Project Overview
This project involved creating a custom LearnDash learning platform in WordPress to support a growing catalog of online courses, alongside scheduled Zoom and in-person trainings. The site needed to manage lessons, quizzes, forums, and registrations while supporting a manual QuickBooks invoicing workflow rather than automated online payments.
The Challenge
The client needed a structured, easy-to-manage learning environment that could scale as more courses and trainings were added. The platform required reliable lesson progression, consistent navigation, and course-specific discussion forums.
From an administrative perspective, the organization did not want automated payment processing. Instead, they required a workflow where registrations could be collected online, invoices sent manually through QuickBooks, and enrollments or attendance handled only after payment confirmation. They also needed a way to manage limited-capacity trainings and maintain accurate internal records.
The Solution
I set up and configured LearnDash to manage 20 online courses, rebuilding all lessons and quizzes directly within WordPress. Each course was structured for clear navigation and progress tracking, allowing users to move seamlessly through lessons and quizzes with automatic completion logic.
For community engagement, I implemented bbPress forums linked directly to LearnDash courses, giving enrolled users access to private, course-specific discussions.
WooCommerce was configured specifically for non-LearnDash trainings, such as Zoom-based and in-person sessions. These trainings function as registration records rather than automated purchases, allowing the client to manually invoice registrants through QuickBooks and confirm attendance or enrollment internally.
To support capacity limits and reduce manual follow-up, I built a custom automated waitlist system for sold-out trainings. When a training reaches capacity, users can add themselves to a waitlist, providing the organization with a clear, organized list of interested participants.
For internal reporting and administrative needs, I also installed and configured a WooCommerce extension that allows training and registration data to be exported to spreadsheets for record-keeping and compliance purposes.
Key Features
- Built and configured a custom LearnDash learning platform
- Migrated and rebuilt 20 courses with structured lessons and quizzes
- Integrated bbPress forums tied to specific LearnDash courses
- Configured WooCommerce for Zoom and in-person training registrations (non-LearnDash)
- Implemented a manual QuickBooks invoicing workflow for all paid offerings
- Created a custom automated waitlist feature for sold-out trainings
- Enabled spreadsheet exports of training and registration data for administrative use
- Established a scalable, maintainable foundation for future growth
Results
The finished WordPress platform provides a clean, organized system for managing online courses, live trainings, forums, and registrations in one place.
By separating course delivery, training registration, and payment processing, the client now has a workflow that matches their real-world operations. Staff can control invoicing and enrollment manually, while students experience a clear and professional registration process.
Takeaway
This project demonstrates how LearnDash and WooCommerce can be combined to support mixed learning models without relying on automated payment gateways.
By layering custom logic, manual invoicing, and a purpose-built waitlist system, the result is a flexible e-learning and training platform that supports administrative control, accurate records, and a smooth user experience.