How often should restaurant owners update their bookkeeping records?
Ideally, daily or weekly updates are recommended to ensure accurate tracking of sales, expenses, and cash flow, helping prevent errors and improve financial oversight.
Restaurant Bookkeeping 101 - A Beginner's Guide for Restaurant Owners
Overview
Running a restaurant is no small feat - from managing staff and serving customers to controlling inventory and maintaining quality, your to-do list is never-ending. Amid these daily demands, bookkeeping often feels like an overwhelming task that gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Yet, accurate bookkeeping is essential for the survival and growth of your restaurant. In fact, over 60% of restaurant failures are linked to poor financial management, including inadequate bookkeeping.
Bookkeeping provides a clear window into your restaurant's financial health, helping you track profits, manage expenses, and make informed decisions to keep your business thriving. For many restaurant owners, the challenge lies in juggling fast-paced daily operations with the complexities of tracking multiple revenue streams, cash tips, and fluctuating costs.
The good news is that mastering the basics of bookkeeping doesn't require you to be an accountant. With a clear understanding of restaurant-specific bookkeeping principles, you can save time, reduce financial stress, and protect your bottom line. This guide will walk you through essential bookkeeping concepts, common challenges, and practical steps to take control of your restaurant's finances from day one.
Financial Landscape of Restaurants
Restaurants operate in a financial environment that is quite different from many other types of businesses. As a restaurant owner, it's important to recognize these unique factors because they directly influence how you approach bookkeeping. Unlike a typical retail store or service business, restaurants deal with a variety of revenue streams and a complex mix of costs that require careful tracking.
Multiple Revenue Streams
Your restaurant's income doesn't come from just one source. It often includes dine-in sales, takeout orders, delivery services, catering, and sometimes event hosting. Each of these streams may have different payment methods such as cash, credit cards, or third-party delivery platforms. This diversity adds complexity to your bookkeeping, requiring you to accurately record and reconcile all transactions daily to avoid discrepancies.
High Volume of Cash Transactions and Tips
Cash handling is common in restaurants, especially when it comes to tips. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tipped workers make up about 12% of the workforce, many of whom work in food service. Tracking cash tips separately from wages and ensuring they are properly recorded for tax purposes is critical. Inaccurate tip reporting can lead to compliance issues or penalties.
Cost-Intensive Inventory Management
Food and beverage costs typically represent 25% to 35% of a restaurant's total expenses, making inventory management a significant focus. Unlike many retail products, food is perishable, and wastage due to spoilage or theft can quickly eat into profits. Your bookkeeping system must integrate with inventory controls to track purchases, usage, and waste accurately.
Labor Costs and Turnover
Labor is often the largest expense for restaurants,usually accounting for 30% to 35% of total costs. High staff turnover rates common in the industry mean frequent hiring and training expenses, variable hours, and fluctuating payroll costs. Accurate bookkeeping around payroll, benefits, and overtime is essential for budgeting and cost control.
Variable Overhead Expenses
Rent, utilities, maintenance, marketing, and licenses add to your fixed and variable costs. Some expenses fluctuate seasonally or monthly, requiring consistent monitoring to maintain profitability.
By understanding these financial complexities unique to restaurants, you'll be better equipped to set up a bookkeeping system that captures the full picture of your business. This foundation helps you make smarter decisions, control costs, and build a financially healthy restaurant.
Core Bookkeeping Concepts
Before diving into the daily tasks of bookkeeping, it's important to get familiar with some foundational concepts that will help you make sense of your restaurant's financial data. Understanding these basics empowers you to keep your records accurate and your business financially sound.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
Accounts payable refers to the money your restaurant owes to suppliers and vendors - think food deliveries, utilities, and maintenance services. Keeping track of these payables ensures you pay bills on time, avoiding late fees and preserving good supplier relationships. On the flip side, accounts receivable is the money owed to you, such as outstanding invoices from catering events or partnerships. While less common in typical daily restaurant operations, it's important to monitor any receivables to maintain healthy cash flow.
Chart of Accounts
The chart of accounts is essentially the framework your bookkeeping system uses to categorize every financial transaction. It's tailored to your restaurant's needs and includes categories like food and beverage costs, labor expenses, rent, utilities, marketing, and miscellaneous supplies. A well-structured chart of accounts allows you to analyze income and expenses in detail, identify cost drivers, and make informed financial decisions.
General Ledger
Think of the general ledger as the master record that consolidates all financial transactions across your accounts. Every sale, purchase, payroll entry, or expense flows into this ledger. Regularly reviewing your ledger helps you spot errors, reconcile accounts, and produce accurate financial statements.
Bank Reconciliation
Bank reconciliation is the process of comparing your recorded transactions against your bank statements. This step is crucial to identify discrepancies like missing payments, unauthorized charges, or bank errors. Performing monthly reconciliations helps ensure your bookkeeping records align with reality, reducing the risk of financial surprises.
Timely and Accurate Recording
One of the most common challenges restaurant owners face is keeping up with recording transactions promptly. Delays can lead to forgotten expenses or misplaced receipts, creating inaccurate books and making it difficult to assess your business's true financial status. Establishing a habit of daily or weekly bookkeeping ensures your records stay current and reliable.
Mastering these core bookkeeping concepts creates a solid foundation for managing your restaurant's finances. While it may feel complex at first, breaking down your bookkeeping into these manageable pieces helps reduce overwhelm and builds confidence in your financial oversight.
Setting Up a Restaurant-Specific Chart of Accounts
One of the most important steps in establishing effective bookkeeping for your restaurant is setting up a chart of accounts (COA) tailored specifically to your business. Think of the chart of accounts as the organizational backbone of your bookkeeping system - it categorizes every financial transaction, making it easier to track income and expenses accurately and analyze your restaurant's financial performance.
A well-structured COA should reflect the unique cost centers and revenue streams of a restaurant, helping you gain clear insight into where your money is coming from and where it's going. Unlike a generic business, restaurants have particular accounts that need special attention, such as food and beverage costs, labor, and tip-related expenses.
Here are some key categories to include in your restaurant's chart of accounts -
1. Sales Revenue - Separate your income streams for better clarity. Common sub-accounts could be dine-in sales, takeout orders, delivery, catering, and merchandise sales if applicable.
2. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) - This includes all direct costs related to the food and beverages you serve, such as raw ingredients, packaging, and supplies. Tracking COGS closely is vital, as it typically represents 25% to 35% of total expenses and greatly influences profitability.
3. Labor Expenses - Since labor often accounts for around 30% to 35% of restaurant costs, break this down into wages, payroll taxes, employee benefits, and tip-related expenses. Having detailed labor categories helps you monitor staffing costs and manage payroll effectively.
4. Operating Expenses - These include rent, utilities, maintenance, marketing, licenses, and insurance. Grouping these separately helps you track your fixed and variable overhead costs.
5. Other Expenses - Don't forget miscellaneous or one-time costs like equipment repairs, professional fees, or bank charges.
Having a thoughtfully organized chart of accounts allows you to generate meaningful financial reports that highlight the profitability of different parts of your business. It also simplifies tax preparation by making it easier to categorize deductible expenses accurately.
Remember, your chart of accounts isn't set in stone - you can adjust it over time as your restaurant grows or your financial tracking needs evolve. The key is to start with a clear, customized framework that reflects the realities of your restaurant operations, enabling you to take control of your financial data from the very beginning.
Daily Bookkeeping Habits
One of the most common reasons restaurant bookkeeping becomes overwhelming is irregular record-keeping. When transactions pile up, it's easy to lose track of expenses or miss important financial details. Establishing consistent daily bookkeeping habits is crucial to maintaining control over your restaurant's finances and avoiding surprises.
Why Daily Bookkeeping Matters
Restaurants typically handle numerous transactions every day - from cash sales and credit card payments to supplier invoices and employee payroll. Recording these transactions promptly ensures your financial data stays accurate and up-to-date. Research shows that businesses that reconcile their accounts daily or weekly are far less likely to encounter cash flow issues or errors that could lead to costly mistakes.
Key Daily Tasks for Restaurant Owners or Managers
1. Record Sales and Payments - Log all sales transactions by payment type (cash, card, third-party delivery, etc.) to track where your revenue is coming from.
2. Organize Receipts and Invoices - Keep physical and digital copies of all receipts and invoices in an organized manner. This habit simplifies reconciliation and tax preparation later.
3. Track Cash Tips - Since cash tips are common in restaurants, it's important to record them daily for payroll accuracy and tax compliance.
4. Update Inventory Records - Regularly note inventory usage and purchases to avoid shortages or excess waste.
5. Review Bank Deposits and Withdrawals - Monitor daily deposits and withdrawals to catch any discrepancies early.
Practical Tips to Build Consistency
- Dedicate a specific time each day or shift to handle bookkeeping tasks. Even 15 - 30 minutes can make a big difference.
- Use simple spreadsheets or a basic bookkeeping ledger to record transactions if you don't have specialized software.
- Involve your team by training managers or supervisors to support daily record-keeping.
- Regularly back up digital records to prevent data loss.
By committing to daily bookkeeping routines, you gain real-time insight into your restaurant's financial status, enabling you to respond proactively to cash flow changes, control expenses, and plan for growth. Consistency is the key to transforming bookkeeping from a dreaded chore into a powerful tool for your restaurant's success.
Managing Inventory and Food Costs
One of the biggest challenges restaurant owners face is controlling food costs, which often represent 25% to 35% of total expenses. Effective bookkeeping plays a vital role in managing inventory and minimizing waste, directly impacting your profitability.
The Link Between Inventory and Bookkeeping
Your bookkeeping system should be closely integrated with your inventory management to provide an accurate picture of how much food you're purchasing, using, and losing. Every time you buy ingredients, your books record an increase in inventory costs. When those ingredients are used to prepare menu items, the cost is recognized as an expense, called Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). By comparing inventory purchases with actual usage, you can identify discrepancies caused by waste, theft, or spoilage.
Why Accurate Tracking Matters
Without detailed bookkeeping on inventory, restaurants often lose money without realizing it. Studies indicate that the average restaurant loses between 4% and 10% of food cost due to waste and theft. That might not sound like much, but over time, these losses can add up to tens of thousands of dollars, severely impacting your bottom line.
Practical Steps for Better Inventory Bookkeeping
1. Record Purchases Promptly - Enter all food and beverage purchases as soon as they occur to keep inventory costs current.
2. Track Inventory Usage - Regularly conduct physical counts and compare them to recorded usage to spot variances early.
3. Document Waste and Spoilage - Make it a habit to log spoiled or wasted items so you can adjust orders and identify problem areas.
4. Monitor Portion Control - Accurate bookkeeping includes understanding how much of each ingredient goes into a dish, helping reduce overuse.
5. Analyze Cost Trends - Use your bookkeeping data to review food cost percentages monthly, which helps adjust menu pricing or ordering practices.
By maintaining detailed and accurate records of your inventory and food costs through bookkeeping, you gain greater control over one of your restaurant's largest expenses. This vigilance enables smarter purchasing decisions, reduces waste, and ultimately increases profitability.
Payroll and Labor Cost Tracking Essentials
In the restaurant business, labor costs typically represent one of the largest expenses, often accounting for 30% to 35% of total costs. Managing payroll accurately is essential - not only to keep your business financially healthy but also to ensure compliance with labor laws and maintain employee satisfaction.
Why Payroll Bookkeeping Is Critical
Payroll bookkeeping goes beyond just paying your staff. It involves tracking hours worked, wages, tips, taxes, and benefits, all while keeping detailed records for reporting and tax purposes. Errors in payroll can lead to costly penalties, employee dissatisfaction, or even legal troubles. Additionally, labor cost management directly influences your restaurant's profitability and operational efficiency.
Key Components to Track in Payroll Bookkeeping
1. Hours Worked - Accurate recording of regular and overtime hours is crucial. Many restaurants use time-tracking systems, but it's important that this data flows into your bookkeeping records promptly and accurately.
2. Wages and Salaries - Ensure all employee payments - including hourly wages, salaries, and bonuses - are correctly recorded.
3. Tip Reporting - Since tips are a major part of many restaurant employees' income, correctly documenting both cash and credit card tips is essential for tax compliance. The IRS requires accurate tip reporting to prevent underpayment of taxes.
4. Payroll Taxes - Withholdings for Social Security, Medicare, federal and state taxes, and unemployment insurance must be tracked and paid on schedule.
5. Benefits and Deductions - Employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, or garnishments should also be included in payroll bookkeeping.
Practical Tips for Managing Labor Costs
- Schedule regular payroll reconciliations to ensure hours worked match payments made.
- Keep detailed records of tip pools or tip sharing arrangements, if applicable.
- Review labor costs as a percentage of sales regularly to identify trends and adjust staffing or scheduling accordingly.
- Train staff responsible for payroll bookkeeping on compliance requirements to reduce errors.
By maintaining detailed, accurate payroll records and tracking labor costs closely, you can control one of your restaurant's biggest expenses, stay compliant with regulations, and build trust with your team. This foundation ultimately supports smoother operations and stronger financial health.
Preparing for Taxes and Financial Review
Tax season can be a source of anxiety for many restaurant owners, especially if bookkeeping has been neglected or disorganized throughout the year. However, consistent, accurate bookkeeping simplifies tax preparation and reduces the risk of costly errors or audits. More importantly, good bookkeeping gives you a clear financial picture that supports strategic business decisions beyond just tax compliance.
The Role of Bookkeeping in Tax Preparation
Accurate bookkeeping ensures all your income and expenses are properly recorded and categorized, making it easier to complete tax returns. The IRS and other tax authorities require detailed documentation to support your reported income and deductions. Poor records increase the likelihood of audits and penalties. According to IRS data, small businesses face an audit rate of roughly 0.6%, but that risk climbs significantly when records are incomplete or inconsistent.
Common Tax Deductions for Restaurants
Restaurants can take advantage of various tax deductions to reduce their taxable income. These include food and beverage costs, labor expenses, rent, utilities, advertising, repairs, and equipment purchases. Without a detailed chart of accounts and organized bookkeeping, you may miss out on maximizing these deductions.
Practical Steps to Prepare for Tax Season
1. Keep Detailed Records Year-Round - Organize receipts, invoices, bank statements, and payroll reports regularly to avoid scrambling at year-end.
2. Reconcile Accounts Monthly - Ensure your bank statements and bookkeeping records align to catch errors early.
3. Categorize Expenses Correctly - Accurate classification makes it easier to identify deductible expenses and comply with tax regulations.
4. Consult with a Tax Professional - Use your well-maintained bookkeeping records to get tailored advice and minimize tax liability.
Beyond taxes, regular financial reviews based on your bookkeeping data help you identify trends, spot potential cash flow issues, and make informed decisions about pricing, staffing, or expansion. Setting aside time quarterly or monthly to review your financial statements can prevent surprises and keep your restaurant financially healthy.
By staying on top of bookkeeping throughout the year, you turn tax preparation from a stressful chore into a manageable, even strategic, part of running your restaurant.
Summary
Bookkeeping may not be the most glamorous part of running a restaurant, but it is undeniably one of the most important. Understanding the unique financial aspects of the restaurant industry and implementing consistent bookkeeping practices lays the foundation for making smarter business decisions, controlling costs, and ultimately improving profitability. By mastering the basics - from setting up a tailored chart of accounts to daily transaction tracking and preparing for taxes - you equip yourself to navigate the complex financial landscape with confidence and clarity.
Financial clarity doesn't just protect your business; it empowers you to focus on what you love most- delivering great food and exceptional service. Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your current system, taking control of your bookkeeping is a critical step toward long-term success.
If you're seeking a comprehensive, restaurant-focused solution to streamline your accounting and bookkeeping processes, consider exploring Altametrics. Designed specifically for the unique needs of restaurant owners, Altametrics simplifies financial management, helping you save time, reduce errors, and gain real-time insights into your business performance. With the right tools and practices in place, you can turn bookkeeping from a burden into a powerful asset for your restaurant's growth.
Take the next step in securing your restaurant's financial health today by learning more about how Altametrics can support you.
Restaurant management
What Are the Best Email Marketing Campaign Ideas for Restaurants in 2025?
Restaurant management
How Can You Maintain Brand Consistency Across Multiple Franchise Locations?
Employee scheduling
How Can Restaurants Prevent Scheduling Conflicts and Last-Minute Absences?
Restaurant management
What's the Most Efficient Way to Manage Tasks in a Busy Restaurant?
Employee scheduling
What Should You Look for When Interviewing Restaurant Staff?
Restaurant management
What Is a Dram Shop Law and How Does It Affect Your Restaurant?
Restaurant management
What Features Should Every Restaurant Ordering System Have in 2025?
Accounting payroll
What Are the Most Cost-Effective Ways to Reduce Waste in a Restaurant?
Inventory management
Are Your Menu Items Costing You More Than They're Worth?
Accounting payroll
How Do You Handle Overtime and Tip Credit in Restaurant Payroll?
Accounting payroll
Are You Spending Too Much Time on Payroll? Here's How to Fix it
Inventory management
How Can I Implement an Effective Inventory Management System in my Restaurant?
Sales forecasting
What Do Consumer Reports Say About Your Menu?
Inventory management
What Are the Main Inventory Costing Methods for Restaurants?
Restaurant management
How to Streamline Your Restaurants Supply Chain
Restaurant management
How to Optimize Order Fulfillment in Your Restaurant
Employee scheduling
How to Design an Effective Employee Training Program for Restaurants
Restaurant management
9 Essential Workforce Management Tools Every Restaurant Needs
Accounting payroll
How to Read and Use Your Restaurants Profit and Loss Statement
Accounting payroll
How to Organize Your Restaurant's Financial Records Efficiently
Accounting payroll
Restaurant Billing 101 - Simplify Your Finances and Boost Efficiency
Accounting payroll
The Ultimate Guide to Accounts Payable Automation for Restaurant Owners
Accounting payroll
Benefits of Accounts Receivable Automation for Restaurants
Accounting payroll
The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Accounting
Accounting payroll
Restaurant Bookkeeping 101 - A Beginner's Guide for Restaurant Owners
Accounting payroll
Invoice Management 101 - A Simple Guide for Restaurant Owners
Restaurant management
What Are Par Levels and Why Every Restaurant Owner Should Care
Sales forecasting
Top 5 Consumer Metrics Every Restaurant Should Track
Inventory management
Which Inventory Method is Best for Your Restaurant?
Accounting payroll
Setting Up an Employee Loan Program in Your Restaurant
Employee scheduling
The Ultimate Employee Onboarding Checklist for Restaurant Owners
Accounting payroll
Top 7 Payroll Mistakes Restaurant Owners Should Avoid
Accounting payroll
How to Calculate Food Cost Variance in Your Restaurant
Sales forecasting
A Guide to Understanding Customer Behavior in Restaurants
Restaurant management
Top 10 California Employment Laws Every Restaurant Owner Must Know
Restaurant management
How to Create Custom Recipe Templates for Your Restaurant Kitchen
Restaurant management
5 Practical Strategies to Cut Food Waste in Your Restaurant
Restaurant management
Understanding Restaurant Food Cost Percentage in 2025 - Strategies for Profitability
Inventory management
The Restaurant Owner's Guide to Streamlining Supply Chain Processes
Restaurant management
How to Efficiently Calculate and Manage Labor Cost in Restaurants
Food safety
General Food Safety Guidelines for Restaurants
Inventory management
A Guide for Restaurant Food Suppliers
Employee scheduling
Key Elements of a Successful Restaurant Scheduling System
Restaurant management
How to Reduce Labor Costs in Your Restaurant Without Sacrificing Service
Inventory management
5 Best Practices for Food Inventory Management to Reduce Waste
Employee scheduling
Understanding California Overtime Laws for Restaurants
Employee scheduling
Top Features to Look for in an Electronic Time Clock for Restaurants
Restaurant management
The Best Employee Rewards Programs for Restaurants
Employee scheduling
The Best Time Keeping Methods for Restaurants
Employee scheduling
How a Restaurant Scheduling App Helps You Avoid Common Scheduling Mistakes
Employee scheduling
Features to Look for in a Clock-In Machine for Restaurants
Employee scheduling
How to Improve Time and Attendance Tracking in Your Restaurant
Employee scheduling
How California Work Week Laws Affect Restaurant Scheduling
Accounting payroll
Best Practices for Calculating Payroll Hours in Restaurants
Employee scheduling
How to Prevent Time Theft in Your Restaurant
Restaurant management
How Technology Can Improve Employee Management in Restaurants
Employee scheduling
California Employment Laws Every Hotel Owner Should Know in 2025
Restaurant management
California's Updated Overtime and Break Laws for Restaurants
Employee scheduling
10 Essential Work Schedules for Running a Smooth Restaurant Operation
Employee scheduling
How to Accurately Calculate Work Hours for Your Restaurant Staff
Employee scheduling
Best Practices for Managing Employee Time and Attendance in Restaurants
Employee scheduling
How to Create an Efficient Restaurant Weekly Schedule That Boosts Productivity
Software integration
Top 5 Benefits of Automating Your Business Workflows
Software integration
The Role of AI in Business Process Automation
Software integration
The Power of API Integrations - Connecting Your Business Tools Seamlessly
Software integration
The Importance of Seamless Integrations in Today's Business Landscape
Software integration
How Workflow Automation Can Save Small Businesses Thousands of Dollars
Software integration
How Any Connector Simplifies API Integrations for Your Business
Software integration
Empowering Your Employees with Automation- A Win-Win Strategy
Software integration
Building a Business Case for Automation in Your Organization
Employee scheduling
Automation in Hospitality - Streamlining Guest Experiences
Restaurant management
5 Ways Restaurants Can Leverage Automation for Operational Success
Sales forecasting
How to Double Your Restaurant's Profit in 30 Days
Inventory management
The Ultimate Guide to Accurate Inventory Counting in Restaurants
Restaurant management
How to Transform Your Restaurant Operations
Restaurant management
How to Effectively Reduce Expenses and Increase Staff Engagement in Your Restaurant
Employee scheduling
How to make sure you will always meet labor goals before you run payroll
Employee scheduling
How to reduce labor costs without retraining your management team.
Restaurant management
3 top reasons your managers should always earn their bonuses
Software integration
How to guarantee your franchise technology rollout will be a success
Employee scheduling
How to reduce labor costs by 3-5% without ever using an excel spreadsheet again
Employee scheduling
How to find and keep your best employees
Software integration
Why your IT team has to provide better mobile apps for you to stay competitive
Accounting payroll
How to streamline your business operations test for maximum efficiency
Software integration
How to make sure your technology projects are on time and on budget
Employee scheduling
Why employee engagement and retention are the keys to improving profitability
Employee scheduling
The easy way to write great employee schedules
Restaurant management
How to manage your restaurant inventory planning to ensure you're never caught short
Inventory management
5 Basic Inventory Management Tips That Can Save You Money
Inventory management
Top 3 Reasons Why You Need Cloud-Based Inventory Management Software
Restaurant management
The Best Food Service Management Companies in the Industry
Software integration
7 Tips for Choosing the Best Restaurant Directory Software
Food safety
What You Need to Know About Food Tech Safety
Employee scheduling
The Top 5 Reasons To Use HR Reporting Software
Food safety
A Guide On What To Know About SQF Food Safety
Inventory management
10 Inventory Management Stock Control Tips For Your Business
Restaurant management
Issues Facing Multi-Chain Restaurants In 2022
Employee scheduling
The Benefits of HR Software Reporting For Professionals
Employee scheduling
5 Top HR Software Solutions To Consider For Your Business
Software integration
5 Reasons Why You Need Restaurant Menu Software
Employee scheduling
Tips for Retaining Hourly Restaurant Employees
Employee scheduling
Hurdles That Keep Restaurant Chains From Becoming The Employer Of Choice
Accounting payroll
Why You Should Start Using Restaurant Payroll Software
Inventory management
How To Make The Most Out Of Your Simple Inventory Management Software
Restaurant management
Food Waste Management- 6 Strategies to Reduce the Impact of Food Waste
Food safety
CDC Food Safety- The Important Perspective
Food safety
What To Know About Taking A Food Safety Class
Inventory management
The Average Restaurant Food Cost Percentage & What You Can Do About It
Inventory management
Inventory Management Best Practices- A Guide to Controlling Your Inventory
Software integration
How to Choose the Right Restaurant Dashboard Software for Your Needs
Inventory management
5 Free Inventory Management Tools for Small Businesses
Food safety
How to Get a Food and Drink Handling License
Employee scheduling
3 Ways You Can Get Your Employees to Love Cloud-based HR and Payroll Software
Inventory management
5 Ways to Improve Your Multi Channel Inventory Management
Inventory management
5 Top Ways to Reduce Your Restaurant Fixed Costs
Inventory management
The Best Inventory Management Software- The Ultimate Guide
Food safety
What To Know About A Food Safety Course Online
Employee scheduling
The Best Free Employee Scheduling Apps to Help Your Business Run Smoothly
Food safety
How To Identify PHF Food Safety Anywhere You Are
Restaurant management
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Kitchen Equipment Supplier
Software integration
Mobile Device Inventory Management- A Guide to Help You Do It Right
Food safety
Food Safety Zone- A Guide to Safely Eating Out
Restaurant management
3 Tips to Find the Best Restaurant Paper Suppliers
Inventory management
Top Free Inventory Management Software for Small Businesses
Food safety
7 Ways To Become A Food Safety Auditor
Employee scheduling
5 Reasons You Should Be Using Free HR Software
Inventory management
4 Types of Inventory Management Systems and How They Affect Your Business
Employee scheduling
HR Recruitment Software- Why Restaurant Chains Fail To Become Preferred Choice
Restaurant management
Food Waste Management Solutions- The Ultimate Guide to Eliminating Food Waste
Employee scheduling
HR Software Solutions- Tips For Retaining Hourly Restaurant Employees
Accounting payroll
What You Need to Know About Restaurant Payroll Laws
Employee scheduling
HR Software List- The Best and the Worst
Restaurant management
How Restaurant Food Suppliers Are Important To A Business
Restaurant management
What Are The Best Restaurant Paper Goods Suppliers?
Inventory management
The Ultimate Guide to Inventory Management Techniques
Food safety
Food Safety Tips- How To Stay Safe at Home
Restaurant management
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Food Service Management Company
Restaurant management
Ordering Management System- Issues Faced by Multi-Chain Restaurants In 2022
Food safety
Three Steps to Creating a Food Safety Plan
Employee scheduling
The Best Employee Time Clock Machines for Your Business
Employee scheduling
The Top 5 Reasons to Switch to Cloud Based HR Software
Employee scheduling
Our Top 5 Best Employee Scheduling Apps For Small Businesses
Food safety
Food Safety News- A Checklist for Safe Foods
Restaurant management
8 Tips for Successful Financial Management In Food Service
Software integration
5 Tips for Improving Your Data Integration Software
Food safety
5 Benefits of Food Safety That You Need to Know
Employee scheduling
The Best Employee Shift Planning Manager | Employee Scheduling & Shift Planning
Employee scheduling
Free Employee Time Clock to Give Your Business a Competitive Edge
Restaurant management
The Best Restaurant Produce Suppliers in America
Employee scheduling
HR Timesheet Software- What To Look For and How It Works
Restaurant management
Find the Best Restaurant Chemical Suppliers
Employee scheduling
Tracking Time Effectively- The Best HR Time Tracking Software
Accounting payroll
5 Best Business Accounting Software Reviews
Employee scheduling
5 Free Employee Scheduling Apps You Need to Try
Restaurant management
How to Find the Best Restaurant Coffee Suppliers
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I track inventory and food costs accurately?
Record all purchases promptly, conduct regular inventory counts, log waste and spoilage, and compare usage against sales. Accurate bookkeeping helps identify cost overruns and reduce waste.
What are labor cost best practices in restaurant bookkeeping?
Track hours worked, document tip income, withhold proper payroll taxes, and regularly reconcile payroll reports. Review labor costs as a percentage of sales to identify efficiency opportunities.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting in a restaurant?
Bookkeeping involves the daily recording of financial transactions such as sales, expenses, payroll, and inventory. Accounting goes a step further by analyzing this data to produce financial reports, assist with tax planning, and offer strategic financial advice.
What should be included in a restaurant chart of accounts?
A restaurant-specific chart of accounts should include categories like sales revenue (by channel), cost of goods sold (food, beverages), labor expenses (wages, tips, taxes), operating expenses (rent, utilities, maintenance), and miscellaneous costs.
