Restaurant Accounting Solutions
Swick & Associates LLC is the official accounting and tax partner of the Colorado Restaurant Association.
40 Years of Restaurant Industry Experience Behind Your Back Office
Restaurant operators deal with a level of financial complexity that generalist accounting firms don’t always anticipate: tip reporting, food and beverage tax, seasonal cash flow swings, payroll for hourly and tipped staff, and month-end closes that have to be right so you can take them straight to your bank. Swick has spent more than 40 years building monthly accounting services, tax planning and preparation, and payroll solutions specifically around how restaurants operate.
Every client receives a dedicated accounting manager and a dedicated bookkeeper, the same people, every month. They know your operation, your vendors, your seasonality, and your numbers. When you call with a question, you’re talking to someone who already understands your business.
The Colorado Restaurant Association’s Official Accounting Partner
When the Colorado Restaurant Association was looking for an official accounting and tax partner, they approached Swick. That happened because of what restaurant operators across Colorado already know: Swick started in restaurants, has stayed in restaurants, and brings more than four decades of hands-on experience to every client engagement.
Being the official partner of the CRA means our team stays current on the regulatory, tax, and compliance developments that affect Colorado restaurants directly. When something changes that matters to your bottom line, our team surfaces it before it becomes a problem on your books.
A Dedicated Team, Not a Rotating Door
One of the most common frustrations restaurant owners bring to Swick is the experience of working with a firm that cycles through different contacts on their account. At Swick, that doesn’t happen. Your accounting manager and your bookkeeper are assigned to your business and stay with it. They learn your payroll structure, your vendor mix, your seasonal patterns, and how your margins move month to month. That continuity shows up in the accuracy of your financials — and in how little time you spend re-explaining your operation.
Your Restaurant’s Finances, Handled Front to Back
Get accurate financials on time, every month, while you focus on running your restaurant.
Complete Restaurant Accounting Services, From Sales Tax to Tip Reporting
While you’re focused on your guests, your kitchen, and your team, Swick covers the full financial back office. Restaurant accounting services include:
- Monthly accounting: reconciled bank accounts, credit card accounts, and loans, plus comparative reports and annual personal property filing. Financials are delivered on a set date each month, bank-ready.
- Tax planning and preparation: business and individual returns for S-Corps, C-Corps, partnerships, and sole proprietors. Tax planning runs year-round. We also provide a complimentary review of your prior-year return to confirm you aren’t leaving credits on the table.
- Payroll services for restaurants: payroll processing, tax filing, W-2 preparation, payroll notice resolution, and full tip reporting. We handle every piece so your staff gets paid accurately and on time.
- Sales tax and food & beverage tax: filed and paid on your behalf, on schedule, without a month-end scramble from your side.
- Accounts payable: available as an add-on for operators who want end-to-end back-office coverage.
Everything runs on flat-fee billing. Your cost is set before the month starts. You won’t receive an invoice for calling us with a question.
Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant Accounting
What restaurant accounting services does Swick offer?
Swick provides monthly accounting, tax planning and preparation, and payroll services for restaurants including tip reporting, W-2 preparation, and payroll tax filing. Sales tax and food & beverage tax filing are included in monthly accounting, and accounts payable support is available as an add-on. Every service is backed by a dedicated accounting manager and bookkeeper and priced on a flat monthly fee.
How does Swick handle tip reporting for restaurant clients?
Tip reporting is part of Swick’s restaurant payroll service. Our team tracks and calculates tip income, files in compliance with IRS requirements, and ensures each employee’s W-2 reflects accurate compensation at year-end. Restaurant operators don’t manage this separately — it’s built into the payroll work we do every pay period.
What does "bank-ready" mean for my monthly financials?
A bank-ready financial package is a complete set of reconciled statements reviewed by our team, ready to hand directly to a lender, banker, or investor without additional preparation on your end. Swick delivers these to restaurant clients on a fixed date each month, so you’re never scrambling before a meeting.
How does flat-fee billing work for restaurant accounting?
Swick sets a flat monthly rate that covers your services and your communication, including phone calls and questions that come up throughout the month. There’s no hourly tracking and no additional invoice for time spent on your account. You know your cost before the month begins, which makes budgeting and cash flow planning easier.
Does Swick work with multi-location restaurants and franchise operators?
Yes. Swick has experience with restaurant groups operating multiple locations and franchise structures. Our dedicated team model and multi-entity tax planning approach handle the complexity that comes with expansion. If your operation is growing, we structure our services to scale with it.
