Free for Restaurant Owners

Great Food Deserves Great Books. Your Tax Deductions Should Be on the Menu.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps restaurant and bar owners organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

Download Free TemplateSee What You Can Deduct
60+
Business Types
6 Tabs
Per Template
500+
Transaction Rows
$0
Completely Free

Tax Deductions You May Be Missing

These are common Schedule C business expenses that restaurant owners may be able to claim under IRC §162. Our template has them pre-loaded.

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Food & Beverage COGS

Line 38 (COGS)

Meat, produce, dairy, dry goods, beverages, alcohol inventory.

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Kitchen Supplies

Line 22

Plates, utensils, napkins, to-go containers, cleaning supplies.

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Rent & Utilities

Line 20b

Restaurant lease, gas, electric, water, garbage, grease trap.

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Equipment Repair

Line 21

Oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, HVAC, hood system.

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POS & Software

Line 18

Toast, Square, Clover, reservation system, accounting.

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Delivery App Fees

Line 10

DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub commissions (15-30%).

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Liquor License & Permits

Line 23

ABC license, health permits, food handler certs.

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Marketing

Line 8

Yelp, Google ads, Instagram, signage, menu printing.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

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Get Your Free Restaurant Owner Template

We'll email your template directly — open it in Excel or upload to Google Sheets. No software to install.

What's Inside

✓ Start Here tab with step-by-step instructions
✓ Business Info tab — your details, ready for filing
✓ Expense categories pre-loaded for your industry
✓ 500-row transaction tracker with dropdown categories
✓ Schedule C summary — auto-calculates your totals
✓ Monthly summary for quarterly estimated taxes

We'll email your template directly. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

ENROLLED AGENT TAX SERVICES

Too Busy to DIY?
We'll Handle Everything.

Arc & Ledger is a tax and bookkeeping firm led by Enrolled Agents — authorized to prepare your return and represent you directly before the IRS. Over 10 years helping self-employed professionals like you.

✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300
✓ Monthly bookkeeping from $200/mo
✓ S-Corp election & tax planning
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✓ Enrolled Agents — pass rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
arcandledger.com | (310) 876-0249
bookkeeping@arcandledger.com | Culver City, CA

Get Your Price in 30 Seconds

Question 1 of 4

What income did you have in 2025?

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Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can restaurant owners claim?+
Self-employed restaurant owners may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include food and beverage COGS (Line 38), kitchen supplies (Line 22), rent and utilities (Line 20b), equipment repair (Line 21), POS and software (Line 18), delivery app fees (Line 10), and liquor licenses (Line 23). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional for personalized guidance.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors and single-member LLCs report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Restaurant owners use Schedule C to report food service income and deduct business expenses like COGS, rent, and delivery fees. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed restaurant owners pay?+
Self-employed restaurant owners generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. Many restaurant owners may also owe state income tax. Consult a qualified tax professional to understand your specific tax obligations.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as a restaurant owner?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Restaurant revenue can fluctuate seasonally, so tracking expenses year-round with our template helps you estimate quarterly payments more accurately.
How do I track COGS for a restaurant on Schedule C?+
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) includes all food, beverage, and alcohol inventory purchased for resale. You may track beginning inventory, purchases during the year, and ending inventory to calculate COGS on Schedule C Part III (Lines 35–42). Proper inventory tracking is essential for accurate tax reporting. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance on your specific situation.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For restaurant owners with COGS, tip reporting, delivery app fees, and equipment depreciation, an EA can help ensure compliance and identify all eligible deductions. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.

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