Industry Specialists
Takeaway & Restaurant Accountants in Stoke-on-Trent
Accountants for takeaways, restaurants, cafés and pubs. We get VAT on hot food right, reconcile your Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats payouts, and run payroll for shift staff, so you can focus on service.
Why Hospitality Needs a Specialist Accountant
Takeaways and restaurants deal with VAT rules that change depending on whether food is hot or cold, eaten in or taken away. Income arrives from tills, card terminals, cash and several delivery apps, each reporting in a different way. Staff work irregular shifts and share tips. General accountants often miss the detail.
K&R Accountants already works with takeaways and restaurants across Stoke-on-Trent, from our offices in Dresden and Leek. We know the questions HMRC asks hospitality businesses, and we set your records up so you have clear answers.
Where Takeaways and Restaurants Get Caught Out
VAT on hot food
Hot takeaway food is standard-rated, while much cold food to take away is zero-rated, and everything eaten on the premises is standard-rated. Meal deals, drinks and mixed orders need apportioning. Getting the split wrong is one of the most common reasons takeaways overpay VAT or face HMRC adjustments.
Delivery platform payouts
Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats pay you net of commission, refunds and fees. Your sales should be recorded at the full value the customer paid, with commission booked as a cost and the VAT on it reclaimed where you hold a valid invoice. Recording only the payout understates turnover.
Cash and card takings
HMRC treats cash-heavy businesses as higher risk. Daily Z-reads, card terminal reports and bank deposits should agree. We reconcile them so your records stand up if HMRC ever asks.
Staff, tips and holiday pay
Employers must pass all tips to workers under a written, fair allocation policy. Tips paid through an independent tronc can be free of National Insurance. Irregular-hours staff need holiday pay worked out correctly, and minimum wage must hold across every pay period.
Hospitality Accounting Services
Everything a food or drink business needs, from daily takings to year-end.
VAT Returns
Hot, cold, eat-in and takeaway sales split correctly on every return
Bookkeeping
EPOS, card terminal, cash and delivery platform income reconciled
Payroll
Shift staff, irregular hours, holiday pay and auto-enrolment
Company Accounts
Year-end accounts and corporation tax for limited companies
Sole Trader Accounts
Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital for owner-run takeaways
Cloud Software
Xero or QuickBooks set up to pull in your sales feeds
Businesses We Work With
Takeaway & Restaurant Accounting FAQs
Do I charge VAT on takeaway food?
It depends on whether the food is hot. Hot takeaway food and drink is standard-rated. Most cold food sold to take away is zero-rated, but confectionery, crisps, soft drinks and alcohol are standard-rated whether hot or cold. Food eaten on your premises is always standard-rated. We review your menu and EPOS set-up so each item is coded correctly.
How should I record Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats income?
Record each order at the gross amount the customer paid, not the net payout you receive. The platform commission and fees are a business cost, and you can reclaim the VAT charged on them if you are VAT registered and have the invoice. We match platform statements to your bank so nothing is missed or double counted.
What are the rules on tips for my staff?
You must pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers without deductions, other than tax, and allocate them fairly under a written policy that staff can see. Tips paid directly in cash by customers are taxable for the worker. Tips distributed through an independent troncmaster can be paid without National Insurance. We can help you set up a compliant policy and payroll process.
Should my takeaway be a sole trader or a limited company?
It depends on your profit, how much you draw, your plans to expand and the risks you carry. A limited company can be more tax-efficient once profits are steady, but it brings more admin and filing duties. We run the comparison on your actual figures before you decide.
Do you work with restaurants, cafés and pubs as well as takeaways?
Yes. We work with takeaways, restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars, dessert parlours, caterers and food vans across Stoke-on-Trent, Leek and Staffordshire. The VAT, payroll and cash reconciliation issues are similar across all of them.
Can you help if my books are behind?
Yes. Many hospitality owners come to us with missing records, unreconciled platform payouts or late returns. We bring the books up to date, deal with HMRC on your behalf and set up a simple routine so it does not happen again.
Talk to Hospitality Accountants
Tell us how your takings come in and we will explain how we would keep your VAT, books and payroll right.