Accountant for Restaurant
Accountant for Restaurant
Specialist Restaurant Accountant in London & Across the UK – VAT, Payroll, Margins & Cashflow Experts
The restaurant and hospitality industry is one of the most demanding, high-pressure and financially fragile sectors in the UK.
Whether you run a restaurant, café, takeaway, dark kitchen, food franchise or multi-site hospitality group, you are constantly dealing with:
- Complex VAT rules (eat-in vs takeaway vs delivery)
- High staff turnover and payroll pressure
- Tips, service charge & tronc compliance
- Rising food, energy and supplier costs
- Tight margins and price sensitivity
- Multiple sales channels (POS, cash, card, apps)
- Delivery platform commissions
- Seasonal fluctuations
- Cashflow gaps despite strong turnover
- HMRC scrutiny on VAT, PAYE and NMW
- Expansion risk when opening new sites
A general accountant simply won’t cut it.
You need an Accountant for Restaurant businesses, someone who understands hospitality finance at ground level, not just how to file year-end accounts.
At AccounTax Zone, we specialise in helping restaurant businesses across the UK become more profitable, tax-efficient, compliant and financially controlled, using deep hospitality expertise, real-time systems and proactive advisory support.
Why Restaurant Businesses Need a Specialist Accountant (Not a Generalist)
Restaurants are fundamentally different from most businesses.
Sales are daily. Costs move weekly. Margins are thin. Cashflow is volatile. VAT rules change depending on how food is sold. Payroll mistakes trigger penalties. One wrong pricing decision can wipe out profits.
General accountants typically:
- Look at numbers once a year
- Miss VAT inefficiencies
- Ignore margin leakage
- Treat payroll as admin
- React after problems occur
A specialist accountant for restaurant helps you:
AccounTax Zone works with hospitality businesses turning over £250k – £10m+, meaning we deeply understand:
- food cost percentages
- labour ratios
- delivery platform economics
- VAT traps in hospitality
- multi-site expansion
- director tax planning
- group and holding company structures
- HMRC compliance risk
This page is your complete guide on:
Accountant for Restaurant – what they do, why they matter, and how AccounTax Zone helps hospitality businesses grow.
VAT for Restaurants – One of the Biggest Risk Areas
VAT is one of the most misunderstood and costly areas for restaurant owners.
We advise on every hospitality VAT scenario, including:
Eat-In vs Takeaway VAT
- When 20% applies
- When zero-rating applies
- Where restaurants get it wrong
- How HMRC checks
Delivery Platforms (Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat)
We ensure:
- correct VAT treatment
- platform commission handling
- accurate reporting
- no under or over-declaring VAT
VAT Flat Rate Scheme (FRS)
We assess:
- whether FRS is suitable
- margin impact
- when to exit
- HMRC risk
VAT Registration & Planning
- correct registration timing
- voluntary vs compulsory registration
- avoiding historic errors
- disclosures where required
Get VAT wrong → penalties, assessments, lost profit
Get VAT right → thousands saved legally every year
Payroll, Tips, Tronc & Employment Compliance for Restaurants
Restaurant payroll is one of the highest HMRC risk areas.
We manage:
- PAYE payroll (weekly or monthly)
- Tips, service charge & tronc schemes
- Holiday pay calculations
- National Minimum Wage compliance
- Pension auto-enrolment
- Staff onboarding & leavers
- RTI submissions
Payroll mistakes are the number one trigger for HMRC audits in hospitality.
We prevent them.
Food Cost Control, Margins & Management Accounts
Most restaurant owners don’t know:
- which menu items make money
- where profit leaks happen
- why sales are up but cash is down
We fix this.
Restaurant Management Accounts
We provide:
- monthly management accounts
- gross margin analysis
- food cost % tracking
- labour % analysis
- overhead control
- site-by-site reporting (multi-site)
Menu Pricing & Profitability
We help you:
- price menus correctly
- stop margin erosion
- identify loss-making items
- improve contribution margins
- make data-led decisions
Cashflow Management for Restaurant Businesses
Cashflow kills more restaurants than lack of sales.
We provide:
- monthly cashflow forecasts
- VAT & PAYE planning
- supplier payment scheduling
- seasonal modelling
- funding & finance guidance
- expansion cash modelling
We help restaurants avoid:
- running out of cash
- missed VAT payments
- panic borrowing
- delayed supplier payments
- unnecessary stress
Tax Planning for Restaurant Owners & Directors
We specialise in helping restaurant owners legally pay the least tax possible.
This includes:
- salary + dividend optimisation
- director loan account planning
- company car vs van rules
- s455 tax avoidance
- capital allowances on fit-outs
- pension & SSAS planning
- family tax planning
- exit planning
Most accountants leave serious tax savings on the table.
We don’t.
Group Structures, Multiple Sites & Holding Companies
As restaurants grow, structure becomes critical.
We advise on:
- multiple site structures
- holding companies
- trading subsidiaries
- franchise structures
- asset protection
- profit extraction
- HMRC clearances where needed
Benefits include:
- risk separation
- tax efficiency
- easier expansion
- cleaner exits
Digital Accounting Systems for Restaurants (Xero + POS Integration)
We implement restaurant-ready systems using:
- Xero
- Dext
- POS integrations
- automated bank feeds
- real-time dashboards
This enables:
- daily visibility
- reduced admin
- accurate reporting
- faster decisions
Restaurant accounting becomes real-time, not year-end guesswork.
HMRC Enquiry Defence & Compliance
Hospitality is heavily scrutinised by HMRC.
We provide:
- VAT inspection support
- PAYE & NMW audits
- compliance reviews
- dispute resolution
- penalty mitigation
Our goal: No penalties. No stress. No wasted time.
Why Choose AccounTax Zone as Your Accountant for Restaurant Business?
We support a wide variety of clients as an expert accountant for restaurant, including, but not limited to:
Our Monthly Packages for Restaurants
We offer transparent, fixed monthly fees, including:
- Bookkeeping & reconciliations
- Payroll & tips/tronc
- VAT returns
- Management accounts
- Cashflow forecasting
- Annual accounts & CT600
- Confirmation statement
- Tax planning
- Unlimited support
Packages start from £75 per month for small restaurants and scale based on complexity.anies)and the prices increase depending upon the services you want to include in your package.
FAQs – Accountant for Restaurant Businesses
Yes. Hospitality VAT, payroll and margins make general accountants unsuitable.
Contact AccounTax Zone – Your Specialist Accountant for Restaurant
Whether you run a restaurant, café, takeaway, dark kitchen or hospitality group, we help you:
- reduce tax
- improve margins
- control cashflow
- avoid HMRC penalties
- scale safely
Book Your Free Restaurant Strategy Call
We’ll review:
- your VAT position
- payroll & tips compliance
- margins & pricing
- cashflow risks
- business structure
And show you how to save tax legally while building a stronger restaurant business.
Call: 020 3740 7074
Email: info@accountaxzone.com
Website: accountaxzone.com
Join Hundreds of Happy SMEs getting services from our expert Accountant
Google Reviews
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Sheraz has been absolutely incredible over the years in helping me and my companies with invaluable advises. A solid reliable pillar for any company in UK needed accounting services. Highly recommend.
Fabrizio Moscon
21 March 2024Hard worker Team. Professional Director of operations Mr. Ali Arshad
Lama Mirza
21 March 2024Profesional and courteous, and mr Sheraz Ahmad is always available and helpful
Camelia Jalilian
21 March 2024 -
Great experience with this company. Ali Arshad was very efficient and was always available for advice, would definitely recommend their services.
Iman 22
21 March 2024I've been working with Accountax for nearly three years and have had a favorable experience. The team, particularly Sheraz , is highly knowledgeable and always available to address any questions. I highly recommend his services to any business seeking a skilled accountant to oversee their tax affairs and assist with accounting or R & D Tax claims.
Amro Tuhami
21 April 2024Ali Arshad has been a great support. The flexibility he offered is praiseworthy. Anytime we have a matter to discuss, Ali has done his best to be available to help, at times, even outside of typical working hours. Thanks, Ali!
Fahad Aijaz
21 March 2024 -
I am thoroughly satisfied with Accountax Zone Limited's services. They are skilled, cooperative, and supportive, managing all my financial needs efficiently and at an affordable price. Highly recommended!
Ali Nouman
21 April 2024Great experience using accountax zone for my accounts over the last couple of year's, always quick to respond to any questions or help that I needed, would highly recommend them. Thanks Guys
Dan May
21 April 2024I've been using them for over three years now, and I'm very happy with theirs services and fees. Arshad was really helpful when I needed an advice for my business.
AllinOne ProductsGB
21 March 2024 -
I’ve recommended Ali and his colleagues at Accountax Zone Ltd to multiple friends and they have delivered on every occasion. Professional and knowledgeable; they always come up with the best solutions for both simple and complex accounting and financial issues.
Tony Burkson
21 February 2024Accountancy firms are rarely able to provide such valuable and pragmatic advice to help you grow your business. I have been in the construction business for years and I will take AccounTax Zone's top tips as a blueprint for scaling up my construction business.
Bunny Plays
21 August 2023Amazing service. Sharaz and the Accountax Team do my monthly and self Assessment accounts, reporting and submissions with more care, accuracy, lower costs and less work on my part than any of the previous accountants I have worked with. I highly recommend my favourite accountants.
Eny Osung
21 July 2024 -
I’ve been working with Ali at Accountax Zone for the last few months. Ali has been so helpful and knowledgable as he’s been guiding me through the set up of my group of property companies. An accountant with experience in the construction industry - exactly what I needed! 👏🏼
Belinda Bambrick
21 March 2024I have been a client of Accountax for almost three years. My experience with the team at Accountax has been positive. Ali Arshad is very knowledgeable and ready to help with any query. I have gotten decent advice from him on tax management and investment. I strongly recommend him to any business looking for an accountant to manage the tax account and help with accounting or investments.
Mohammad Usaid Abbasi
21 March 2024I am glad that we selected Accountax zone services for our accounts management. They have in depth understanding of accounts matters and provided professional services.
Usman Zahidi
21 August 2023 -
Professional work. Great at keeping records maintained and up to date service.
GLOBAL EXPRESS FREIGHT
21 April 2024I have been using AccounTax Zone for my accountancy needs, and I am very happy with their services. They are extremely knowledgeable and professional. They make everything easy to understand and are always available to answer any questions I have. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of an accountant. Great job!
priyanka ben patel
21 May 2024I moved over to Account Tax Zone about 5 years back and never looked back. Much much better service, ahead of the game & better value too.
tahir shah
21 April 2024 -
I have used this company for several years and they are brilliant. I run a single-handed business, and accounts are not my strong point. Sammar tries to keep me on track and patiently explains the intricacies of Xero. Strongly recommended!
Ian Ford
21 March 2024I am using AccounTax Zone for my company and personal accountancy needs, and I have found Mr. Sheraz and his team are very professional, proactive, and knowledgeable! Their expertise and dedication have truly made a difference in managing my finances. I am always impressed by their professionalism and knowledge, and I highly recommend AccounTax Zone to anyone in need of an outstanding accountant.
Sujit Patel
21 April 2024Very Professional and proactive accountants. Highly recommended 👌
Mohammed Saeed
21 August 2023 -
Great quality services and very professional staff. Highly recommended!
M Ayaan
21 August 2021I have used the Accountax Zone team for my companies tax reporting for over two years and have consistently been impressed with the way that they handle my business. My account manager, Subhan, is always prompt and diligent in replying to any questions I have about my tax returns, or the wider implications of new rules on my business. I would highly recommend working with this team!
James Frith
21 March 2024Professional service, the team is responsive and very knowledgeable We have been working with them for several years and plan to continue for many more
Arnaud Hatte
21 March 2024 -
Efficient & super friendly. Very happy
Sean Grealish
21 August 2022We have been working with Sheraz & Accountax Zone for several years and they provide a professional service supplying timely & knowledgeable support.
Tony Myers
21 June 2024
