Restaurant Bookkeeping That Knows Your Kitchen
From tip reporting and COGS tracking to sales tax compliance and seasonal cash flow management, we handle the financial complexity so you can focus on your guests.
★ 5.0 on Google113 reviews4.9 from 114 BiggerPockets reviews1,000+ clientsAll 50 states, fully remote
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Tax planning slots are limited before year-end.
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Restaurant Accounting Challenges
Restaurants have unique financial challenges that generic bookkeepers miss. Tip compliance, food cost tracking, seasonal cash flow, and complex payroll require industry-specific expertise.
Tip Reporting & Compliance
The IRS scrutinizes tip income closely. We ensure your 8027 reporting is accurate, tip credits are maximized, and your tipped employees are properly classified to avoid costly penalties.
Food Cost & COGS Tracking
Your cost of goods sold is the single biggest line item on your P&L. We track food costs by category, identify waste, and benchmark your percentages against industry standards so you stay profitable.
Sales Tax Complexity
Different tax rates for dine-in vs. takeout, alcohol vs. food, catering vs. retail, restaurant sales tax is a minefield. We handle filings so you never overpay or miss a deadline.
High-Turnover Payroll
Between tipped employees, overtime rules, split shifts, and seasonal staffing, restaurant payroll is uniquely complex. We process it accurately every cycle and keep you DOL-compliant.
Restaurant Accounting Services
End-to-end financial management built specifically for restaurants and food service businesses.
Monthly Bookkeeping
Daily sales reconciliation, vendor bill tracking, and POS integration. We categorize every transaction so you always know your true food cost, labor cost, and profit margins.
Outsourced bookkeeping →Restaurant Payroll
Tipped employee payroll with tip credit calculations, FICA tip credits (Form 8846), overtime compliance, and multi-location support. Runs on time, every time.
Payroll services →Tax Planning & Preparation
Proactive quarterly tax planning that accounts for seasonal revenue swings, equipment purchases, and expansion plans. We minimize your tax bill legally and aggressively.
Sales Tax & Compliance
Multi-jurisdiction sales tax filing, tip reporting compliance (Form 8027), food handler permits tracking, and liquor license renewal reminders. Stay compliant without the headache.
Financial Reporting & KPIs
Weekly flash reports with food cost %, labor cost %, prime cost, and RevPASH. We give you the numbers that actually drive restaurant profitability.
CPA Oversight & Advisory
Every transaction is reviewed by a licensed CPA. We advise on expansion financing, lease negotiations, entity structure, and long-term wealth building for restaurant owners.
Tax Strategies for Restaurants
Restaurant owners leave thousands on the table every year. These are the strategies we deploy to keep your tax bill as low as legally possible.
FICA Tip Credit (Form 8846)
S-Corp Election for Owner-Operators
Hiring Your Children
Restaurant Accounting FAQ
Common questions from restaurant owners about bookkeeping, payroll, and tax planning.
How do you handle daily sales reconciliation from our POS system?
We integrate directly with Toast, Square, Clover, and other major POS systems. Daily sales data flows into your books automatically, and we reconcile against bank deposits to catch any discrepancies in credit card processing fees, tips, or cash shortages.
What food cost percentage should my restaurant target?
It depends on your concept. Full-service restaurants typically target 28-35% food cost, while fast-casual runs 25-30%. We benchmark your numbers against industry data and help you identify menu items dragging down your margins through detailed COGS reporting.
Do you handle multi-location restaurant groups?
Yes. We provide consolidated reporting across all locations while maintaining separate P&Ls for each unit. This lets you compare performance location-by-location and identify which units need operational attention.
How do you manage tip reporting compliance?
We track all reported tips, calculate the 8% threshold for Form 8027, process tip allocations when required, and ensure your tipped employees' W-2s reflect accurate tip income. We also maximize your FICA Tip Credit on Form 8846.
Can you help with restaurant expansion financing?
Absolutely. We prepare the financial statements, projections, and documentation that SBA lenders and investors require. Clean, well-organized books make the difference between loan approval and rejection.
What's the biggest tax mistake restaurant owners make?
Not tracking every deductible expense. Restaurant owners leave thousands on the table by not deducting food waste, employee meals, marketing costs, uniform expenses, and equipment repairs. We capture every dollar.
Let Us Handle the Books. You Handle the Kitchen.
Join restaurant owners who stopped stressing about tip reports, sales tax, and food cost tracking, and started growing their business.
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Taxstra, and I must say, the experience exceeded my expectations. From start to finish, their professionalism, expertise, and customer care were outstanding.”
Published client feedback. Individual experiences vary.
Tax planning slots are limited before year-end.
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