how to do bookkeeping for a restaurant

Obviously, you run into a lot fewer issues when two sister systems integrate together. From an accounting perspective, I think Gusto has one of the best general ledger QuickBooks imports of all the payroll providers. The other thing we love about Shogo is the ability to quickly and easily reconcile merchant service deposits.

  • Daily sales reporting and cash handling procedures ensure transparency and accuracy in your financial transactions.
  • Professionals who learn through on-the-job training can grasp essentials after about six months in entry-level roles.
  • Reconciling your accounts is the only way to know that you have accounted for all transactions, and it makes you aware of incorrect deposits, lost checks, and cash variances.
  • Employee payroll is subject to regulations on tip reporting, payroll taxes, Medicare taxes, Social Security, and state unemployment.
  • When an effective bookkeeping system is in place, businesses have the knowledge and information that allows them to make the best financial decisions.
  • These accounts and their sub-accounts make up the company’s chart of accounts.
  • Join over 1 million businesses scanning receipts, creating expense reports, and reclaiming multiple hours every week—with Shoeboxed.

Equity is the investment a business owner, and any other investors, have in the firm. The equity accounts include all the claims the owners have against the company. The business owner has an investment, and it may be the only investment in the firm. The chart of accounts lists every account the business needs and should have. Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky.

Can I do my own bookkeeping for my business?

Employee scheduling, sales forecasting, and electronic data exchange (EDI) with vendors are also key functionalities. Other components include payroll, automated A/P, and inventory management. Prime costs are items such as food and beverage costs, salaries, payroll taxes, and benefits.

Recording daily sales and categorizing them by cash and credit sales, food versus beverage, or other metrics is vital for understanding your revenue streams. Account for all transactions, reconcile all accounts, and generate monthly reports so that you can track and analyze the key elements that indicate how well the restaurant is performing financially. Accounts payable is the amount you owe vendors, etc., for the products or services they provide. Restaurant owners need to keep track of when a bill is received, when it’s due, and that it actually gets paid in a timely manner.

Top 6 beverage strategies for restaurants

Other bookkeepers finish their high school diplomas and then seek on-the-job training. To prove they possess certain skills, they may also complete one or both professional bookkeeping certificates available. Staying current with legal permits and licenses (for example, a business license or a liquor license) is essential for the smooth operation of your restaurant.

This is considered employee income rather than wages and isn’t included in a restaurant’s revenue. 1000more rows at the bottom Kristen Slavin is a CPA with 16 years of experience, specializing in accounting, bookkeeping, and tax services for small businesses. A member of the CPA Association of BC, she also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. how to do bookkeeping for a restaurant In her spare time, Kristen enjoys camping, hiking, and road tripping with her husband and two children. The firm offers bookkeeping and accounting services for business and personal needs, as well as ERP consulting and audit assistance. Here are some key ratios to consider when reviewing the financial statements of your restaurant, specifically your weekly and monthly income statements.