Restaurants, cafes, hotels, catering, and food service businesses in South Africa.
Use the PAYE / UIF / SDL CalculatorThe South African restaurant and hospitality industry is one of the largest employers in the country, contributing significantly to GDP. Businesses in this sector face unique financial challenges including high staff turnover, seasonal demand fluctuations, and complex VAT rules on food items. Understanding the difference between zero-rated basic foods and standard-rated prepared meals is critical for accurate VAT calculations.
Our free paye / uif / sdl calculator is tailored specifically for restaurants & hospitality businesses operating in South Africa. Below you'll find industry-specific tips, benchmarks, and common mistakes to help you get accurate results and make better financial decisions.
Industry-specific guidance to help you get accurate results
Restaurant staff often work shifts — calculate PAYE on total monthly earnings
Tips may be taxable if paid through the employer
Seasonal staff still require UIF registration
Financial and tax mistakes frequently made by restaurants & hospitality businesses in South Africa
Applying the wrong VAT rate to basic food items sold unprocessed vs prepared meals
Failing to register for VAT when annual turnover exceeds R1 million from catering services
Not claiming input VAT on equipment purchases, renovations, and supply costs
Miscalculating staff costs by excluding UIF contributions and SDL levies
Underestimating food waste impact on gross margin — typically 5-10% of food cost
How does your restaurants & hospitality business compare?
Typical range for restaurants & hospitality
Typical range for restaurants & hospitality
General rule for this industry
Use our free paye / uif / sdl calculator — no sign-up required.
Use the PAYE / UIF / SDL CalculatorOther free calculators tailored for restaurants & hospitality businesses
Calculate VAT amounts for invoices, expenses and financial planning. Support for standard and zero-rated supplies.
Accurately set your sales prices to achieve target profit margins with markup calculations.
Calculate your gross profit margin with revenue and cost of goods sold inputs.
Find out exactly how much revenue you need to generate before your business becomes profitable.
Calculate your monthly take-home pay after PAYE, UIF, and pension deductions using current SARS tax brackets.
Common questions about paye / uif / sdl calculator for restaurants & hospitality in South Africa
Accounter provides free South African business calculators for VAT, PAYE, tax, and more.
Browse All Calculators