Payroll
Reliable payroll management that covers the practical details of paying and looking after your team, from new starters to annual leave.
Who we help
Accountants for Cafés, Takeaways and Hospitality
Hospitality is the business of small margins, many staff hours and complicated VAT. We reconcile the takings, run the payroll, handle tips properly and get the VAT right on every kind of sale, so you can see the real margin behind the busy days.
Accountancy for cafés, takeaways and hospitality businesses
About our support for cafés, takeaways and hospitality businesses
The money side of a café, takeaway or restaurant
Sales arrive through the till, card terminals, delivery platforms that take a commission, and sometimes cash. Staff work variable hours across evenings and weekends. Stock is perishable, prices move, and VAT depends on whether the food is hot or cold, eaten in or taken away. A business can be busy every day and still lose money if those pieces are not tracked, so we keep the numbers monthly and readable.
Hislop Business Solutions is run by Michelle Hislop, an AAT licensed accountant with more than 15 years in accountancy and over 8 years of hands-on payroll experience. You deal with Michelle directly, and you should never feel like you are bothering her with a question.
What we take care of
- Bookkeeping and software that reconciles the till, card settlements, delivery platform statements and cash, and shows your gross margin.
- Payroll for shift staff: variable hours, holiday pay, pensions, starters and leavers.
- Tips and service charges allocated and taxed correctly under the rules in force since October 2024.
- VAT returns with the right rate applied to each type of sale.
- Stock counts and wastage built into the monthly figures so the margin is real.
- Self Assessment or limited company accounts and Corporation Tax.
Points that matter in hospitality
VAT on food is complicated
Hot takeaway food and anything eaten on the premises are standard-rated; most cold takeaway food is zero-rated; some items sit on the line. Getting the split right protects your margin and your VAT return. We set up the till categories so the right rate is applied automatically and the return is built from clean figures.
Staff, hours and tips
Variable hours mean payroll every week or month has to reflect what was actually worked, with holiday pay accrued correctly and pension contributions for eligible staff. Since October 2024 all tips and service charges must be passed on to staff in full and fairly, with a written policy and records. We run the payroll and set the tips up so that both rules are met without extra work for you.
Delivery platforms and card fees
Platforms pay you net of commission and fees, and the VAT and income figures have to be recorded gross. Card terminals do the same. If the bookkeeping only sees what lands in the bank, sales and costs are both understated. Our reconciliation uses the platform and terminal statements so the accounts are correct.
Cash flow and seasonality
Rent, wages and suppliers are due whether it is a busy summer week or a quiet January. Monthly management figures and a simple cash-flow view show what needs to be set aside for VAT and tax before it is spent.
Local when you need it, remote when you don’t
We are based at 119 John Street, Larkhall, and work with businesses across Lanarkshire in person and across Scotland and the UK remotely. Your bookkeeping lives in QuickBooks or FreeAgent, so we both see the same live figures, and questions are a phone call, video call or email away.
Getting started
The first step is a free, no-obligation conversation about your business. We will suggest the right mix of support and a clear monthly price, and if you decide to go ahead we take care of the handover from your previous accountant or your spreadsheets. Book your free consultation or call 07510 914616.
Most relevant services
The services cafés, takeaways and hospitality businesses use most
Pick one or combine several; the support fits the size and shape of your business.
VAT Returns
Help staying organised, accurate and compliant with VAT, from choosing the right scheme to submitting your returns on time.
Bookkeeping & Software
Accurate, organised records and the right accounting software, without spending your evenings buried in paperwork.
Why Hislop
Accounting is about more than submitting forms.
It is about having someone approachable to ask, knowing what needs done and when, and getting your evenings back.
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Someone to ask
A real person who knows your business and is only ever a phone call or message away.
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Know what is due and when
We keep track of what needs filed and when, so deadlines never sneak up on you.
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Accurate, up-to-date records
Bookkeeping that shows whether you are making enough money and helps you plan ahead.
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Support shaped to you
No one-size-fits-all packages: as much or as little help as your business needs.
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Plain English, no jargon
Clear explanations of what your numbers mean and what HMRC expects of you.
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Time back to run your business
We take care of the financial admin so you can get on with what you do best.
How it works
Simple from the first conversation.
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Tell us about your business
Start with a friendly, no-obligation conversation about where you are now and what support you need.
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We make things clear
We explain what needs handled, recommend the right level of support and agree a simple monthly arrangement.
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We take care of the detail
Your records, returns and payroll are kept organised and on track, and you are kept updated as we go.
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You focus on your business
Get back to running the company knowing the accounting side is handled by someone who cares.
Who else we help
Other trades and industries
Questions
Questions from cafés, takeaways and hospitality businesses
Still have a question?
Ask Michelle directly. There is no such thing as a silly question.
Is VAT charged on takeaway food?
It depends on the food. Hot takeaway food and drink is standard-rated. Most cold takeaway food, such as sandwiches and cold bakery items, is zero-rated, although some products are exceptions. Anything eaten on the premises is standard-rated. We set your till categories up so each sale carries the right rate, and check them when the return is prepared.
How should we handle tips and service charges?
Since October 2024 employers must pass tips, gratuities and service charges to staff in full, allocate them fairly and keep a written policy and records. Tips are taxable for the staff who receive them, usually through payroll or a tronc. We set up the arrangement and the payroll side so it is compliant.
Can you run payroll for part-time and casual staff?
Yes. We run weekly or monthly payroll for variable hours, calculate holiday pay, handle starters and leavers, assess staff for pension auto-enrolment and submit everything to HMRC on time. You send us the hours; we do the rest.