Restaurant Bookkeeping: Key Duties & Expert Tips 2025

bookkeeping for restaurants

Make it easier for production and supply staff to communicate their availability and time off with our software. Plan the right people at the right times and save valuable time and money in your store. Nish received his Bachelor of Commerce from Gujarat University, then moved to the UK to pursue his master’s degree at the London School of Accountancy & Management, graduating in 2006. For the last 15 years he has worked in various FP&A roles for restaurant groups, eventually being dispatched in 2010 to open US operations for Paperchase, and then ascending to the role of global CEO in 2022. With an academic, professional, and family background in hospitality it feels like Marc was destined to join Paperchase as our Business Development Manager. After gaining his BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality Management, Marc chose not to follow his father and grandfather into the kitchen, and instead opted to pursue front-of-house roles in his hospitality career.

  • Your cash flow statement dissects how well your venue generates cash to fund your expenses.
  • The firm offers bookkeeping and accounting services for business and personal needs, as well as ERP consulting and audit assistance.
  • Calculating food costs will show you if you profit from each item on your menu.
  • Opting for four and five-week periods, totaling 13 accounting periods gives you a more accurate comparison.
  • You can create custom tags and categories to match your bookkeeping needs for tailored complex financial analysis and oversight.

Perishable Inventory Management

While there is no strict format, the standard COA entry will include columns for the account number, description, account type, and corresponding financial statement. Journals and general ledgers are the two primary locations for logging financial transactions. The journal, also known as the book of original entry, is where you log transactions as they happen. She has a degree in Journalism and now specialises in writing insightful content for businesses in the hospitality and retail industries. “Zoho Books is perfect for a small business like me, or for my customers (I work with small businesses 1-10 employees). It is flexible enough and quite inexpensive compared to other products on the market,” one user wrote.

bookkeeping for restaurants

How often should I update my bookkeeping records?

Accounting mistakes happen just like overcooking a steak or delivering the wrong order. By tracking your financial statements and recording transactions daily, you can catch them early on and avoid making mistakes in the future. You can use your financial data to budget and plan your restaurant’s long-term bookkeeping success. Although there are many options, most restaurant and retail businesses choose the calendar year accounting period. Restaurants usually run seven days a week and might have some days with more sales. Opting for four and five-week periods, totaling 13 accounting periods gives you a more accurate comparison.

bookkeeping for restaurants

The Restaurant Owner’s Guide to Streamlining Supply Chain Processes

  • Calculate this by dividing your total labor costs (including wages, salaries, benefits, and payroll taxes) by your total revenue during a specific period.
  • The high volume of daily transactions can lead to errors if not meticulously recorded.
  • But with the high volume of transactions restaurants handle, the chance of committing an error is greater.
  • Testing the software before committing is an easy decision if the option is available.
  • During this time, he was part of the launch team of various products including Zomato Online Ordering which grew to become one of the biggest food delivery platforms in the UAE.

Your labor cost percentage can help you determine periods when you might be over or understaffed so you can adjust. As a restaurant owner, your bookkeeping requires meticulous daily sales tracking. Monitoring your sales by initiating daily reports helps you identify revenue streams. If you’re like many other restaurant owners who have their hands full with creating a culinary experience unlike any other, it can be hard to manage finances. Let FinancePal help make your dream a reality by handling your accounting and financial responsibilities for you. By taking it off your plate, you can focus on making your restaurant the talk of the town.

bookkeeping for restaurants

Reconcile Your Bookkeeping with your Bank Accounts Frequently

The accrual accounting method records income and expenses when you earn or bill them, even if you haven’t received or spent the money yet. Although It can be more complex to work on, the accrual method is the most widely used. It’s one of the best methods for dealing with accounts receivable and accounts payable. The cash method will make your restaurant look profitable when losing money. Restaurant profit and loss statements (P&L) or income statements show your restaurant’s expenses, costs, and sales for a specific period.

bookkeeping for restaurants

Once you pick a platform, identify who will be responsible for bookkeeping tasks—whether it’s a manager, bookkeeper, or accountant—and provide them with proper training. Most accounting software providers offer tutorials, webinars, and customer support, so take advantage of these resources. Investing time in training now will Opening Entry prevent costly mistakes later and help your restaurant run more smoothly. Restaurant accounting is the process where you, as a restaurant owner or manager, track, report, and analyze your financial transactions.