YOU DIDN’T BUY A KILWINS TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT.

You stir the caramel without burning it and make five-year-olds and their grandparents very, very happy.

But the financial side of the store is different.

Sales that swing with the seasons. Inventory ordered 60 to 90 days before you need it. A first-year tax return that’s nothing like the ones from your W-2 days. It feels maddening when nobody explains it.

Before you panic, you’re not running this store alone.

We’ve worked with Kilwins franchisees for over a decade. We know your chart of accounts, your vendors, your business cycles, and the answers to your questions. Speaking of which…

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS. WE’VE HEARD THEM ALL.

Why does my January P&L look so bad?

 

January is strange for every Kilwins store. Sales drop to a fraction of December’s, right when you’re buying three times the inventory to be ready for Valentine’s Day. Without an inventory count, all those purchases land in cost of goods sold at once and suddenly your gross profit looks negative.

We prepare you for it before it happens and help you build an inventory routine.

Can I deduct the emergency supply run?

You ran out of ice cream on a Saturday and drove your own car to Costco. Well, good news: yes. The supplies and the mileage are deductible, as long as they’re tracked properly. We show you how from day one, along with every other “wait, how does this work?” question that comes with your first year of ownership.

How do I handle taxes on my store build-out?

Opening a Kilwins is a serious investment (sometimes $750,000 or more, depending on your market). The upside: current tax rules can turn that equipment and build-out spend into substantial first-year deductions if you use them right. We build your year-one tax plan with you, around your whole financial picture.

Do I need a holding company for multiple stores?

 

Maybe. With two locations, it’s probably more structure than you need. At three or four (especially across state lines), it’s a worthwhile conversation. One holding company can simplify your federal tax reporting considerably.

We’ll talk it through with you, bring in an attorney for the legal side (yours or one of ours), and keep every entity’s books clean along the way.

When do I put myself on payroll?

 

Most owners don’t pay themselves at first. They let the store find its footing, but there’s a right time to make the move, and it affects your taxes.

We advise on timing and make sure the decision fits the rest of your financial life.

YOU MAKE THE SMILES. WE’LL TRANSLATE THE NUMBERS.

Kilwins set you up to succeed: hands-on training, proven systems, and support from day one. We work exactly the same way.

We’re a family-owned firm working with family-owned stores. (And if you’re married and running a business, it’s a family business, whether you planned it that way or not.) We teach you what the reports mean, so every month you understand your business a little better than the last.

  • From summer highs to the January lull
  • From your first store to your third
  • From tax-season surprises to a plan you can see coming

Expect monthly financials in the Kilwins chart of accounts you already know. Quarterly tax check-ins. Sales tax, business returns, and personal returns, all in one place. And an accountant who responds quickly when you’re weighing a big purchase or a number that makes no sense.

Let’s do this

GET YOUR STORE’S FINANCES UNSTUCK

Would an accountant who really knows Kilwins actually make a difference?

Yes!

Your store is busy and your reviews are glowing. So why does the tax bill still catch you off guard?

All you need is a guide. We’ll roll up our sleeves and show you exactly where you stand so your next decision is a confident one.

LET’S FIND YOUR PATH TOGETHER

Step one was scanning the postcard.

Step two: download our Kilwins Field Guide Summary. This is a one-page look at how inventory, cost of goods sold, and tax planning fit together, and why understanding them makes running your store easier.

Step three, whenever you’re ready: let’s talk about your business.

Let’s do this Download the Kilwins field guide