Leisure & Hospitality Accounting Services
Manage seasonal revenue, payroll complexity, and tax obligations with ease. Evans Sternau CPA delivers hospitality accounting services tailored for hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues seeking accurate reporting and smarter expense control.
An Experienced CPA Here for You
Running a hotel, restaurant, or resort isn’t just about service; it’s about keeping the numbers steady when business is anything but. Demand shifts with the seasons, labor costs move fast, and every new regulation adds another layer of work.
It’s a lot. And getting a real grip on those numbers, the ones beyond the daily sales report, is what determines if you’re just busy or if you’re truly profitable. As a reputable accounting firm for hospitality companies, we’re built to handle this specific pressure. We give you the clear, actionable financial picture you need, so you can run your business with confidence.
Why Hospitality & Leisure Accounting Matters
Running a hotel, café, or resort goes beyond entertaining guests. You must also keep the numbers under control. And in hospitality, the numbers are tricky. One day, you’re slammed, pulling extra staff and burning through inventory. The next, it’s dead, and you’re staring at a pile of perishables and a full payroll.
In real practice, you’re not just managing money; you’re trying to budget for a holiday weekend, untangle the tax rules on server tips, and figure out why your bar costs are 5% over target – all before lunch service.
Beyond day-to-day management, accurate accounting also keeps businesses compliant. Changing tax regulations, payroll requirements, and local reporting standards can quickly become a burden without clear oversight.
This is the reality. And without a dedicated hospitality accounting service built for that chaos, you’re just guessing. You’re hoping a good weekend can float a slow week. Hope isn’t a strategy.
Who We Serve
Our focus is on the specific financial realities of the leisure and hospitality sector. We provide tailored accounting for the hospitality industry, built on an understanding of the distinct pressures each of these businesses faces every day.
Hotels & Resorts
You’re dealing with a mortgage and payroll that don’t care if you’re at 40% or 90% occupancy. We dig into the numbers that matter: tracking RevPAR, managing labor against housekeeping hours, and finding the real cost behind those ‘complimentary’ amenities.
Restaurants & Cafes
Your margins are won or lost by the ounce. We get into the details of food cost percentage, inventory rotation, labor scheduling against covers, and the complexities of tip reporting and compliance.
Entertainment Venues
From concert halls to theaters, your revenue is all about the event cycle. We help manage the intense cash flow around ticket sales, navigate 1099 contracts for performers, and account for the high overhead during dark nights.
Photography & Arts Businesses
Creative projects come with fluctuating income and high equipment costs. We focus on expense tracking, asset depreciation, and tax compliance for studios and independent artists.
Meet Your Hospitality CPA
CHAD EVANS
Chad Evans, Co-Founder of Evans Sternau CPA, is a seasoned expert in financial analysis and operational management. His focus is on developing client-first strategies for various sectors, including Leisure & Hospitality, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Financial Services and more.
Why Choose Evans Sternau CPA for Hospitality & Leisure Accounting
In this industry, generic advice can cost you real money. You need a partner who speaks the language and understands the mechanics of your business. Here’s how our approach to accounting services for the hospitality industry delivers a different kind of value.
Industry-Specific Knowledge
We don’t just understand spreadsheets; we understand your concept. This means we can look at your numbers and see the story of your front house and your back office, providing insights that go beyond standard reporting.
A True Year-Round Partnership
Your challenges don’t disappear after tax season. We’re here through the slow seasons and the peak rushes, helping you manage cash flow to ensure you’re positioned correctly for both.
A Compliance-First Foundation
A new menu item can change your sales tax obligations. A shift in tip reporting laws can create a payroll headache. We keep our finger on the pulse of these regulations so you can run your business without worrying about a surprise audit.
An Unrelenting Focus on Profitability
Beyond compliance, we dig into your numbers to find where your money is really going. We analyze your operations to identify cost efficiencies, optimize labor and inventory, and help you make decisions that protect your bottom line.
Smarter Leisure & Hospitality Accounting Starts Today
Solutions Built for You
Your operation is unique, and your financial support should be too. While it might be tempting to spend your evenings buried in spreadsheets, you still have a restaurant to run, a hotel to manage, and a venue to fill. That’s where we come in.
Our accounting services for the hospitality industry are built to handle the gritty details, including the daily sales numbers, the actual cost of that specialty ingredient, and the true cost of a server’s shift, including tips. We turn that chaos into a clear, understandable financial picture.
So you can stop guessing about your profitability. Instead, you’ll have the hard numbers in front of you, giving you the confidence to decide whether to hire another line cook, adjust your menu prices, or finally plan for that expansion. We handle the books, you run the business.
Recent Leisure & Hospitality Experience
Our recent work in hospitality and leisure accounting reflects the diverse nature of the sector itself. We’ve provided financial clarity for independent boutique hotels, multi-location restaurant groups, and live music venues navigating the complexities of event-based revenue.
Whether it’s a hotel or a concert hall, the core financial headaches are usually the same. Pedicting next week’s revenue determines today’s staffing decisions. You’re tracking a thousand small inventory items to protect your margin. You’re making sure that when tax time comes, there are no ugly surprises. We build the financial backbone that lets you tackle those problems with actual data, not just a gut feeling.
Services for You
Our approach to accounting in the hospitality industry is built on a year-round partnership, not just year-end compliance. This means we’re here for ongoing tax strategy, proactive advisory, and meticulous return preparation, ensuring you always have a clear view of your complete tax picture.
Core Services:
We also handle additional services, including payroll processing, 1031 Exchanges, and guidance on Entity Selection to structure your business for long-term success.
Explore more Industries
Our financial expertise extends beyond hotels and restaurants. We apply the same focused, industry-specific approach to a range of business sectors.
FAQs
How do accounting services for the hospitality industry differ from those in other sectors?
Standard accounting looks at steady revenue. Our work in accounting for the hospitality industry focuses on volatility. We track metrics that matter to you: daily sales per room, food cost percentages, and liquor inventory shrinkage.
Do you use software for hospitality accounting?
Yes, and we use the tools that fit your operation. We’re proficient with platforms like QuickBooks, and we integrate them with the systems you already use daily, such as your point-of-sale (POS) or property management system.
What is an outsourced CFO, and how can it help hospitality operators?
An outsourced CFO is like having a financial partner without the full-time executive salary. For an owner focused on daily service, we provide the high-level strategy. We analyze your data to guide major decisions while focusing on long-term profitability and cash flow health.
How can seasonal fluctuations affect cash flow in hospitality businesses?
A great summer must fund a slow winter. Without careful planning, you can be profitable on paper but run out of cash to pay bills in the off-season. Our role is to build a financial model that anticipates this, creating a cash reserve during peak months. This proactive approach to leisure in accounting ensures your business remains stable and solvent all year round.
Can you help if I'm buying or selling a business?
Absolutely. We act as your financial advisor through the entire process. For a buyer, we conduct due diligence to verify the numbers. For a seller, we prepare recast financial statements to show the true earning potential. We help structure the deal to minimize tax liabilities and ensure the financial transition is smooth.
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We assist clients across the United States.
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