What’s the difference between customer relationship management (CRM) software and franchise management software?

CRM software focuses on maintaining client and customer relationships throughout the sales process. It can also simplify franchise managers’ internal processes, like performance reporting and pipeline management. Franchise management software, on the other hand, is specifically designed for franchise business owners. These tools handle internal business processes, often without the added sales and marketing functionality of a CRM. Some CRM tools like Pipedrive can also help you manage franchises.

Will I need other tools to manage my franchise business?

While franchise management software covers many fundamental business needs, combining it with other purpose-built tools can further streamline your operations. For example, you may also need software solutions for: Accounting Inventory management HR management and onboarding Franchise marketing campaigns Project management Communication and collaboration Social media marketing Pipedrive has helpful add-ons and integrates with over 400 sales, marketing and business applications. Bring all your tools together in one place. Browse our Marketplace to find the best tools for you.

Which types of franchise businesses benefit from franchise management software?

A great franchise management platform can support all kinds of franchise businesses, including those in the following sectors: Retail Hospitality Health and wellness Finance Law firms Whether you’re managing an established small business, a new franchise operation or a portfolio of franchise locations, a flexible CRM or franchise system will help you increase productivity.

What are the key elements of franchise management software?

The best franchise management software toolsets enable users to oversee and streamline franchise operations, offering: Customer data management and communication features Operations management tools for day-to-day business activities Branding and marketing assets to maintain brand consistency Comprehensive training systems and support for franchisees Financial and sales tracking to monitor performance across locations These features help maintain brand integrity and enhance operational efficiency across the franchise network.

Is Pipedrive’s franchise management software cloud-based?

Yes. Pipedrive is a cloud-based CRM , meaning you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. For on-the-go franchise business owners, there’s also a useful mobile app available on iOS and Android .

Best franchise management software

Simplify franchise management with Pipedrive CRM

Franchise management software helps business owners streamline day-to-day operations and monitor productivity across locations.

Centralize branch data, track company sales performance with custom dashboards and automate workflows to achieve more in less time.

Pipedrive helps you organize your franchise business, increasing efficiency, satisfaction and overall profitability.

Full access. No credit card required.

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What is franchise management software?

Franchise management software is a tool that helps business owners manage and support their networks. It streamlines operations, supports marketing and improves communication between franchisors, individual business owners and their customers.

Franchise management software features and benefits

Centralize franchisee data

Keep all franchisee information in one place to create a single source of truth for you and your team

Automate repetitive workflows

Save time by automating routine admin work like pipeline management, reporting and email outreach

Track sales performance

Track the metrics most valuable to your franchise operation with customizable reports and dashboards

Build engaging email campaigns

Send targeted marketing emails to franchisees and customers with an email marketing tool

Keep sensitive data safe and secure

Keep franchisee and customer data safe with permission settings and two-factor authentication

Connect your favorite business apps

Integrate seamlessly with project management, invoicing and communication tools

What to look for in franchise management software

Prioritize the following qualities to find the best franchise management software for your company.

Centralized contact data: Find contact information instantly and fill gaps where data is missing.
Reports and insights: Track your key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics seamlessly.
Document management: Send trackable quotes and contracts and get notified when your franchisees open them.
Product portfolio: Organize all your products and the people using them in one place.
Google Maps integration: Map your franchisees’ locations and identify new areas of opportunity.
Flexible pricing: Choose a tool that fits your budget, offering additional features when you need them.

Automate admin to spend more time building relationships

Routine admin tasks distract your team from building relationships with business owners, supply chain partners and customers.

Automation handles repetitive franchise sales and management tasks for you. Schedule calls, allocate leads and notify franchisees of changes without lifting a finger.

Achieve more in your day, deliver better customer experiences and increase profits.

Learn more about Pipedrive’s automation features.

Centralize your document management

Being a successful franchise business owner means managing relationships with distributors, franchisees and more.

The best document management tools streamline processes with trackable templates, notifying you when a document has been opened so you can act.

Create custom quotes, proposals and contracts and know when to request eSignatures with Smart Docs, available to Pipedrive professional users and up.

Get to know Pipedrive’s Smart Docs.

Centralize contact data to streamline franchise management

Making informed management decisions is tough when the data you need spans several tools and spreadsheets.

A CRM system with franchise management features centralizes sales and contact information to give your team and franchisees a single source of truth.

Pipedrive’s individual and business records are clear, accessible and easily searchable, so you always have the data you need when you need it.

Explore Pipedrive’s contact management features.

Build your dream management tool

Working in a rigid, one-size-fits-all franchise management system causes bottlenecks that slow service and hinder customer experience.

Integrating franchise software with other business apps allows you to build a bespoke system that fits your unique needs as your portfolio grows.

Connect Pipedrive to scheduling apps, invoicing software and surveying platforms to create your perfect franchise management solution.

Find out more about Pipedrive’s CRM integrations.

Over 500+ integrations

Expand the capabilities of Pipedrive with hundreds of apps and integrations

See all apps and extensions

Strengthen your brand’s reputation with Campaigns by Pipedrive

Our Campaigns email marketing software makes it easy to plan and build targeted campaigns using data from your CRM.

Key features include:

Email builder – speed up email creation with professional templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Email analytics – repeat wins and find improvement opportunities with real-time reporting.
Email segmentation – split your audience into data-backed groups to reach the right customers with the right messages.

Learn more about Pipedrive’s Campaigns add-on.

How Pipedrive helped J’achète en Espagne increase revenue by 20%

High demand made managing leads a challenge for the real estate franchising network J’achète en Espagne.

Using Pipedrive’s automations and integrations, the company streamlined lead management and improved customer communication. It also saved time and enhanced service quality, leading to a 20% revenue increase.

“Thanks to [Pipedrive’s integrations and customizable features], we are now very quick in calling our customers and following up.”

Read the case study

Franchise management software FAQs

CRM software focuses on maintaining client and customer relationships throughout the sales process. It can also simplify franchise managers’ internal processes, like performance reporting and pipeline management.

Franchise management software, on the other hand, is specifically designed for franchise business owners. These tools handle internal business processes, often without the added sales and marketing functionality of a CRM.

Some CRM tools like Pipedrive can also help you manage franchises.
While franchise management software covers many fundamental business needs, combining it with other purpose-built tools can further streamline your operations.

For example, you may also need software solutions for:
- Accounting
- Inventory management
- HR management and onboarding
- Franchise marketing campaigns
- Project management
- Communication and collaboration
- Social media marketing
Pipedrive has helpful add-ons and integrates with over 400 sales, marketing and business applications. Bring all your tools together in one place.

Browse our Marketplace to find the best tools for you.
A great franchise management platform can support all kinds of franchise businesses, including those in the following sectors:
Whether you’re managing an established small business, a new franchise operation or a portfolio of franchise locations, a flexible CRM or franchise system will help you increase productivity.
The best franchise management software toolsets enable users to oversee and streamline franchise operations, offering:
- Customer data management and communication features
- Operations management tools for day-to-day business activities
- Branding and marketing assets to maintain brand consistency
- Comprehensive training systems and support for franchisees
- Financial and sales tracking to monitor performance across locations
These features help maintain brand integrity and enhance operational efficiency across the franchise network.

Used by over 100,000 companies in 179 countries

In the forecast view, we look at what deals are due to close this month, next month just to make sure everyone is really honest about what they should be working on.

Carolyn PearsonFounder, Maiden Voyage

One of the favorite features within Pipedrive is the email integration. It pulls all of the clients details in, so that we don’t have to think about it.

Erin and DrewFounders, Pro Arts

As a business owner, my favorite feature in Pipedrive is the statistics and being able to look at the dashboard and use those metrics to help each individual on the team.

Lisa CoyleCEO, 360 Payments