The Real Horror Story in Hospitality

Don’t let your restaurant accounts give you a fright this Halloween

It’s that time of year again. Pumpkins on the pass, skeletons in the window, and maybe a few “ghoulish” cocktails on the specials board.

But if we’re being honest… The scariest thing most restaurant owners will see this Halloween isn’t a ghost or a ghoul. It’s their accounts.

Because nothing sends shivers down your spine quite like an unexpected VAT bill, a supplier chasing payment, or your accountant saying, “You made a profit!” (but there’s nothing in the bank).

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Running a hospitality business is relentless. Service, staffing, stock, and spreadsheets – it feels like you’re constantly firefighting. And when you finally sit down to look at your accounts… they read like a horror script.

You’ve had a busy month, sales are up, but your bank balance has vanished faster than a vampire at sunrise. Your accountant tells you you’ve made a profit, but you’re wondering: Where the hell is it? And the true monster - your VAT bill - just keeps coming back… and somehow it’s bigger every time.

The problem? Traditional accounting looks at the past. It tells you what has happened, not what’s happening right now. That’s why so many hospitality businesses live in fear of their finances, because they can’t see clearly until it’s too late.

Here’s the good news: your accounts don’t have to be scary. With the Profit First system, you can take control of your cash flow, get instant financial clarity, and finally stop dreading what your accountant might say.

It flips the traditional formula from:

Sales – Expenses = Profit

to:

Sales – Profit = Expenses

That means you take your profit first, and learn to run your business with what’s left.

By using separate bank accounts (or “pots”) for Profit, Owner’s Pay, Staff Pay, VAT, and Operating Expenses, you’ll know exactly where your money is every single day. No more haunted spreadsheets. No more end-of-year fright.

The trick is treating yourself to profit. This Halloween, instead of scaring yourself silly with your accounts, try this:

🎃 Open your accounts and face the fear. See what’s really going in and out. Knowledge is power.

🎃 Start separating your money. Set up a few “pots” for key areas like VAT, staff pay, and profit.

🎃 Celebrate small wins. Even a tiny profit allocation builds momentum (and confidence).

🎃 Ask for help. Profit First Hospitality helps restaurant owners just like you turn financial chaos into clarity, and fear into focus.

Don’t Be Afraid of Your Numbers. The monsters in your accounts only exist in the dark. Once you shine a light on your cashflow you’ll see there’s nothing supernatural about it, just a system that needs structure. Profit First Hospitality can help you take control of your cash flow and make sure the only thing scary this season is your fancy dress.

Ready to make your accounts less spooky? Sign up today and let us help you implement the Profit First system in your restaurant.