How Athletic Clubs Use Sage Intacct to Stay Agile and Efficient
Athletic clubs operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where efficiency is vital, but entry-level or legacy accounting systems can hold things back. For many clubs, outdated software lacks the flexibility needed for remote access, leaving staff bogged down with time-consuming, manual workflows and limited reporting capabilities. We’ve seen it all with our athletic club clients and are here to help.
Breaking Free from Paperwork
The old paper-intensive system was a real bottleneck for Little Rock Athletic Club (LRAC). The team was drowning in paperwork just to keep up with daily operations. As Dana, LRAC’s controller, said, “We were drowning in paper, and it was slowing us down.” We helped LRAC migrate from Sage 100 to Sage Intacct, and now they’ve swapped the paperwork for streamlined, digital workflows. Instead of walking purchase orders around or hunting down lost paperwork, the team can focus on the tasks that matter.
With Sage Intacct, LRAC’s accounting team can manage finances from anywhere, which means the owner can access real-time financials on the go. No more being tied to the office. With a cloud-based system like Sage Intacct, remote access is just part of the package.
Speeding Up Workflows and Automating Processes
Clubs often face the daily grind of manual data entry, particularly in accounts payable. Club Greenwood knows this challenge well. They used to spend hours each week handling repetitive AP tasks, but Sage Intacct has transformed their process. Now, AP is a breeze, cutting processing time by 30%. It’s the kind of improvement that makes a big difference in their day-to-day — everything flows smoothly, and the entire team can feel the impact.
At LRAC, the changes were just as dramatic. Their month-end close used to drag on for two weeks; now, it’s down to five days. We set up automated purchasing workflows and integrated their payroll and membership systems so everything syncs effortlessly. Dana at LRAC told us they’re saving at least 15 hours a month just by centralizing purchasing — no more back-and-forth or misplaced paperwork.
Real-Time Insights for Informed Decision-Making
For athletic clubs, understanding which programs and departments are profitable is essential. Without robust reporting tools, though, it’s tough to know where to focus. With Sage Intacct, we’ve helped clubs like LRAC and Club Greenwood move beyond manual data entry to gain deeper insights. Accounting dimensions let them track data by program, department, and more, giving each department head a clear view of their numbers. Dana said, “The more information we give them, the more they want. It’s exciting to see our leaders getting more involved and making informed decisions on the spot.”
With real-time data, these clubs can quickly assess program performance. For instance, when LRAC introduced a pickleball program, they could track its success from day one, using historical data from their tennis program to forecast growth. It was clear early on that pickleball was a hit, so they could allocate resources and build the program confidently. It’s fantastic to see how data-driven decision-making transforms these clubs’ operations and opens up new opportunities.
Minimizing Manual Data Entry
Clubs often rely on several applications to keep things running smoothly — from payroll to club management systems. But getting that data into the financial system can be a pain. For both LRAC and Club Greenwood, integrations with Sage Intacct bring in data automatically. Now, payroll and membership data flow right into their financials, reducing errors and freeing up time for the team to focus on more strategic work.
Dan from Club Greenwood told us, “We’ve been able to automate nearly the entire close. Everything is more streamlined.” That’s what the move to Sage Intacct is all about — taking the manual work off your plate so you can focus on the big picture.
MicroAccounting: A Partner Who Understands Athletic Clubs
We’ve worked with several athletic clubs, so we understand the challenges and specific needs of the industry. When you’re ready to take your club to the next level, we’re here to help elevate your game. Sage Intacct has the tools to streamline your operations, and we have the experience to make sure it’s done right. Let’s talk about how we can work together to simplify your processes, empower your teams, and give you the insights you need to grow.
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