts and notifications. Look for the ability to send custom push notifications and automatic mobile alerts to remind employees of their shifts, draw their attention to an important matter, and more. This keeps everyone in the franchise network on the same page, boosting productivity and efficiency.
- Mobile app. Ensures your franchise management system can be used on the go.
The 6 Best Franchise Management Software Tools of 2024
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Connecteam — Best all-in-one franchise management software
Connecteam is the best do-it-all franchise management software, useful for franchisors and franchisees alike. It’s also easy to use and one of the most affordable options on the market.
One of Connecteam’s strengths is the huge range of features that it has to offer. These include operations management tools like a time clock, HR features such as an onboarding and training portal, and communications tools including an in-app chat.
Streamlined time tracking with the employee time clock
For starters, Connecteam boasts a user-friendly employee time clock app for accurate time tracking and one-touch clock in and out. Employees can track time by project, client, task, or other metric. As a manager, this will help you understand how much time is being spent on each task so you can invoice correctly.
Connecteam’s time clock also comes with GPS functionality, which means that you can verify your employees’ locations in real time. Location tracking is available only when employees are on the clock, and it’s optional. There’s also a geofencing tool that lets you restrict the locations where your workers can punch in and out from.
Your employees can use the time clock on any mobile or desktop device. There’s even a kiosk app you can use if you need your workers to clock in and out using the same device.
Another great thing about Connecteam’s time clock is that it has excellent tools for overtime, time off, and break management. You can use these to ensure you’re maintaining regulatory compliance and to streamline management processes.
Smooth payroll with automatic timesheets and payroll integrations
Connecteam enables you to use time clock data and customizable pay rates and overtime rules to automatically generate digital timesheets.
You can use the Connecteam app to send timesheets to employees for approval, and they can request changes if required. These can be approved or rejected in seconds.
Connecteam also offers direct integrations with Gusto, QuickBooks Online, Paychex and Xero, so you can export timesheets and run payroll immediately. Alternatively, you can easily export timesheets if you use a different payroll platform.
Fast shift scheduling with a drag-and-drop tool
Connecteam comes with a powerful drag-and-drop employee scheduling tool that enables you to create flexible schedules in minutes. You can start with one of the many templates, or you can create custom schedules if you’d like. It’s also possible to create recurring schedules.
One great feature here is that Connecteam makes it easy to assign shifts by qualification, employee preferences, and availability. This information is clearly visible within the shift scheduling tool.
You’re also able to create open shifts that employees can claim if they want a little more work. There’s even a shift-swapping feature that makes it easy for employees to swap shifts with each other via the Connecteam mobile app.
You can also read our in depth review of the best free scheduling apps for employees
Flexible task management to boost efficiency
Connecteam also has a versatile task management tool that’s great for every aspect of franchise management. You can create and assign tasks in seconds, and you can attach digital checklists to break tasks down into simpler steps.
In addition, you can attach documents, images, notes, and more to tasks to ensure your workers understand exactly what’s expected of them. You’ll also receive real-time notifications regarding the status of each task.
User-friendly in-app chat and other communications tools
The in-app chat tool makes it easy to communicate and collaborate with your team. Connecteam supports secure one-on-one and group conversations, and you can send everything from documents and images to GIFs within messages. Admin users have moderator permissions for employee chats, giving you full control over how they’re used.
On top of this, there’s an updates feed that enables you to make team- and company-wide announcements. You can create mobile alerts and push notifications to ensure employees don’t miss important updates, use read receipts to see who has viewed posts, and schedule updates in advance.
There’s also a tool for creating custom surveys and polls. They’re a great way to collect information and feedback in real time and can be shared via Connecteam’s in-app chat. You can use ready-made templates or customize surveys with different types of questions, set surveys to be anonymous, and send notifications to encourage employees to fill out surveys and polls.
Employee training and onboarding via an interactive portal
With Connecteam’s training tools, creating your own employee courses and onboarding materials has never been easier. For starters, you can create courses and other training materials using a combination of existing and new materials. You can add images, videos, PDFs, and more.
You can also create interactive quizzes that employees can complete right from their mobile devices. This is a great way to gauge employee knowledge and monitor training progress. All of this material is available in one place and accessible to employees with the relevant permissions.
Versatile people management tools for smoother employee management.
Connecteam makes it easy to look after your employees and create a pleasant working environment. There’s an employee timeline feature that provides a complete picture of each person’s journey with your company.
You can also create a recognition and rewards program to highlight the work and achievements of outstanding employees.
What’s more, there’s a secure document management tool that you can use to store all business and employee-related paperwork. This can help you remain compliant with data storage regulations.
Plus much more
We’ve covered Connecteam’s main features, but we haven’t touched on everything. There’s also a reporting tool, a company directory, event management features, and so much more.
Additionally, Connecteam is one of the most affordable options on the market. There’s a free-forever Small Business Plan that supports up to 10 users, and paid plans start from only $29 per month for up to 30 users.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!
Key Features
Pros
Very easy to use
One of the most affordable options available
All-in-one software
Fully-featured mobile app
Cons
Needs internet or wifi access to work
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Start your free trial -
Loop — Good for franchisors managing multiple franchisees
Available on
- Web
Loop is a UK-based franchise management program designed for overseeing numerous franchisees. It primarily focuses on business performance management, enabling owners to create key performance indicators (KPIs) and track them across franchises through the Action Planning feature. These can be associated with specific actions or targets.
Customizable surveys can be sent to franchise owners to collect information for auditing and performance management. Collected data and franchise performance information can be viewed via the customizable reporting and analytics dashboard.
The main thing to be aware of with Loop is that it’s not useful for single-location franchise management. It’s also extremely expensive. The cheapest plan costs over $1,880 per month—on top of a setup fee of over $16,600.
Learn more about LoopKey Features
- Customizable surveys
- KPI tracking
- Analytics and reporting
- Unlimited users
Pros
- Supports unlimited users
- Data-driven analytics
Cons
- Very expensive
- Not useful for managing single franchise locations
Pricing
Starts at $1,886.17/month + $16,661.20 setup fee Trial: No Free Plan: No
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FranConnect — Good for growing franchise networks
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
FranConnect is franchising software designed for franchisors looking to grow. It claims to be used by 1,500+ franchise brands, and it includes a selection of useful tools. For example, there are various features designed to help connect franchisors and franchisees and get them up and running.
There’s a central communications hub for franchisee engagement, as well as tools for creating training courses and materials. Performance monitoring provides insights into franchise development progress and success, and there’s a royalty manager for streamlined finances.
One of the downsides of FranConnect is that it’s quite difficult to use. There’s also no free trial or free version.
Learn more about FranConnectKey Features
- Franchisee management
- Communications hub
- Franchisee training tools
- Royalty manager
Pros
- Decent feature list
- Used by leading brands
Cons
- Can be hard to use
- No free trial or free version
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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mHelpDesk — Good for day-to-day employee management
mHelpDesk’s service business management software is well-suited to franchise management. It includes various tools for scheduling, inventory management, finances, billing, and more. Employees can complete tasks more efficiently with end-to-end job management, which includes drag-and-drop scheduling and GPS tracking.
There’s an in-app chat for internal communications, an online booking tool, and various features for quoting and estimates. Business owners can use mHelpDesk to create invoices, and customers can pay these through the online payment portal. There’s also a QuickBooks integration and various reporting tools.
One issue with mHelpDesk is that the user interface is somewhat outdated. This can make it a little difficult to use. Plus, it’s also a rather expensive option.
Learn more about mHelpDeskKey Features
- In-app chat
- Employee scheduling
- Billing and invoicing
- Online payments
Pros
- Variety of features available
- Mobile and desktop access
Cons
- Expensive
- Can be hard to use
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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Jolt — Good for general business management
Jolt is a digital operations management software with mobile and desktop access. Various automation, reporting, and training tools are useful for franchises. Management teams can save time with drag-and-drop employee scheduling, and there’s a built-in time clock.
Jolt also has a communication manager with various communication tools. There’s an information library to store employee training documentation. Specialized tools such as food safety sensors, temperature probes, and labeling systems are also available.
However, Jolt has limited integrations with third-party platforms, and customer service can be slow at times.
Learn more about JoltKey Features
- Communication manager
- Employee scheduling
- Time tracking
- Employee training
Pros
- Custom packages and pricing
- Automation tools
Cons
- Few integrations
- Support could be better
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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FranchiseSoft — Good for expanding franchisors
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
FranchiseSoft is management software for emerging and existing franchise companies. It has tools to help business managers find new franchisees and get them up and running.
It uses a module-based system, with 9 modules available. These include franchise sales, franchise marketing, franchisee management, franchisee onboarding, training, finance, surveys, support, and a job scheduler. Any combination of these can be used for all-around franchise management.
However, it’s a rather complicated program that takes some time to get familiar with. It also lacks features for helping franchisees manage their businesses.
Learn more about FranchiseSoftKey Features
- Job scheduler
- Franchisee onboarding tools
- Customizable surveys
- Performance tracking
Pros
- Decent selection of tools
- Only pay for what you need
Cons
- Difficult to use
- Not suited for franchisee businesses
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Franchise Management Software Tools
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Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at $1,886.17/month + $16,661.20 setup fee
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Contact vendor for price
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Contact vendor for price
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Best all-in-one franchise management software
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Good for franchisors managing multiple franchisees
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Good for growing franchise networks
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Good for day-to-day employee management
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Good for general business management
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Good for expanding franchisors
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| Available on |
Web
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Web, iOS, Android
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Web, iOS, Android
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What Is Franchise Management Software?
Franchise management software is a tool that franchise business owners and managers can use to improve productivity, reduce employee error, and streamline everyday workflows. It usually comes with a range of operations, HR, and communications management tools, and it can be targeted at either franchisors or franchisees.
Some of the software’s popular features include internal messaging, time tracking, shift scheduling, employee training, and task or job management. You might also find more business-specific features like inventory management or temperature monitoring.
Most franchise management programs are available on mobile, which means that they can be used on the go.
How Does Franchise Management Software Work?
Franchise management software works by providing a centralized platform for communication, collaboration, and management between franchise owners, managers, and employees. It offers many different features to achieve this.
For managers and business owners, the software offers tools for scheduling, task and project management, and instant messaging with team members. Most solutions come equipped with business management tools to automate workflows for payroll, time tracking, and more. Typically, managers and franchisors can also access reports and analytics and track inventory.
On the employee side, the software works by offering a simple way to check their schedules, access documents and training materials, and speak with coworkers and managers. Employees can use the software to clock in and out, stay updated on company announcements, and more.
The Benefits of Franchise Management Software
There are numerous benefits associated with franchise management solutions. Here are some of the most noteworthy.
Better communication
Features like in-app chat and a company updates feed facilitate seamless communication across your entire workforce—essential for keeping everyone on the same page and collaborating efficiently.
Improved team management and productivity
Tools for scheduling, performance tracking, and task and project management help businesses ensure they’re properly staffed, employees are working efficiently, and deadlines aren’t missed. With better team management comes improved productivity—and a more profitable company.
Streamlined operations, plus time and money savings
The software helps you streamline the day-to-day operations of your franchise business. More efficient operations will result in fewer man-hours per job and less worker error, saving you money.
Enhanced data analysis
Most franchise management systems collect a large amount of data that you can use to monitor the success of your business. Flexible reporting tools enable enhanced data analysis, and you can use these insights to make informed business decisions.
Smooth employee training
The ability to create a smooth onboarding process is invaluable to franchise businesses hiring new employees. Creating custom training materials and using tools like quizzes and polls to monitor progress can make employee training much smoother.
How Much Does Franchise Management Software Cost?
Most franchise management platform providers don’t list their prices. Instead, you have to reach out to the sales team for a quote. And with most, it isn’t cheap. Loop is a good example of this—with its cheapest package starting at over $1,880 per month, in addition to a hefty setup fee.
Connecteam is bucking the industry trend, and it has the most competitive prices around. It starts at just $29 per month for up to 30 users, and extra users can be added for just $0.50 each per month.
Connecteam also has a free-forever Small Business Plan that supports up to 10 users.
Get started with Connecteam for free today!
FAQs
What is franchise management software?
Franchise management software is designed to help business owners run their franchises. It typically includes a range of performance management, operations, and communications features. Top solutions, like Connecteam, will come with a time clock, employee scheduler, project management tools, and additional people management features.
What is the best franchise management software?
The best franchise management software is Connecteam. It’s easy to use, affordable, and comes with numerous operations, communications, and HR management tools. There’s even a free-forever plan for small businesses.
Do I need franchise management software?
You can benefit from using a franchise management system whether you run a single-location franchise business or are a franchisor managing multiple franchisees. Platforms like Connecteam include numerous tools to help you save time and money running your business.
The Bottom Line On Franchise Management Software Tool
The best franchise management solution will help you streamline communication, collaboration, and operations across your business. Most platforms are extremely pricey and a little difficult to set up, but Connecteam does things differently.
It stands out as a clear leader in the franchise management space, and it comes with a suite of tools to help you get the most out of your business. Paid plans start at just $29 per month for up to 30 users, and small teams of up to 10 can benefit from Connecteam’s free-for-life plan.
Get started with Connecteam for free today and transform your franchise management efforts.