Your P&L Says You're Profitable. Your Bank Account Says You're Dying.
Fortune 500 companies know their crisis date to the day. You’re guessing.
Watch the 7-minute breakdown on the “Month 6 Wall” — and why data collection alone won’t save you from it.
No pitch. No obligation. Just your real numbers.
MILITARY PRECISION | FINANCE SMARTS | EXITED OPERATORS
Dear Franchise Owner,
Fortune 500 companies have CFOs, analysts, and strategy teams guiding every decision.
You have…
…a bookkeeper who sends reports.
That’s the gap we fill.
We didn’t start Books Brothers because we love spreadsheets.
We started it because we built, scaled, and exited our own 7-figure franchises — and couldn’t find a financial partner who understood the trenches.
The bookkeeping factories are in the data collection business.
They process your transactions, generate reports, and move to the next ticket.
That’s Phase 1.
We’re in the financial intelligence business.
We start where they stop.
→ Phase 1: Data collection (essential, done expertly)
→ Phase 2: Analysis (what the numbers actually mean)
→ Phase 3: Forecasting (where you’re headed)
→ Phase 4: Strategic advisory (what to do about it)
To them, you’re a TRANSACTION.
To us, you’re a PARTNER.
— Dan Lorenz & Brian Harrison
The Books Brothers
TRUSTED BY THE BRANDS WE SERVE
Books Brothers is a Preferred Financial Partner for Sequel Brands and One You Love Home Care. We’re also trusted by these additional franchises and small businesses.
WE'RE NOT A BOOKKEEPING COMPANY. WE'RE A FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE FIRM.
Built By Veterans. Validated By Exits.
The Books Brothers Credential Stack
– MILITARY PRECISION: 40+ years U.S. Army Special Forces experience. Our systems are built on flawless execution, not guesswork.
– FINANCE SMARTS: We combine Investment Banking (JP Morgan) and Hedge Fund analysis to deploy Finance Tactics that maximize your valuation and growth.
– EXITED OPERATORS: We personally built, and scaled 7-figure businesses and successful exits from our own franchises. We don’t advise from the sidelines — we’re in the trenches with you.
– VETTED EXPERTISE: Our founder coaches hundreds of franchisees weekly for one of America’s largest service franchisors. We see the real numbers that 99% of bookkeepers miss.
Why does this matter?
Because to them, you’re nothing more than a TRANSACTION.
To us, you’re nothing less than a PARTNER.
This is the difference between surviving and dominating.
Certified By:
YOUR 15-MINUTE AUDIT: WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
Your Crisis Date:
The exact day you run out of cash if nothing changes. No guessing. No hoping. Just the number.
Your Break-Even:
To the dollar. Not a range. Not an estimate. The real number you need to hit.
Your Days of Runway:
How many days of cash you have in the tank right now. Not how much money — how many days.
Your Month 6 Risk Level:
We’ll rate you Low, Medium, or Critical, so you know exactly where you stand.
The 3 Fastest Moves:
The specific actions you can take this week to improve your position.
No obligation. No Contracts. No BS.
Just franchise financial guidance from someone who has walked your path. We built the map. All you have to do is show up.
Zero cost. Zero pitch. We’ll even tell you if you don’t need us.
PROOF: THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
“We cashed out our 401k. Then we couldn’t sleep for 3 months.”
Darin & Ashlee D. invested $260,000 into their franchise. By Month 3, their savings had dropped from $130,000 to $30,000. They were paying themselves $11/hour just to keep the lights on.
Their problem? They had no idea what their break-even number actually was.
What we found:
Their break-even was $442,000/year — 3.35 jobs per day at their average ticket.
Their average ticket? $934 — putting them in the top 20% of all franchise owners in their system nationwide.
They had no idea. Their accountant never told them.
By adjusting two variables — cost of goods and owner compensation timing — they reduced their required revenue by 30%. That’s $130,000 less they needed to survive.
“One session gave us more clarity than 3 months of guessing. We finally have a roadmap instead of a prayer.”
— Darin D.
FRANCHISE OWNERS WHO STOPPED GUESSING
Real franchise owners. Real transformations. Here’s what clarity looks like.
TWO WAYS TO WORK WITH US
Bookkeeping + Analysis + Forecasting + Strategy
FULL PARTNERSHIP
Your dedicated U.S.-based bookkeeper. Monthly financials by the 15th* (Core plan). Quarterly CFO reviews with cash flow modeling, break-even analysis, and strategic guidance. One monthly fee. No surprises.
Specific projects. Specific problems. One-time engagements.
VIEW A LA CARTE OPTIONS
Need a cash flow audit? Tax strategy session? Books cleanup? Company valuation before a sale? We offer targeted engagements for business owners who need specific problems solved – without a monthly retainer.
READY TO KNOW WHERE YOU ACTUALLY STAND?
Book your free 15-minute Cash Flow Audit.
In one call, you’ll know:
Your Crisis Date
Your Break-Even Number
Your "Month 6" Risk Level
Your Runway
The 3 Fastest Moves To Fix It
No pitch. No obligation.
Just 15 minutes of clarity from operators who’ve been where you are.
YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS,
WE'VE GOT ANSWERS.
Why is my P&L profitable but my bank account empty?
This happens because of the “timing gap” — the delay between when you record revenue and when cash actually hits your account. Most franchise owners in service businesses wait 15-45 days between completing a job and collecting payment, while expenses like payroll, rent, and materials are due immediately. The result: your profit and loss statement shows a profit, but your bank account is bleeding out. This timing gap is responsible for roughly 30% of first-year franchise failures. The fix is cash flow forecasting — tracking when money actually moves, not just when it’s earned.
What is a cash flow crisis in franchising?
A cash flow crisis occurs when a franchise owner doesn’t have enough liquid cash to cover immediate obligations — even if the business is technically profitable. The most common trigger is rapid growth: you’re winning more jobs, but you’re paying for labor, materials, and overhead before customers pay you. Warning signs include regularly checking your bank balance before making payroll, delaying vendor payments, or using personal credit cards to cover business expenses. The crisis point — what we call your “crisis date” — is the exact day you’ll run out of cash if nothing changes.
When do most new franchise owners fail?
Most franchise failures happen between Month 4 and Month 8 — a period we call the “Month 6 Wall.” This is when the initial capital cushion runs out, but revenue hasn’t ramped up enough to cover operating costs. Data from franchise systems shows that owners who survive past Month 9 have significantly higher long-term success rates. The difference between those who survive and those who don’t usually isn’t revenue — it’s whether they knew their break-even number and days of runway before hitting the wall.
How much does franchise bookkeeping cost?
Franchise bookkeeping typically costs between $200 and $800 per month depending on transaction volume and complexity. Basic transaction categorization services (often offshore) run $200-$350/month. U.S.-based bookkeepers with franchise experience typically charge $400-$600/month. Full-service financial partnerships that include bookkeeping plus CFO-level advisory range from $500-$1,000/month. The real question isn’t cost — it’s whether your bookkeeper stops at data entry or actually helps you understand what the numbers mean.
How do I calculate break-even for my franchise?
Break-even is your total fixed costs divided by your gross profit margin percentage. For example, if your monthly fixed costs (rent, insurance, royalties, base payroll) are $15,000 and your gross margin is 45%, your break-even revenue is $33,333/month ($15,000 ÷ 0.45). Most franchise owners don’t know this number — they guess. Knowing your exact break-even tells you the minimum revenue required to survive, which then tells you how many jobs, customers, or units you need to hit that number. This single calculation is more valuable than your entire P&L statement.
What's the difference between a bookkeeper and a CFO for a franchise?
A bookkeeper records what already happened — categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, generating reports. A CFO (or fractional CFO) tells you what’s going to happen — forecasting cash flow, modeling scenarios, and advising on financial strategy. Most franchise owners only have a bookkeeper, which means they’re driving by looking in the rearview mirror. For franchises doing under $2M in revenue, a full-time CFO doesn’t make financial sense, but quarterly CFO advisory sessions can provide the forward-looking guidance that bookkeeping alone can’t.
What should franchise owners look for in a bookkeeper?
Look for three things: franchise-specific experience, U.S.-based staff, and strategic capability beyond transaction processing. Franchise accounting has unique requirements — royalty calculations, marketing fund contributions, FDD compliance, and multi-unit reporting — that generic bookkeepers often miscategorize. Ask whether you’ll have a dedicated bookkeeper (same person every month) or rotating staff. Most importantly, ask what happens after they categorize your transactions. If the answer is “we send you reports,” that’s data collection, not financial partnership.
What is the "Month 6 Wall" in franchising?
The Month 6 Wall is the critical cash crunch period that hits most new franchise owners between their fourth and eighth month of operation. It occurs because startup capital has been depleted, but the business hasn’t yet reached sustainable revenue levels. During this period, owners often face a choice: inject more personal capital, take on debt, or close. Franchise owners who calculate their “days of runway” (how many days of cash they have on hand) before hitting the wall are significantly more likely to survive it, because they can make strategic adjustments while they still have options.
What happens on the Books Brothers 15-minute cash flow audit?
In 15 minutes, we calculate four numbers most franchise owners don’t know: your crisis date (the exact day you run out of cash if nothing changes), your break-even to the dollar, your current days of runway, and your Month 6 risk level (Low, Medium, or Critical). We then give you the 3 fastest moves to improve your position. There’s no pitch and no obligation — we’ll tell you if you don’t actually need our help.
What makes Books Brothers different from other franchise bookkeepers?
We’re not a bookkeeping company — we’re a financial intelligence firm where bookkeeping is Phase 1. Most bookkeepers stop at data collection: they process your transactions, generate reports, and move on. We start where they stop. Phase 1 is data collection (done by a dedicated U.S.-based bookkeeper). Phase 2 is analysis (what the numbers actually mean). Phase 3 is forecasting (where you’re headed). Phase 4 is strategic advisory (what to do about it). Our founders have personally built, scaled, and exited 7-figure franchises — we’re not advising from the sidelines.
How much does it cost to work with Books Brothers?
Our full partnership starts at $449/month for dedicated U.S.-based bookkeeping plus $349/quarter for CFO advisory sessions. This includes monthly financials by the 15th, cash flow forecasting, break-even analysis, and quarterly strategy reviews. We also offer à la carte services for specific projects — cash flow audits, tax strategy sessions, books cleanup, and pre-sale valuations — without a monthly retainer. For pre-opening franchise owners, we offer $449 one-time onboarding plus $349/quarter CFO reviews with no monthly fee until you’re operating.
Is the Books Brothers audit a sales call?
No. It’s a tactical debrief. We calculate your real numbers — crisis date, break-even, days of runway — and tell you exactly where you stand. Some people don’t need us, and we’ll say so. If you do need help, we’ll explain your options. If you don’t, you’ll still walk away knowing the most important numbers in your business.
What if I'm a franchise owner who hasn't opened yet?
Pre-opening is actually the most important time to get financial guidance. This is when you set up your chart of accounts, establish financial tracking systems, and model your path to break-even — before you start burning cash. Our Pre-Opening Partnership includes one-time onboarding ($449), quarterly CFO reviews ($349/quarter), and no monthly bookkeeping fee until you’re actually operating. Your books stay current from day one, and you hit opening day knowing your exact break-even target.
Do I need to prepare anything for the cash flow audit?
Once you book your call, you’ll receive a short questionnaire asking for your monthly revenue, expenses, and a few key numbers. Fill it out ahead of time and we’ll calculate your crisis date, break-even, and days of runway before the call even starts. You’ll also receive three bonus tools — The Franchise Owner’s Cash Flow Calculator, The Month 6 Survival Checklist, and The P&L vs. Reality Decoder — dripped to you daily between booking and your call. That way we spend the full 15 minutes on what the numbers mean and what to do about them — not gathering data.
Get The Cash Flow Crisis Playbook (Free)
INSIDE: You look profitable on paper. Your bank account says you’re screwed. Get the single document that reveals the hidden ‘Timing Gap’ bankrolling 30% of first-year failures. This isn’t a guide. It’s the Survival Manual.
