Introduction
A repeatable 10-day close is the difference between guesswork and control.
The 10-Day Closing Template
Day 1–3: Ingestion & Recs
- Import + code transactions (bank/CC feeds).
- Reconcile bank, credit cards, loans, payment processors (Stripe/Square).
Day 4–6: Accruals & Reviews
- Record accruals: payroll, taxes, prepaid, deferred revenue.
- Review COGS allocation, inventory rollforward or WIP schedule.
- Variance review vs. budget (material changes only).
Day 7–8: KPI Build
Core set: Revenue, Gross Margin, OpEx, EBITDA.- Unit Economics: contribution margin per product/service, CAC payback (if running paid).
- Pipeline→Revenue sanity check if sales data available.
Day 9–10: Sign-Off & Distribution
- Lock the period, export PDFs, update dashboard.
- 30-minute review with owner/leadership: 3 wins, 3 risks, 3 decisions.
From Bookkeeping to Decisions
- Pricing & Mix: Are we discounting too much? Which SKUs carry the margin?
- Capacity: Revenue per FTE; do we hire or streamline?
- Cash Discipline: Forecast variance ±5% vs. actual; improve collections cycle.
Automate What You Can
- Bank rules, receipt capture, recurring journals, payroll sync, AP automation.
- Maintain a Controls Matrix: who prepares, who reviews, who approves.
Close OS Starter Pack (deliverables)
- Close checklist + RACI
- KPI dictionary
- Dashboard links (finance + ops)
- Budget vs. Actual template
