Case file · 01Tip credit
A two-location Indian restaurant claims the tip credit it had been missing
Servers reported their tips correctly, but the owner had never claimed the FICA tip credit on Form 8846.
≈ $15k / yr
Tax · Bookkeeping · Payroll · Advisory
Tax expertise for the businesses that feed America.
EliteNine brings Big Five-level tax, bookkeeping and payroll expertise to restaurants, grocery stores and the families who run them — and to every individual and business that needs a partner they can trust.
Built for restaurants and grocery stores
- 01Indian restaurants
- 02Mexican restaurants & taquerías
- 03Grocery & specialty markets
- 04Individuals & every business
KBNPY
- Enrolled Agent admitted to practice before the IRS
- CPA · CA · CISA leadership
- Multi-state filings
- Practice areas
- 6
- Specialized services
- 41
- Food & retail specialties
- 7
- Bilingual website
- EN · ES
Our focus
Built for restaurants and grocery stores
We serve every taxpayer — individuals, families, corporations and non-profits. But we've built a specialty around food businesses, where thin margins, cash tips, sales tax and high-turnover payroll make the details matter most.
Where food businesses lose money
We handle the details that hurt margins
Sales tax that's actually right
Prepared meals, grocery staples, alcohol and catering are often taxed differently. We map taxability and file every return on time.
Cash tips & tip credits
Employee tip reporting, Form 8027 for large food establishments, and the FICA tip credit (Form 8846) many owners never claim.
Payroll for busy crews
Accurate, on-time pay for high-turnover teams, with quarterly 941s, W-2s and state filings handled for you.
Inventory & food cost
Clean cost-of-goods tracking so you can see food cost, waste and true margin every month — not just at tax time.
POS & delivery-app reconciliation
We reconcile POS deposits and delivery-platform payouts, fees and refunds to your bank so nothing slips through.
Equipment & build-out deductions
Depreciation strategies for kitchen equipment, coolers and remodels, planned before you buy — not after.
What we do
Complete financial services under one roof
Six practice areas, one accountable team. Whether you need a single return or a long-term partner, we bring the same rigor to every engagement.
Tax Services
Comprehensive returns for individuals, businesses and non-profits.
Business Services
The monthly back office that keeps a restaurant or store compliant.
Tax Resolution
Calm, experienced representation when the IRS comes calling.
Tax Compliance
Elections, identification numbers and certificates — done right.
International Services
Cross-border compliance for owners with ties abroad.
Client Advisory
Year-round planning so April holds no surprises.
How we work
A clear path from first call to filed
- 1
Discovery call
We learn your business, locations, POS and payroll setup, and where things stand with the IRS and your state.
- 2
Clean-up & catch-up
We reconcile your books, close gaps in prior filings and fix sales tax or payroll issues before they grow.
- 3
Monthly rhythm
Bookkeeping, payroll and sales tax run on a predictable schedule, with reports you can actually read.
- 4
Plan & file
Year-round planning, on-time returns and representation if a notice or audit ever arrives.
What to expect
Your first 30 days with EliteNine
No black box. Here's how a typical new engagement unfolds, so you always know what's next.
Typical timeline for a new business client. Individual returns usually move faster.
- 1
Day 1
Discovery call
A focused conversation about your business, your filings and anything urgent — like a notice or a looming deadline.
A clear scope and quote
- 2
Week 1
Secure onboarding
You upload documents through our client portal, and we request access to your POS, bank and payroll reports.
A personalized document checklist
- 3
Weeks 2–3
Review & clean-up
We reconcile your books, check prior returns and sales tax, and flag risks and missed savings.
A findings summary in plain language
- 4
Week 4
Plan & first close
We walk you through the plan, the calendar of deadlines and your first set of monthly reports.
Your compliance calendar
- 5
Every month
Steady rhythm
Bookkeeping, payroll and sales tax on a predictable schedule, with a quick check-in when it matters.
Monthly financial statements
Use cases
What working with us looks like
Common situations we see across restaurants, markets and families — and how we approach them.
Case file · 02Sales tax
A Latin market fixes sales tax on its hot-food counter
The POS treated tamales and hot plates from the counter as exempt groceries, so no tax was being collected.
Every item mapped
Case file · 03IRS notice
A taquería owner resolves a CP2000 over delivery-app income
The IRS compared 1099-Ks from delivery apps to the return and proposed thousands in additional tax.
Resolved by mail
Illustrative examples based on common situations — not specific client results.
Free tax tools
Answers in seconds, not appointments
Estimate your tip credit, S-Corp savings, quarterly taxes and prime cost — or build your document checklist.
Why EliteNine
Big Five expertise. Boutique attention.
We've walked the halls of multinational corporations. Now we bring that same level of expertise to our clients — without the bureaucracy and impersonal service of larger firms.
- Proactive, not reactive
- Planning throughout the year, not scrambling in April.
- End-to-end support
- From the first notice to final resolution, one team owns it.
- Tailored to you
- Every restaurant, store and family is different. So is our advice.
- Integrity first
- Compliance with tax law is non-negotiable — always.
Client stories
Trusted by families and business owners
They were super helpful with my first return in the US… His team patiently explained what was done and why, and educated me immensely on the nuances of the US income tax engine.
We have had the distinct privilege of partnering with Kumar Bacchu and team for the last 6 years, and our experience has been nothing short of exceptional.
Let's take the first step toward financial clarity.
Tell us about your business and we'll get back to you with clear next steps — no obligation.