Bookkeeping Checklist for First-Time Restaurant Owners

When opening a restaurant for the first time, many owners focus on renovations, menus, and hiring — but often overlook finances. In reality, bookkeeping is the baseline that determines whether a restaurant can operate sustainably in the long run.

The following checklist will help you get your accounts right from day one.

I. Documents to Prepare Before Opening

✅ Bank account setup (keep it separate, avoid mixing with personal accounts)

✅ Lease agreement and deposit receipts

✅ Renovation expenses and equipment purchase invoices

✅ License application fees (e.g., food safety, liquor license)

💡 Tip: These count as “startup costs.” Recording them clearly will help you calculate return on investment later.

II. Receipts to Collect Daily

✅ Supplier invoices (ingredients, beverages, consumables)

✅ POS transaction records (cash, credit card, e-payments)

✅ Staff reimbursement slips (transportation, purchases, miscellaneous expenses)

✅ Rent, utilities, and internet bills

👉 With ccMonet, staff can simply snap and upload receipts, and the system automatically records them — no need to worry about lost slips.

III. Items to Check Weekly

✅ Whether all supplier invoices have been recorded

✅ Whether POS income matches bookkeeping records

✅ Ratio of ingredient costs to weekly revenue

✅ Whether there are any pending reimbursements

This way, you can avoid discovering “big gaps” only at month-end.

IV. Monthly Tasks

✅ Employee salaries and social security contributions

✅ Rent and fixed expense payments

✅ Invoice consolidation in preparation for tax filing (e.g., GST)

✅ Review the monthly profit and loss statement (profit/loss status)

📊 In ccMonet, these reports are auto-generated, and owners can view them anytime on their phones.

V. Annual Matters to Pay Attention To

✅ Annual tax filing (e.g., corporate tax returns)

✅ Annual financial statements (necessary for financing or loans)

✅ Depreciation records for long-term assets (kitchen equipment, renovations)

Summary

A bookkeeping checklist ≠ a complicated process. The key is:

• Collect receipts properly;
• Review regularly — don’t wait until year-end;
• Leverage software tools to let AI handle the tedious work.

For first-time restaurant owners, following this checklist ensures that your bookkeeping stays clear and compliant.

👉 Want to turn this checklist into an “automated workflow”?

Try ccMonet — from photo-based bookkeeping to auto-generated reports, it keeps your restaurant’s finances organized and stress-free.

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