An AI software company for newspaper & magazine publishers
Sell ads, proof faster, publish on time, and get paid — without chaos.
Fake Brains builds the all-in-one newspaper software that runs sales, production, billing, and payments on one platform — not a patchwork of disconnected tools.
Order
Order signed
Proof
Proof approved
Billing
Invoice paid
Trusted by community publishers across North America
The all-in-one newspaper management system.
AccountScout runs your paper, and everything else plugs in. Start with the platform your team uses every day, then add the included tools and integrations that round out the publishing stack.
Explore by capability:newspaper advertising software · ad sales CRM · self-serve classified ad software · online ad payment portal · newspaper billing software · publishing CMS and paywall
Platform
AccountScout
The operating system for your publishing operation: CRM, ad sales, order entry, production, billing, collections, and reporting.
CRMQuotesAd SalesOrder EntryProductionTearsheetsAffidavitsBillingePaymentsCollectionsReporting
Explore AccountScout ->Included with every AccountScout subscription
SalesScout
Web and mobile CRM for ad sales reps.
Production Suite
Proofing, ad building, and pagination workflows.
Asset Storage
Digital assets for the production pipeline.
Email Marketing
Personalized email tracking for advertiser outreach.
Proof of Publication
Tearsheets and affidavits generated automatically.
Reporting
Built-in reports for sales, production, billing, and management.
35 years building software for publishers.
Independent, privately held, and based in Littleton, Colorado since 1991
Solve the handoff problems that slow publishing down.
Prospect to order
Sales & CRM
Prospect, follow up, quote, and manage advertiser relationships from desktop or mobile with SalesScout.
Stay in touch
Marketing Outreach
Keep advertiser communication, email activity, and follow-up history tied to the account.
Clean handoffs
Ad Design Workflow
Give designers the specs, notes, assets, and status they need without chasing email threads.
Visible status
Proofing & Approvals
Move proofs, comments, changes, and approvals through a visible workflow.
Press-ready work
Production & Pagination
Keep booked ads, page planning, classifieds, and InDesign workflows connected.
Get paid
Billing, A/R & Payments
Send invoices and statements, collect payments, manage receipts, and reduce manual reconciliation.
Reader side
Digital Website & Subscriptions
Publish articles, manage the public website, run a paywall, and support digital subscriptions through Foundry.
One system. Every role on your team.
From the rep closing the deal to the bookkeeper closing the books, everyone works from the same account — first sales touch to paid invoice.
- Sell Card on file
- Design
- Proof
- Produce
- Publish
- Get Paid
Stop chasing checks. Payment can be made at the order or payment method saved for a future scheduled payment plan, driving your A/R toward zero.
Reader side (Foundry)
Turn readers into recurring revenue.
Foundry — our partner platform for CMS and digital subscriptions — runs your website, paywall, and reader accounts, so the audience you publish for becomes revenue you keep.
- PublishNewsroomEditorial creates, schedules, and publishes to your branded site.
- ReadReadersFast, responsive reading on any device.
- SubscribeAudienceThe paywall converts readers into digital subscribers.
- RenewAudienceAuto-renew keeps digital subscription revenue recurring.
Audience analytics shows what turns readers into subscribers, and digital subscriptions bill through the same payment processor as your advertising.
Everything you need to run a sharper operation.
Real publisher stories, the latest from our blog, and support whenever you need a hand.
Updated September 6, 2026
A few traits that growing newspapers share
Practical tips, product news, and ideas for running a better publication.
Read the blogHow real publishers cut busywork and got paid faster.
Read stories SupportReal people who know publishing — reach us by phone, email, or a remote session.
303-791-3301
support@fakebrains.com
"There's nothing artificial about Fake Brains."
Trade-press headline — FPP, May 1993
It started at the family paper.
Pat grew up in it, then took a Masters in Artificial Intelligence in 1990 — yes, that's where the name comes from. Thirty-plus years later, Pat and Lisa still own the company, and we still build every line in-house in Colorado.
- Since 1991
- Littleton, Colorado
- Still founder-owned
- Built only for publishers
I have been raised in the [free paper] environment and understand the business demands.
"Fake Brains has surpassed all the others we have worked with, as their team understands the meaning of partnership, and their products deliver at speed for a price that makes the others seemingly laughable."
See It In Action
Let's look at how your publication actually runs.
Before we show you anything, we want to understand your operation — how ads get sold, who builds them, how pages get laid out, how you bill and collect, and where the handoffs break down. Then we'll show you the parts of AccountScout that matter to you and what it would cost for your setup. Bring whoever should be in the room — usually 30 minutes. If your website, paywall, or digital subscriptions are part of the conversation, we'll show where Foundry fits.