Summary of SmartBooks’ Contribution to Client’s Success
This DMSE Sports case study showcases how SmartBooks helped transform the company’s financial operations from the ground up. As a trusted partner, SmartBooks built a robust system that allowed DMSE to manage invoicing, payroll, and financial reporting with ease. This collaboration enabled DMSE to scale efficiently as they grew their business and eventually transitioned to internal accounting staff.
About DMSE Sports, Inc.
DMSE Sports is a national leader in event management operations and logistics, best known for serving as the long-time Race Director of the Boston Marathon. The company produces high-caliber endurance events and unique activations, with a strong focus on trust, precision, and flawless execution.
DMSE’s Challenges Prior to Engaging SmartBooks
Before partnering with SmartBooks, DMSE faced significant financial management hurdles. They had no real established accounting system, relied heavily on manual processes, and tracked information using paper receipts.
Their chart of accounts lacked the necessary separation between Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses. Event-level profitability was hard to track, especially with many event operations spanning more than one fiscal year. This all made their financial reporting unclear and not very useful.
The operations manager was burdened with writing physical checks and managing payments without a streamlined system. As the company expanded, these inefficiencies became unsustainable and threatened their growth.
Before SmartBooks stepped in, DMSE faced serious financial reporting issues. Revenue was hard to track across multi-year events, and the chart of accounts lacked proper separation of COGS and SG&A. Their reliance on paper receipts and manual check-writing overwhelmed the operations manager. DMSE urgently needed a system that could support its growing complexity.
“Before SmartBooks, we were in massive need of someone to take a look at our systems and overhaul them. SmartBooks did that for us.”
—Matt West, CEO
How SmartBooks Helped
SmartBooks implemented a proper chart of accounts structure to separate COGS from SG&A and to track P&L by event, while automating billing and expense tracking for events.
SmartBooks also set up payroll services and streamlined the accounts payable and expense reporting processes utilizing technology-based solutions, relieving the operations manager of a major administrative burden.
With consistent support, SmartBooks functioned like an extension of DMSE’s internal team throughout the engagement as DMSE grew its business significantly.
“Denise and the SmartBooks team were an extension of our business, always responsive, always reliable. They helped turn chaos into clarity.”
—Matt West , CEO
Case Study Outcome
Working with SmartBooks allowed DMSE to scale its operations confidently. Financial reporting became timely and accurate, enabling leadership to make informed decisions faster.
SmartBooks also introduced new SOPs, expense reporting tools, and payroll systems, laying the groundwork for future growth. Eventually, DMSE grew to the point of hiring a full-time in-house financial professional, a testament to the strong financial foundation SmartBooks helped build.