Case Study — A Large Fitness Club Franchise & RISE Consulting Group

1. Challenge

When the client opened its second Pilates studio in 2016, the founding team needed the financial discipline of a mature enterprise—but on a start-up budget. Rapid franchising created pain points:

• No consolidated view across newly formed LLCs
• Manual tracking of royalties, marketing fees, and shared payroll flowing between entities
• Heavy owner involvement in the monthly close, leaving little room to pursue growth opportunities
• A looming systems overhaul once studio count outgrew QuickBooks Online

2. The RISE Solution

• Foundation (2016–17): Took over day-to-day bookkeeping and AP/AR for two entities; implemented a standardized chart of accounts & location codes. Reduced owner time spent on books by >80% in the first six months.
• Scale-Up (2018–22): Built a multi-entity QuickBooks file with intercompany rules; designed a cash-flow waterfall model to fund new build-outs; introduced weekly flash P&Ls. Enabled an opening cadence of ~2 studios/month without adding HQ headcount.
• Enterprise Upgrade (2022–24): Led selection & migration to NetSuite OneWorld; consolidated 75+ LLCs plus the management company in a single instance; integrated Mindbody POS & payroll feeds. First three consolidated closes delivered in 7 days, down from 21.
• People Transition (2024): Hired & trained the controller, senior accountant, and AP specialist; internal staff now own 95% of routine close tasks.
• Strategic Advisory (2025–present): Onboarded the client's first full-time CFO; continue to provide fractional CFO support on growth modeling, intercompany structure, and M&A.

3. Results That Matter

• Studio count multiplied 40× in under nine years while maintaining GAAP-compliant financials each month.
• Month-end close cycle cut from 20+ days to 5, enabling timely KPI dashboards for district managers.
• Clean NetSuite data & audited statements accelerated investor due-diligence, securing a nine-figure growth facility and expanded credit lines.
• Seamless leadership hand-off—RISE moved from "doer" to "coach," leaving a self-sufficient accounting department yet remaining the trusted strategic advisor.

4. What the Client Says

"RISE built our finance backbone from the ground up. Their team proved we could open studios at lightning speed without sacrificing visibility or control. Bringing in a full-time CFO was the next logical step—and RISE made that transition painless."
— Eduardo Lombardi, Managing Member

5. Key Takeaways for Founders & Franchise Operators

• Invest early in scalable processes. Your ERP and chart of accounts must anticipate 50 entities, not just five.
• Outsource until the inflection point. Fractional experts bridge the gap between start-up chaos and enterprise discipline.
• Data quality drives capital access. Institutional investors reward clean numbers with better terms.
• Plan your exit from day one. A phased engagement roadmap ensures a smooth hand-over to internal staff and leadership when growth economics justify it.

Need a finance partner to fuel your own rollout? Let's talk.