Financial Clarity in Hospitality: Choosing the Right Accounting Model with Raffi Yousefian

Running a hospitality business is about far more than great food, service, or atmosphere. Behind every busy dining room sits a financial engine that determines whether the operation thrives—or slowly drifts off course.In this episode of Science of Service, Rachel speaks with Raffi Yousefian, founder of The Fork CPAs, an accounting and controllership firm dedicated entirely to restaurants and bars. Raffi works with operators across the industry, helping them turn financial data into meaningful insight and practical decisions.Together, Rachel and Raffi explore how hospitality operators can choose the right financial support for their business—whether that’s simple bookkeeping, an outsourced accounting firm, or building an in-house team. The conversation dives into the real value of meaningful financial data: how weekly visibility into prime costs can improve profitability, why industry-specific accounting expertise matters, and how the wrong information can sometimes be worse than having no information at all.From choosing the right accounting structure to understanding the metrics that truly drive performance, this episode offers practical guidance for operators looking to move beyond basic bookkeeping and gain real control over the financial side of their business.If you’re juggling remittances, tax submissions, and the financial mechanics behind your operation, this episode offers a clear perspective on building financial clarity—and using it to move your business forward.Science of Service BlogThe Fork CPAs