Scaling a Franchise from 2 to ~80 Locations — Without Losing Financial Control

How RISE built the finance backbone for one of the largest multi-unit Pilates franchise operators: standardizing the books across dozens of entities, migrating from QuickBooks Online to NetSuite OneWorld, cutting the monthly close from 20+ days to 5, and handing off to an in-house CFO — while staying on as strategic advisor.

1. The Challenge

When the founding team opened its second Pilates studio in 2016, they 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 and location codes. Reduced owner time spent on the 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 for studio managers. Enabled an opening cadence of ~2 studios/month without adding HQ headcount.
• Enterprise Upgrade (2022–24): Led selection and migration to NetSuite OneWorld; consolidated 75+ LLCs plus the management company in a single instance; integrated Mindbody POS and payroll feeds; scripted eliminations. First three consolidated closes in NetSuite delivered in 7 days, down from 21.
• People Transition (2024): Hired and trained the controller, senior accountant, and AP specialist; shifted RISE’s role to direct oversight of the in-house accounting team. Internal staff now own 95% of routine close tasks.
• Strategic Advisory (2025–present): Onboarded the client’s first full-time CFO (start date May 2025); continue to provide fractional-CFO support on growth modeling, intercompany structure, and M&A. Smooth leadership hand-off while retaining strategic continuity.

3. Results That Matter

• Studio count multiplied 40× in under nine years (2 → ~80 by April 2025) while maintaining GAAP-compliant financials each month.
• Month-end close cut from 20+ days to 5, enabling timely KPI dashboards for district managers.
• Clean NetSuite data and 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 while remaining the trusted strategic advisor.

4. In the Client’s Words

“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.”
— Managing Member of the franchise group

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? RISE delivers the people, processes, and platforms that turn big visions into auditable results — at a fraction of the cost of building it all in house. Let’s talk.

Note: This case study has been anonymized to protect client confidentiality. The quote is reproduced with client permission; specific figures and identifying details are available on request, with client permission.