Hospitality & Tourism
Peak season pays for the whole year. Without solid financial planning, you spend slow months wondering if you'll make it to busy season.
The South Florida Season
From November through April, your calendar fills up. Charter boats run double trips. Tour operators turn away walk-ups. Water sports rentals have lines. Then May hits. Snowbirds leave. Tourists thin out. Revenue drops by half or more while your overhead barely budges.
This seasonal swing is the defining financial challenge of hospitality and tourism in South Florida. The money you make in six months has to carry you through twelve. That requires real financial planning, not just watching your bank balance and hoping.
We help hospitality businesses build the financial structure to handle this cycle. Cash flow forecasting that accounts for seasonal patterns. Reserve planning so slow months don’t become emergencies. Strategic guidance so you can invest in growth without putting the business at risk.
Who We Work With
Charter fishing captains who started with one boat and now run a fleet. Tour operators who have outgrown the owner-does-everything phase. Water sports rental companies with equipment scattered across multiple locations. Entertainment venues managing complex revenue streams from admissions, food, merchandise, and private events.
These businesses generate real revenue but often lack the financial infrastructure to match. The owner is still making decisions based on gut feel and bank balance rather than accurate financial data. They need controller-level oversight and CFO-level strategy, but they don’t need or can’t justify a full-time finance executive.
Types of Businesses
Types of Businesses
Charter fishing operations, boat rental companies, jet ski and water sports rentals, scuba and dive operators, sightseeing tours, airboat tours, fishing guides, yacht charters, entertainment venues, escape rooms, and similar hospitality businesses throughout South Florida.
Stage of Business
Stage of Business
Past startup. Generating consistent revenue with some staff or contractors. Complex enough that basic bookkeeping isn’t sufficient but not large enough to justify a full-time CFO. Ready for financial systems that support real decision-making and growth.
Where It Gets Complicated
Hospitality businesses have financial complexity that basic bookkeeping misses entirely. Multiple revenue streams with different margins. Tips flowing through payroll. Deposits for future trips that need proper accounting treatment. Equipment that depreciates while maintenance costs pile up. Cash transactions that need reconciliation.
Most owners know their books are a mess. They just don’t have time to fix them while also running trips, managing staff, and handling customers. The result is decisions made without accurate data and tax seasons that turn into expensive scrambles.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
Customers pay deposits weeks before their trip. That money isn’t revenue until you deliver the service. Improper handling distorts your financials and creates tax timing issues. We ensure deposits, cancellations, and refunds are recorded correctly so your income statement reflects reality.
Cash and Tips
Cash and Tips
Walk-up customers paying cash. Tips split among crew. Dock fees paid in cash. Without proper controls and reconciliation, money falls through the cracks. We establish oversight systems that track cash flow and ensure your books match what actually happened.
Financial Leadership That Fits
You need someone who can look at your financials and tell you whether you can afford that second boat. Someone who builds a cash flow forecast that accounts for your slow season. Someone who makes sure your internal staff is recording things correctly and catches errors before they compound.
That’s what controller and CFO-level support provides. Not just clean books, but financial leadership that helps you make better decisions. Monthly review and oversight. Quarterly strategic conversations. Real analysis of what your numbers mean for the business.
Controller Oversight
Controller Oversight
Monthly review of your books with error correction and adjusting entries. Reconciliation verification. Balance sheet cleanup. Ensuring your internal staff follows proper processes. You get accurate financials you can actually trust for decision-making.
Strategic Financial Guidance
Strategic Financial Guidance
Cash flow forecasting that accounts for seasonal patterns. Scenario planning for fleet expansion or new locations. KPI tracking so you know which revenue streams actually make money. The strategic perspective that helps you build a sustainable, growing business.
Premium Controller & CFO Advisory Firm
Next Step:
Let's Talk About Your Business
Tell us about your business and your goals. We'll discuss how Jargo can support your financial operations and growth.