Bookkeeping for franchise owners.
FigureWise handles the reporting rhythm franchising demands: books kept on the franchisor's required chart of accounts, royalty and ad-fund payments verified against actual sales, and multi-unit P&Ls consolidated with per-store detail intact.
The numbers to watch.
| # | Metric | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Per-unit operating margin vs. system benchmarkThe franchisor's benchmark is the grading curve you are already on. Knowing where each store sits against it each month tells you where attention pays off fastest. | The franchisor's benchmark is the grading curve you are already on. Knowing where each store sits against it each month tells you where attention pays off fastest. |
| 02 | Royalty and ad-fund accuracyThese are computed from your reported sales, drafted automatically. Verifying them monthly protects you from overpayment and from underreporting problems alike. | These are computed from your reported sales, drafted automatically. Verifying them monthly protects you from overpayment and from underreporting problems alike. |
| 03 | Labor percentage by unitUsually the largest controllable cost and the one that varies most between stores. Comparing units on the same basis reveals which manager has cracked scheduling. | Usually the largest controllable cost and the one that varies most between stores. Comparing units on the same basis reveals which manager has cracked scheduling. |
| 04 | Same-unit sales trendGrowth from opening new units can mask decline in existing ones. Same-store trends are the honest measure of whether the underlying business is getting better. | Growth from opening new units can mask decline in existing ones. Same-store trends are the honest measure of whether the underlying business is getting better. |
Where franchise owners books go wrong.
01
The franchisor's chart of accounts and deadlines
Most systems mandate a specific chart of accounts and monthly or period reporting on the franchisor's calendar, not yours. Falling behind creates compliance friction with the franchisor on top of the usual costs of late books.
02
Royalties and ad funds calculated on your gross sales
Royalty and advertising-fund percentages come straight off the top, and they are computed from sales figures that need to be right. Errors in either direction cost you money or credibility, and reconciling franchisor drafts against your own numbers takes discipline.
03
Multi-unit sprawl hiding a weak store
Consolidated numbers across three units can look fine while one store underperforms badly. Without clean per-unit P&Ls on identical account structures, you cannot compare stores or spot the one dragging the group.
04
Benchmarks you are measured against
Franchisors publish system benchmarks for food cost, labor, and margins, and your numbers are compared to them whether your books are ready or not. Books that map cleanly to those benchmarks turn the comparison into a management tool instead of a surprise.
What we put in place.
- Books maintained on your franchisor's required chart of accounts, with reporting delivered on their calendar.
- Royalty and ad-fund drafts reconciled against your actual sales every period, so errors are caught, not absorbed.
- Identical per-unit P&Ls plus a consolidated view, making store-to-store comparison a five-minute exercise.
- Your numbers mapped against franchisor benchmarks each month, so system comparisons become a tool you use rather than a report you receive.
- AI keeps coding consistent across every location; a human bookkeeper reviews the consolidation before anything is filed or sent.
Franchise Owners, answered.
Better decisions start here.
A free, no-commitment review of your franchise owners books.