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Step 1: Financial Sprint (Onboarding)

Venue CFO Financial Sprint

This is the onboarding sprint for most venues. We establish the close standard, deposit and deferred revenue treatment, tie-outs between systems, and your first integrated forecast that reflects seasonality and payment lead time.

We do not do transaction-level bookkeeping cleanup. Your bookkeeper executes reclasses and reconciliations. We provide the standards, templates, QA, and decision memo so the monthly CFO cadence runs on dependable data.

  • Typically $3M+ or complex
  • QBO required
  • Tripleseat preferred
Book a 15-Minute Fit CallBack to Wedding Venue CFO services
Premium venue setup before events begin.

Included vs Not Included

So the sprint stays CFO-only and predictable.

Included

  • Close standards: close calendar, deposit treatment, and tie-outs
  • Templates and QA so your bookkeeper can execute cleanup
  • First integrated forecast (bookings plus QBO actuals)
  • 13-week cash plan baseline tied to deposit and payment timing
  • Decision memo template and action tracker for the ongoing cadence

Not included

  • Transaction-level bookkeeping cleanup, reclasses, or reconciliations
  • AP, bill pay, vendor payments
  • Payroll processing
  • Sales tax filings or compliance
  • Tax return preparation or tax planning (unless separately scoped)

Messy books policy: We do not do transaction-level cleanup. Your bookkeeper executes reclasses and reconciliations.

What you feel after the Financial Sprint

Clarity stops being episodic and becomes operational.

  • Month-end is predictable and finalized on schedule.
  • Deposits and installment timing stop distorting cash reality.
  • Seasonality, margins, and runway are visible before stress hits.

Fit Check

A fit if

  • Multiple event types/packages with real seasonality
  • Meaningful F&B or bar program where margin matters
  • Multiple entities or locations
  • Booking pipeline is a core operating driver

Not a fit if

  • You are not on QuickBooks Online
  • You are not willing to finalize month-end on a deadline

What we build during the Financial Sprint

A model-ready system that supports clean monthly closes and decision-grade planning.

1) Month-end close standards + timeline

So numbers are finalized on time and usable.

  • Define the start date and the cleanup punch list to reach dependable numbers (executed by your bookkeeper).
  • COA + classes/locations structured for venues, bars, and event types.
  • Consistent mapping for labor, COGS, event costs, and overhead.
  • A documented month-end timeline (deadline, tie-outs, and who owns what).

2) Deposits / liabilities clarity

So deposits and event revenue aren’t distorting the books.

  • Clear deposit liability treatment and consistent month-to-month handling.
  • Installment/payment timing tracked against contract and event dates.

3) Monthly System Checks

So operating systems match the books.

  • Booking totals tie out to QBO categories.
  • POS sales/payouts tie out to deposits.
  • Payroll totals tie out to labor buckets by location/entity.

4) Actuals vs forecast tied to bookings pace + lead time

So the forecast is anchored to reality, not vibes.

  • Bookings pace and lead-time baseline by month/event type.
  • Actuals vs forecast structure that stays aligned as the pipeline changes.
  • Margin visibility by package/event type (and bar/F&B if applicable).

5) Cash timing (deposit schedule / payment lead time)

So near-term cash is visible before it gets tight.

  • A cash view based on deposit schedules, payment lead time, and seasonality.
  • Visibility into collections timing and upcoming cash pressure points.

6) Monthly cadence (what happens every month)

So the ongoing CFO work is consistent and decision-driven.

  • Monthly reporting pack template for ongoing cadence.
  • Baseline forecast aligned to bookings, seasonality, and cash timing.
  • A recurring monthly cadence: close, review, decide, assign owners, track actions.
  • Decision memo template and action tracker for the ongoing cadence.
Operational finance work in progress at a venue.

Typical Timeline

Most Financial Sprints take 2 to 4 weeks, depending on data cleanliness, locations/entities, and integration complexity.

Phase 1

Week 1: Access + Assessment

  • Connect QBO and gather booking/POS/payroll exports
  • Confirm operating structure and chart design
  • Define the punch list and model start date (executed by your bookkeeper)

Phase 2

Week 2-3: Build the system

  • Implement COA, classes, and location structure
  • Standardize mappings and deposit logic
  • Build monthly tie-out checks

Phase 3

Week 4: Validate + Launch

  • Validate baseline seasonality and cash timing
  • Deliver reporting pack and Financial Sprint outputs
  • Lock ongoing monthly close deadline

Required Inputs

  • QuickBooks Online in place
  • Monthly bank/credit-card reconciliation
  • Monthly exports from booking, POS, and payroll
  • Agreement to month-end close deadlines

If historical data is behind or unreconciled, your bookkeeper must catch up before forecasting is decision-grade. We can recommend bookkeepers if needed, but the engagement remains CFO-only.

Typical Investment

Venue CFO Financial Sprint (one-time onboarding)

Lite: $9,000

Core: $11,250

Typically 2 to 4 weeks depending on close readiness and complexity.

Book a 15-Minute Fit Call

After the Financial Sprint: Monthly CFO

CFO Lite: $6,000/mo

CFO Core: $7,500/mo

Includes close review, integrated forecast updates, and the monthly CFO meeting plus decision memo.

FAQ

Do we need to be on Tripleseat?

No. Tripleseat is preferred, but we can support other systems with consistent exports.

Can we keep our bookkeeper?

Yes. We can work with your existing team and still enforce a reliable monthly close cadence.

Do you do income tax returns?

Not in this offer. We provide a clean year-end package to your tax preparer.

Want numbers on time and a plan you can operate from?

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