Serving fresh ideas to restaurants
In the restaurant industry, change is always on the menu due to shifting customer preferences, emerging new technologies and intense competition. As the industry constantly evolves, business owners need a trusted advisor who can help them adopt effective strategies.
BDO offers assurance, tax and advisory services that focus specifically on the restaurant industry. With years of experience serving all restaurant sectors, including franchisors, franchisees, publicly traded companies and independent concepts, our professionals can help restaurants better manage the front and back of the house. Our guidance and resources also allow businesses to stay on top of the trends, policies and practices that are critical to running a successful establishment.
Whether we are helping clients invest in new technologies, expand real estate footprints, determine total tax liability, or engage in mergers and acquisitions, our team of professionals have the tools, resources and experience to help restaurants thrive.
How BDO Can Help
Case Studies
Client Success Story: Improving Financial Reporting For A Restaurant Franchisee
September 9, 2022A case study on streamlining financial reporting for a restaurant franchisee.
BDO Knows Fraud Analytics: A Case Study
July 26, 2021The so-called "Five V's" of Big Data—volume, variety, velocity, value and veracity—continue to plague key business functions and processes across organizations. A fraud investigation is no exception. The sheer amount and diversity of potential evidence can create a forensic nightmare.
Who We Serve
BDO serves all sectors of the restaurant industry, spanning established and emerging concepts across cuisines.
Fine Dining
We have a deep understanding of the specific requirements of more formal establishments catering to sophisticated customers that comes from our years of experience working with fine dining businesses.
Upscale Casual,
Casual and Fast Casual
Our seasoned professionals help businesses running casual restaurants of all types find efficiencies and balance quality, value for money and workforce needs.
Quick Service
In the quick service segment, restaurant and franchise owners face a competitive marketplace. Our clients use the insights and analysis of our Restaurant Industry Practice leaders to gain a competitive edge.
BDO To-Go Restaurant Podcast Series
The constantly evolving landscape of the Restaurant Industry forces operators and owners to adapt quickly and maintain a keen awareness of consumer and economic shifts. Understanding these business impacts and insights is key to the continued success and resilience of the restaurant industry. That’s why we crafted our new BDO To-Go Podcast Series, a monthly podcast that you can take…to go!
BDO Restaurant Selections Blog
The BDO Restaurant Practice is committed to providing deep industry insights and technical knowledge to help restaurants thrive and drive profitability. Drawing on our experience serving clients throughout the restaurant business, including franchisors, public companies and independents across all industry segments, we offer guidance to help businesses adapt to new and existing challenges and opportunities.
Restaurant Insights
Explore our most recent resources and thought leadership.
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 22: The Story of Visioning with Zingerman's Ari Weinzweig
November 29, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 22: The Story of Visioning with Zingerman's Ari Weinzweig
November 29, 2022In this episode, Ari Weinzweig discusses how he was able to build the vision and the culture for his company and what process he had to undertake to properly map it out so that everyone could see it, believe it, and get on board with it. Ari joins our new host, Giselle El Birri to deliver best practices around building vision and culture in today’s industry.
ERC Updates
November 23, 2022ERC Updates
November 23, 2022This article addresses a few of the issues that restaurants face regarding the refund processing, IRS examinations of credits and tax liabilities, including potential underpayment penalties due on the refunds.
Client Success Story: Improving Financial Reporting For A Restaurant Franchisee
September 9, 2022Client Success Story: Improving Financial Reporting For A Restaurant Franchisee
September 9, 2022A case study on streamlining financial reporting for a restaurant franchisee.
Gaining Data Insights for Enhanced Operations
August 10, 2022Gaining Data Insights for Enhanced Operations
August 10, 2022Restaurants rely on insights from data to improve many areas of business operations — from menu choices and marketing campaigns to supply chain and staffing. Understanding the relationships within the business’ entire data set helps to pull the right levers, drive higher returns and relieve distress.
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 21: Sound “Bites” from the 2022 CFO Bootcamp: Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law
July 28, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 21: Sound “Bites” from the 2022 CFO Bootcamp: Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law
July 28, 2022In this episode, we hear some sound bites from the 2022 BDO Restaurant CFO Bootcamp where Alicia Voltmer of GreenbergTraurig, LLP provides an overview of current and emerging L&E issues faced by the restaurant industry, including some hot-topic items in employment law.
Collecting, Modeling and Securing Your Restaurant’s Data
July 22, 2022Collecting, Modeling and Securing Your Restaurant’s Data
July 22, 2022The restaurant industry is no stranger to the critical role data plays in running a business.
Sales Tax Savings Opportunity for Restaurant Companies with Locations in Colorado
July 18, 2022Sales Tax Savings Opportunity for Restaurant Companies with Locations in Colorado
July 18, 2022Colorado has recently renewed a limited time sales tax deduction for restaurants and other similar “qualifying retailers,” which allows eligible retailers to retain and use a portion of their collected state sales tax (equal to the lesser of state net taxable sales or $70,000 for each month in the specified sales tax period).
Sales Tax Savings Opportunity for Restaurant Companies with Locations in Colorado
July 18, 2022Sales Tax Savings Opportunity for Restaurant Companies with Locations in Colorado
July 18, 2022Colorado has recently renewed a limited time sales tax deduction for restaurants and other similar “qualifying retailers,” which allows eligible retailers to retain and use a portion of their collected state sales tax (equal to the lesser of state net taxable sales or $70,000 for each month in the specified sales tax period).
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 20: Gregg Thomas and Meg Potts Dish on Data Warehouses, C-suite Outsourcing, and Automation
May 26, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 20: Gregg Thomas and Meg Potts Dish on Data Warehouses, C-suite Outsourcing, and Automation
May 26, 2022Gregg Thomas and Meg Potts join host Jeff Tubaugh to dish about best practices and strategies for the restaurant and retail industry.
The Case for Diverse Revenue Streams
May 26, 2022The Case for Diverse Revenue Streams
May 26, 2022A patron speaks with the restaurant host, either to confirm a reservation or ask if there’s a table available. Ideally, the host calls upon a server who then leads the patron to a table and takes their order. It’s a system that worked since the dawn of the U.S. restaurant industry — accounting for 90% of most restaurants’ revenue pre-pandemic — until it didn’t.
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 19: Bill Lindsey on Restaurant Technologies and Rising to the Challenge of Inventory
April 26, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 19: Bill Lindsey on Restaurant Technologies and Rising to the Challenge of Inventory
April 26, 2022Host Jeff Tubaugh and Bill Lindsey, the partner and co-founder of COGS-Well, dive into how technology has revolutionized the industry with the rising expectations of consumers.
From Automat to Automatic: How New Tech is Bringing Efficiencies to Back of House
April 22, 2022From Automat to Automatic: How New Tech is Bringing Efficiencies to Back of House
April 22, 2022From the drive through speaker to the QR code menu, restaurant patrons are familiar with the evolution of technology that streamlines front of house operations. Recent years have seen increased focus on innovation at the back of house. Though they might not be visible to the average customer, changes underway will have a profound impact on customer experience.
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 17: FUSIAN: Where passion and persistence meet with Stephan Harman and Mike Speck
March 29, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 17: FUSIAN: Where passion and persistence meet with Stephan Harman and Mike Speck
March 29, 2022Stephan Harman and Mike Speck are both partners at the restaurant FUSIAN with Mike serving as CEO. FUSIAN exists to connect people through collaboration, culture and cuisine. In this episode, the duo shares where they see the industry headed and how FUSIAN is evolving with our host, Jeff Tubaugh.
Do You Believe in Ghost Kitchens?
March 22, 2022Do You Believe in Ghost Kitchens?
March 22, 2022Between operational disruptions, government restrictions, labor shortages and other challenges, restaurants have been one of the hardest-hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 16: A Look Behind the Curtain: Franchising in 2022 and Beyond
February 24, 2022BDO To-Go Podcast Episode 16: A Look Behind the Curtain: Franchising in 2022 and Beyond
February 24, 2022In this episode, Dana Zukofsky interviews Justin Klein, one of the leading franchise business attorneys in the United States. Named to the International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers, Justin’s knowledge and insights provide listeners with a sneak peek behind the curtain of the franchising world today.
Supply Chain Disruptions Weighing on Restaurants’ Food And Product Inventory
February 23, 2022Supply Chain Disruptions Weighing on Restaurants’ Food And Product Inventory
February 23, 2022The food and hospitality industry continues to be an important economic driver for the US economy, comprising about 9.5% of GDP. Supply chain disruptions are weighing on restaurants’ ability to stock their shelves with inventory.
Contact Us
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Meet Our Restaurants Industry Leader
Lisa Haffer
Tax Partner
Together, we thrive.
Everything we do is rooted in our core purpose to help people thrive every day. It’s not only the right business thing to do; it’s the right human thing to do. This starts by putting our people at the center of our work and extends to how we treat and value our people, our clients and our communities. With a dedication to quality and a purpose-driven culture, BDO offers a powerful choice both for clients and those seeking rewarding professional careers.