QSR operators with multiple locations leave $50K–$300K on the table every year through missed depreciation, credits, and entity planning.
These are the opportunities we find in nearly every fast food franchises engagement — money left on the table by traditional CPAs.
Paying full tax on restaurant build-outs and renovations that qualify for accelerated depreciation
Missing FICA tip credits on tipped employees — worth $1,000–$2,000 per employee per year
Operating all locations under one entity, creating unnecessary cross-location liability
Not utilizing WOTC for high-turnover kitchen and counter staff
Treating drive-through equipment, POS systems, and kitchen upgrades as long-term depreciable assets
These are the strategies we evaluate and deploy for every fast food franchises client — tailored to your specific numbers.
Cost segregation on restaurant build-outs — drive-through infrastructure, kitchen ventilation, walk-in coolers, and signage reclassified to shorter-lived property
FICA tip credit (Section 45B) — dollar-for-dollar credit on tips above minimum wage
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) — $2,400–$9,600 per qualifying new hire from high-turnover roles
Section 179 on kitchen equipment, POS systems, furniture, and drive-through technology
Multi-entity structuring: separate OpCos per location under a management HoldCo
How we turned a $217K tax bill into over $1M in cumulative savings.
Yes. Fast food build-outs have extensive qualifying components — drive-through lanes and equipment, walk-in coolers/freezers, ventilation hoods, grease traps, specialized plumbing, signage, and decorative finishes. These can generate $40K–$100K+ in first-year deductions per location.
The Section 45B credit gives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on the employer's share of FICA taxes paid on employee tips exceeding the federal minimum wage. Even in QSR environments with smaller tips, this adds up significantly across locations with dozens of tipped employees.
In most cases, yes. Separating locations into individual LLCs protects each unit from the liabilities of others — a slip-and-fall at one location can't reach the assets of another. A holding company provides centralized management and bank financing.
With high hiring volume typical in QSR, a 10-location operator hiring 200+ people per year could generate $30,000–$60,000+ in annual WOTC credits. The credit is $2,400–$9,600 per qualifying hire, and QSR demographics align heavily with eligible categories.
We analyze your current situation, identify every opportunity, and show you exactly what you're leaving on the table. If we can save you money, we'll present a clear proposal with a fixed fee.
Book a free review and we'll identify the fast food franchises-specific opportunities hiding in your numbers.
Tell us about your business and we'll identify every savings opportunity available to you.