Hospitality accountancy in Northern Ireland
NI hospitality runs on margin, footfall, and the cost of the next shift. From independent restaurants in Belfast to multi-site pizza, coffee, and quick-service operators, we work with hospitality businesses who need an accountant that understands tronc, tips, and what a wet weekend does to the till.
Talk to us about hospitalityHospitality accountancy is its own discipline. Cost of sale moves daily. Wages move weekly. VAT is layered, with food, alcohol, mixed-rate items, and takeaway versus eat-in all behaving differently. Tips and service charges sit between PAYE and a tronc scheme. Multi-site operators add inter-company transactions, group reporting, and centralised payroll on top.
We work with chain restaurants, pizza and coffee franchisees, café groups, and independent operators across Belfast and Northern Ireland. Some of our clients run single sites; others operate ten or more. Either way, the question is the same: which sites and which lines actually make money once labour, food, rent, and finance are loaded in.
Our hospitality clients tell us two things matter: real-time visibility on weekly P&L by site, and an accountant who understands the rhythm of a hospitality week.
What hospitality businesses ask us
Tronc and tips
PAYE on tips paid through the till versus tronc-administered service charges. Setting up a tronc scheme correctly to avoid employer NIC. Allocation rules and HMRC reporting.
Mixed-rate VAT
Standard, zero, and reduced rates across food, drink, and confectionery. Eat-in versus takeaway. Cold takeaway versus hot. Getting the till categories right at point of sale.
Multi-site reporting
Weekly P&L per site. Inter-company recharges and central costs. Group consolidation. Spotting the under-performing site early enough to act.
Labour cost control
Wage % of sales as the leading indicator. National Living Wage increases. Apprenticeship Levy. Holiday pay on variable-hours contracts after the Harpur Trust ruling.
Cash flow and seasonality
VAT payments lining up with quiet months. Capital expenditure timing. Building reserves without losing tax efficiency.
How we help hospitality businesses
Making Tax Digital
MTD setup, digital record-keeping, and quarterly submissions for sole traders, landlords, and partnerships.
View servicePersonal tax
Self-assessment, capital gains, inheritance, and personal tax planning across generations.
View serviceBusiness accounts
Year-end accounts, bookkeeping, and management information you can actually use.
View serviceVAT
VAT registration, returns, MTD compliance, and EU/non-UK supply advice.
View servicePayroll
Weekly, monthly, and four-weekly payroll with full RTI and pension compliance.
View serviceCompanies House Secretarial Services
ACSP-accredited company secretarial work: formations, confirmation statements, director changes, and identity verification.
View serviceBusiness advisory
Strategy, financing, succession, and the conversations that move the bottom line.
View serviceFunding & finance
Bank, asset, and working capital finance, plus introductions to FCA-regulated mortgage and pension partners.
View serviceCorporate tax
Corporation tax computations, capital allowances, and HMRC support for NI limited companies.
View serviceFrequently asked about hospitality accountancy
Should I use a tronc scheme for tips?
For most hospitality businesses, yes. Tips paid via a properly administered tronc are subject to PAYE but not employer National Insurance, which saves around 15% on the tip pool. We set up the scheme, draft the rules, and handle the reporting.
How do I handle VAT on takeaway food?
Cold takeaway food is generally zero-rated; hot takeaway is standard-rated; eat-in is standard-rated regardless. Drinks have their own rules. We configure your till categories and review your VAT return each quarter to keep the split correct.
Can you handle multi-site hospitality groups?
Yes. We set up reporting by site, consolidate for the group, handle inter-company transactions, and produce weekly or monthly P&L per location so you can see which sites are pulling weight and which need attention.
Do you work with franchise operators?
Yes. We work with Subway, pizza, coffee, and quick-service franchise operators across NI. We understand royalty fees, marketing levies, and the specific reporting most franchisors require.
Talk to an accountant who understands hospitality in NI
15-minute call. No commitment. We will answer your questions and outline how we work with hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland.
028 9508 4138We also work with
Retail
VAT, stock, and margin discipline for NI retailers.
Learn more Main contractors, subcontractors, and tradesConstruction
CIS, VAT reverse charge, and cash flow for NI builders and contractors.
Learn more Engineering, food, and precision manufacturersManufacturing
Capital allowances, cost control, and grant accounting for NI manufacturers.
Learn moreNot in hospitality? We work with NI businesses across every industry. The accountancy principles are the same. Get in touch.