How to Run a Café or Restaurant Business in Australia

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How to Run a Café or Restaurant Business in Australia. Accounting, Compliance & Trinity’s Expert Support

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Trinity Accounting Practice — Accounting Firm in Beverly Hills
159 Stoney Creek Road Beverly Hills NSW 2209
☎️ 02 9543 6804
🌐 www.trinitygroup.com.au
📅 Book an appointment: https://calendly.com/ramy-hanna

Starting a Café or Restaurant — First Steps

Choose a Business Structure
• Sole Trader – simple, but higher personal risk
• Partnership – good for family-run or joint ventures
• Company – best for protection, branding, and growth
• Trust – used for tax planning and asset protection

📌 Trinity will advise and set up the best structure to suit your goals.

Get the Right Registrations
• ABN and TFN
• GST registration (if turnover > $75,000)
• Food business registration with your council
• Liquor licence (if serving alcohol)
• Music licences (OneMusic, APRA AMCOS, PPCA)

Understanding Hospitality Regulations

You must comply with:
• Food safety rules (storage, training, hygiene)
• Hospitality Industry (General) Award
• Council and health department inspections
• Super and payroll tax laws
• COVID-safe requirements, if applicable

What Expenses Can You Claim?

Staff Costs
• Wages and superannuation
• Payroll tax (state dependent)
• Uniforms and training

Stock & Ingredients
• Food and beverage stock
• Coffee, tea, alcohol, milk, condiments
• Packaging and takeaway supplies

Equipment & Furniture
• Coffee machines, fridges, freezers
• Kitchen fit-outs and utensils
• POS systems and tablet devices
• Tables, chairs, and signage

📌 Some assets may be depreciated or fully written off depending on cost thresholds.

Cleaning & Waste
• Commercial cleaning services
• Pest control
• Rubbish disposal and grease trap services

Marketing & Branding
• Menu design and signage
• Website and social media ads
• Food delivery platforms (UberEats, Menulog)

Software & Tech
• POS (Square, Kounta, Lightspeed)
• Rostering (Deputy, Tanda)
• Xero or MYOB
• Booking and delivery integrations

Rent, Utilities & Insurance
• Commercial rent
• Water, gas, electricity
• Equipment and liability insurance

📌 Trinity helps you track, record, and claim all legitimate business expenses.

Payroll and Award Compliance in Hospitality

You must:
• Follow the Hospitality Award for wages and conditions
• Apply penalty rates on weekends and public holidays
• Report wages via Single Touch Payroll (STP)
• Pay super on time (quarterly)
• Stay updated with Fair Work changes

💡 We help you build a payroll system using Xero and Deputy that is award-compliant and easy to manage.

Managing Cash Flow in Hospitality

• Use POS tools to monitor daily sales
• Review food cost and waste weekly
• Keep wages within 30–35% of revenue
• Watch supplier pricing and renegotiate often
• Use Xero or MYOB for real-time visibility and monthly budgeting

BAS, GST, and Tax for Cafés & Restaurants

Business Activity Statements (BAS)
• Lodge quarterly (monthly if high turnover)
• Report GST on food, drink, and services
• Claim GST on expenses like stock, rent, and utilities

Income Tax
• Sole traders declare income on personal return
• Companies pay 25% small business tax
• Trusts distribute profits to beneficiaries

Other Tax Considerations
• Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) on staff meals or perks
• Instant asset write-offs and depreciation schedules

📌 We manage BAS lodgements, tax returns, and ATO correspondence — with full transparency.

Tips for Growing a Café or Restaurant

• Monitor COGS regularly and minimise wastage
• Streamline your menu with high-margin items
• Offer loyalty programs and email discounts
• Keep reviews high with service training
• Consider additional locations or franchising
• Review all contracts annually (suppliers, lease, delivery apps)

Real Café & Restaurant Clients We’ve Helped

We’ve helped hospitality clients to:
✅ Set up their company or trust
✅ Digitise their accounts and receipts
✅ Maximise deductions and reduce tax bills
✅ Negotiate ATO payment plans
✅ Access government grants during lockdowns
✅ Grow from one site to multiple venues

How Trinity Accounting Practice Supports Cafés & Restaurants

Bookkeeping & Reporting
• Xero or MYOB integration
• POS syncing and reconciliations
• Monthly profit/loss, cash flow, and KPI reporting

Payroll Setup & Management
• Accurate pay runs based on the Hospitality Award
• Superannuation and STP reporting
• Staff onboarding, leave tracking, and wage compliance

BAS & Tax Returns
• Quarterly BAS preparation and lodging
• Company or trust annual tax returns
• Depreciation and asset write-off calculations

Budgeting & Strategic Advice
• Menu and pricing strategy
• Budget forecasting and cash flow planning
• Expansion and lease reviews

Why Café and Restaurant Owners Trust Trinity

✅ We offer flexible after-hours and weekend support
✅ We work with food and beverage businesses Australia-wide
✅ We use cloud systems that sync with hospitality software
✅ We simplify GST, BAS, payroll, and award compliance
✅ We’ve supported clients since 2003 with practical advice

Let’s Grow Your Café or Restaurant Business

You're managing your team, stock, service, and operations — let us manage your books, BAS, and tax obligations so you can scale successfully.

👉 Trinity Accounting Practice
📍 159 Stoney Creek Road Beverly Hills NSW 2209
☎️ 02 9543 6804
🌐 www.trinitygroup.com.au
📅 Book an appointment: https://calendly.com/ramy-hanna

Explore More

📌 Learn more about what we offer: https://www.trinitygroup.com.au/services
📌 Discover the industries we specialise in: https://www.trinitygroup.com.au/niches
📌 Read more tax and accounting tips on our blog: https://www.trinitygroup.com.au/explore-learn

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