Franchise systems and other businesses with remote offices and employees can accelerate training while cutting costs with e-Learning systems. Employees and franchisees learn more effectively in the process and the courses can be easily archived for future use.

New and expanding franchise systems face a daunting hurdle on the road to success: offering cost effective training to far-flung franchisees.

Jim Meaney, a new WSI franchisee and owner of webSolve, LLC in Columbus, Ohio, is bringing his franchise talent and experience to a new Internet consulting business that will focus on e-learning and online training systems for franchise companies and other businesses with remote offices and workers.

"Everyone in the franchise business knows that training new franchisees and their employees is a huge cost of entry issue. In many cases, it far exceeds the franchise fee and other initial costs. With travel, lodging and employee salaries, it can be downright cost prohibitive," Meaney said.

Meaney, a former General Counsel and Vice-President of Franchise Development with Damon's Grill, believes he has found an effective alternative. "With high-speed, high-access Internet service, e-Learning systems will become standard equipment for franchise systems.

It is simply more cost effective with better results. e-Learning will allow franchisors to cut costs on both ends of the franchise cost equation." Meaning, franchisees can cut travel and lodging costs and have their teams train in their home base, while franchisors can reduce training staffs and eliminate training facilities.

Bringing tomorrow’s online educational materials and training to franchise systems today will provide them with an added competitive advantage and permit them to speed delivery of crucial information to franchisees.

Meaney, also the author of How to Buy a Franchise, has set his sights high but believes franchise systems are ready to embrace the future of e-Learning.