Frequently Asked Questions
How is a restaurant CPA different from a regular CPA?
A restaurant CPA understands how the business actually runs — prime cost, tip credits, POS reconciliation, comps and voids — not just debits and credits. We reconcile Toast or Square to your books, claim the FICA tip credit, file Form 8027 on time, and read your P&L the way an operator does. A generalist treats a restaurant like a retail shop with a kitchen attached.
Do you work with single-unit restaurants or only multi-unit operators?
Both. We work with independents from a single location up to multi-unit groups, with a sweet spot around $2M–$50M in revenue. Whether you’re cleaning up one set of books or consolidating several entities, the systems are built to scale with you.
Do you integrate with Toast, Square, or Restaurant365?
Yes. We’re fluent in Toast, Square, Restaurant365, MarginEdge, and QuickBooks Online, and we integrate with the stack you already run — we don’t make you switch systems or rebuild your back office to work with us.
What is the FICA tip credit and can you help me claim it?
The FICA tip credit (IRC §45B) is a federal income-tax credit for the employer’s share of Social Security and Medicare taxes paid on employee tips above the threshold frozen at $5.15/hour — and it’s claimed on Form 8846. Many restaurants under-claim or miss it entirely. We calculate it correctly and capture it — often a meaningful annual saving for tipped operations.
How quickly can you take over from my current bookkeeper?
Most onboardings run about 30-60 days. We clean up the historicals, integrate your POS, set a restaurant-specific chart of accounts, and deliver your first clean close — without disrupting service. We coordinate the handoff so nothing falls through the cracks.
Do you handle multi-state sales and meals tax for food and alcohol?
Yes. We manage sales, meals, and alcohol tax across jurisdictions — starting with DC, Maryland, and Virginia — including the different rates and rules for food vs. beverage. If you operate or expand across state lines, we keep you compliant in each.
What does a fractional CFO actually include?
Fractional CFO support means unit economics, cash-flow forecasting, expansion and break-even analysis, lender and investor packages, and a strategic partner for decisions about growth, raising capital, or selling — without the cost of a full-time hire.
What does a typical engagement cost?
Pricing depends on your concept, number of units, and scope, but most clients start at $2k/month for ongoing bookkeeping and reporting, with tax and CFO services scoped on top. We’ll quote a flat monthly fee on the fit call — no surprise hourly bills.
Do you serve clients outside the DC metro area?
Our home base is the DMV — Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia — where we work hands-on. We also support restaurant operators remotely in other states, especially multi-unit groups expanding beyond the region.
How often will I get financial statements?
You’ll get a weekly prime-cost snapshot and full monthly financials by the 15th of the following month, plus quarterly reviews. The point is forward visibility — seeing problems while you can still act on them, not 40 days later.