Nationally Recognized Cannabis/CBD Accounting and Tax Professionals
We are the #1 US network of over 500+ CPAs, CFOs, Accountants, Tax Attorneys, Enrolled Agents, and Bookkeepers, that are the leading experts in providing GAAP compliant, cost-saving, strategic, accounting and tax services.
Need a Cannabis accounting and tax professional for your business?
Click here to submit a request.
AICPA & CIMA Cannabis Industry Conference Leadership
DOPE CFO Founder, Andrew Hunzicker, CPA leads, plans, and speaks at past and future AICPA National Cannabis Conferences alongside other DOPE CFO members and experts.
Cannabis Accounting and the Dilemma with 280E
The tax code clearly and unequivocally states... No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any State in which such trade or business is conducted. U.S. Code Title 26. Internal Revenue Code § 280E - Expenditures in connection with the illegal sale of drugs
So What Does This Mean for Cannabis Businesses?
Cannabis businesses aren’t able to take deductions like most businesses can, which means that they are not legally able to take advantage of tax benefits for incurring expenses like... Payroll / Labor Office Expenses Advertising Interest Expense Depreciation Research and Development and Legal Fees.
Understanding how 471 works, having the knowledge and tools to do GAAP full absorption cost accounting, and properly allocating expenses to Inventory and COGS, is how we are able to help companies legally reduce their tax liabilities, versus trying to beat 280E which is futile. We have hundreds of workpapers and processes in our program to help manage Cannabis and CBD accounting for every vertical. Interested?
Learn More About Our Program
Our Mission
Through a culmination of more than a decade of actual Cannabis client work, industry knowledge, and discussions/review with Cannabis tax attorneys, bankers and other industry service providers, we have compiled our continuously expanding program and suite of tools and services. Packed with education, proven modules, systems, workpapers, and templates, our program guides accounting professionals and owner/operators along every step of the way, allowing for us to implement these tools on day one to help cannabis and CBD businesses operate compliantly.
Our Specialized Cannabis and CBD/hemp Program Will Provide:
- The exact tools, systems, workpapers, and templates you need in order to easily and efficiently service Cannabis and CBD/hemp clients from A to Z.
- Live support that will allow you to advise Cannabis clients and help them navigate many of their unique challenges.
- The ability to help you keep up-to-date on the ever-changing regulations and processes needed to serve each vertical.
- Every workpaper, chart of account, and tool required to perform proper cost accounting, track inventory, and cost of goods sold and provide World Class Client Service.
- Bi-weekly Q&A webinars and an elite VIP community you can lean on for support and networking.
- Training, education, and a complete course of "VIP" knowledge that can be applied on day one, with over 100 hours of video instruction.
- Community of experts: be a part of the #1 Cannabis accounting and tax network in the US. Made up of members who are CPAs, EAs, CFOs, attorneys, bookkeepers, and an expert marketing team so that you and/or your clients can get answers when you need them.
- ...And more! If you’re ready to jump in, click below to learn more and get started.
Systems, Processes, Guidance, Tools, and Expertise to Help Accounting Professionals Get Started Quickly
An overview of the Cannabis Accounting 5.0 program
The Cannabis & CBD/Hemp Accounting 5.0 Program has helped over 1000+ accounting professionals successfully dive in, easily get up to speed, and start serving the growing number of Cannabis & CBD companies. As more states become legal, the need for trained Cannabis & CBD accounting professionals grows. This program contains everything that you need in order to provide World-Class accounting to your clients (and can even improve your current practices too!)
The Cannabis Accounting 5.0 program includes:
- Complete Education and Training on Accounting & Tax for Cannabis and CBD
- Marketing System to find, price, and close clients including offer letters, price quoting tools and prospect emails.
- Over 100+ workpapers and templates including
- Dispensary Chart of Accounts
- Grow Chart of Accounts
- Processor Chart of Accounts
- Delivery Chart of Accounts
- Onboarding documents, Engagement letter, PBC Lists, Controls Documents
- Perpetual Data Room so clients will be audit, lender, investor, exit ready any time and all the time
- Cleanup Systems, Tools and Workpapers
- Month End Systems, including our “Permanent Audit Trail”
- Cost Accounting workpapers and templates for proper allocation
- “The” Premier community and coaching network in the US with over 300 attorneys, CPAs, EAs, MBAs, and Bookkeepers to get any question answered any time, plus sharing and finding clients to scale your firm
...and more!
The Creator of The Nations Top Cannabis Accounting Education
Andrew Hunzicker, CPA, also Subject Matter Expert for the AICPA!
DOPE CFO offers the most comprehensive and top notch Cannabis and CBD/hemp accounting & tax training program. Because there is little to no GAAP guidance yet for Cannabis and CBD/hemp (the Big Four are currently not involved in the industry).
Through our program, you will not only learn each aspect that is necessary to provide World Class Service to Cannabis and CBD/hemp businesses, you will also get the "plug and play" tools and workpapers (over 100 of them) to serve them easily on day one, and the unique requirements to keep them compliant.
CBD and the 2018 Farm Bill
With all of the opportunity that comes with Cannabis, let’s not forget CBD which we expect to be as big or bigger than Cannabis. In some cases, CBD is even more complex even though 280E is not required. The FDA, USDA, and other organizations are going to start cracking down even harder on CBD businesses as more rules are adopted, so our program will also help accounting professionals navigate the compliance complexities as well! Guidance for CBD compliance and accounting are also included in our program.
Testimonials
“If you or anyone is looking to get into the fastest growing emerging industry, the easiest and quickest way is through the DOPE CFO PROGRAM. My Firm wouldn’t be where it is without it.”
Charles "Chip" S.
The Green Leaf CPA, and former 10-year Audit partner at a national accounting firm
"We got our first Client at $84k a year. We started out at $42k a year but we’re now taking over as their outsourced CFO. The plan is 6 figures with just this client within the next 12 months. So thankful for this group and course!"
Nicole F.
Hybrid Bookkeeping LP
"As a CPA, this program is legit. I frequently use the workpapers for my Cannabis clients and would have spent a long time trying to build them from scratch. The community is outstanding and supportive. I am so grateful to have joined this group!"
Mark W.
Morem and Waller CPAs
See What Other Cannabis Accountants Have to Say...
Our Nationally Recognized Cannabis and CBD Accounting program has helped over 800+ accounting professionals get started quickly, and build their accounting practices past six figures in under 90 days. Don't believe us? Check out more reviews and testimonials here.
Industry Updates
Check out the latest information and resources on Cannabis accounting.
FAQ's
In our 4 part program only part 1 “education and training” has a time component that can be done in 90 days, in an hour per day. Part 2, 3, and 4 are good on day 1 – and forever!
At this point there aren't any service providers in the US who have served a state-legal Cannabis company; including accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys, marketers, plumbers, realtors, electricians, etc, that have faced any legal repercussions for simply providing service to a state legal Cannabis company (and there are likely hundreds of thousands of service providers out there, and that number is growing quickly). That said, find and follow your state laws, your state accountancy board, and also review the sites below:
https://www.aicpa.org/advocacy/state/marijuana.html
Also this link and site provides timely updates around tax and cannabis:
IRS site on 230 and tax advice:
https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/circular-230-tax-professionals
Finally, the best policy is to always do world class work, follow all laws and regulations and terminate any clients immediately that you suspect are breaking the law.
Several things make good accounting valuable to Cannabis and CBD/hemp CEOs:
- First, it allows them to correctly maximize tax deductions for Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), and thereby save in tax payments. Tax is a significant expense for Cannabis companies because under IRC 280e, COGS is the only allowable offset to Cannabis income. To correctly maximize this under IRC 471-11, GAAP inventory accounting (including cost/absorption accounting) is required. (Probably 80% or more of Cannabis companies are not following this, thereby losing thousands of dollars)
- Cannabis and CBD/hemp companies are required by most state laws to have strong accounting/financials, and again many are lacking in this area.
- Proper accounting allows CEOs’ better access and communications with lenders and investors, which is a big issue in the Cannabis and CBD/hemp space.
- Good accounting lets CEOs better manage operations and cash flow and gives them a competitive advantage over those who don’t have good accounting procedures. In this industry, it can be the difference between staying in business or losing your license and being shut down.
No, you don’t need to be a CPA to serve in Cannabis. In fact, many CPAs have chosen to not serve in this industry, meaning most Cannabis companies have bookkeepers doing the day to day books. There is a huge need for qualified (meaning educated in Cannabis and CBD/hemp accounting procedures) accountants and bookkeepers to serve this industry.
Our course is designed to be a shortcut into serving the Cannabis and CBD/hemp niches for an accountant or bookkeeper who has a firm (or wants to launch one) without having to figure everything out by trial and error. We’ll outfit you with the proper tools, including:
- Cannabis and CBD/hemp specific chart of accounts
More than 100 cost accounting workpapers, templates, and charts of accounts - The knowledge to understand the complexity of 280e, 471a, and other state and federal tax rules
- Ways to tackle the issues of farm, chemical manufacture, food production, labs, distribution, and retail accounting
- Multi-entity, consolidations, intercompany issues
- ...and much more.
The stakes are high for cannabis CEOs, and the fate of their business rests in having an accounting team that understands what is necessary in order to keep their business compliant so that they aren't penalized or shut down. Our goal is to provide tools and guidance to accounting professionals so that Cannabis and CBD/hemp businesses are being properly serviced and can thrive.
Really, it comes down to two things.
1) Are you looking to get your first Cannabis or CBD/Hemp accounting or tax client? If so, we have modules that you can jump right into on day one that will guide you through the process of finding and landing your first Cannabis accounting client. No need to finish the education and training module first; dive right into landing your first client on day one, as well!
2) Ready to service your existing Cannabis and/or CBD/hemp accounting client? Great! We help you understand how to provide world-class service, as well as give you the downloadable tools that you can use immediately on day one to serve these clients. Everything from properly on-boarding your Cannabis/CBD/hemp client, setting up a perpetual data room, month-end tie-outs, day-to-day bookkeeping, etc. This program is meant to be DIY and plug and play, so you can go through the different modules at your own pace. Our hope is that you'll be proficient in providing Cannabis and CBD/hemp accounting services within 90 days, which is totally possible if you invest on average at least an hour a day into learning and implementing the materials.
Yes, you are able to provide services to Cannabis and CBD/Hemp companies remotely. The most important part is following the regulations in the links above, as well as the state laws where the Cannabis company resides as well as your own state laws. Also if you are a CPA or Enrolled Agent or other certification, make sure to check with your State Accountancy board and/or whatever agency regulates any license you have.
There are many varied sub-niches, which can be very complicated to serve effectively. These sub-niches include farming, processing, manufacture, labs, distribution and retail, and many times all of those will fall under the same company. On top of that, there is a lack of Big 4 industry guides or training, no GAAP guidance, and almost no tools or workpapers outside of our program, making it extremely difficult to serve these clients well and maximizing your time! From banking to transportation of goods; from seed to sale; from payroll to paying bills, there are challenges that most businesses do not have to deal with that hinder day-to-day operations. Cannabis and CBD/hemp accounting professionals need to be aware of these challenges and must be able to help their clients navigate and find solutions so that they can properly operate their business.
Larger accounting firms at this point in time are not heavily involved in Cannabis and CBD/hemp, meaning these multi-million dollar operations must find smaller firms that are willing to help them with their accounting.
Accounting in and of itself is a challenge because software is truly lacking and doesn't cater to the specific needs of Cannabis businesses. Quickbooks and other accounting software don’t have a chart of accounts tailored to Cannabis entities for example. Additionally, most set up complex multi-entity structures, use cost and consolidated accounting, and have complex inter-company transactions.
To serve them well, a bookkeeper or accountant needs to understand these industries, Cannabis, CBD/hemp, the state/federal issues, and have good work papers, systems, and tools. In addition, there are even more industry issues such as lack of banking, complex software, state seed to sale tracking, cash management issues, investor reporting, GAAP accounting and inventory management that will affect Cannabis and CBD/hemp business operations.
It turns out this is a very difficult question to answer, most cultivation CEOs have no idea the answer to this, and knowing the answer to this provides better tax deductions, as well as competitive advantage, over most CEOs who don’t know this cost.
Cost of inventory includes raw materials, Work in Process (WIP), and Finished Goods (FG). In cannabis, you start with a raw material which is a seed or a clone, and the cost of this raw material is often $0 (or very little). From there, many clients have a process that is 4-6 months to get this seed to actual sale including growing, replanting, flowering, watering, light issues, harvesting, drying, curing, lab testing, and finally ready for sale.
Over this 180-day period, significant costs get added to this plant including direct and indirect labor, nutrients, soil, water, electricity, security, and much more. And each strain produces a different yield per plant, so each reporting period, you need to know for every plant: % complete, estimated yield, costs to allocate, and how much is in finished goods. Getting this “cost per pound” is a complex issue, and most have no idea how to do it correctly. Our program has a Cannabis and CBD tailored chart of accounts, as well as simple cost accounting work papers that can do this correctly and provide big value to the CEO.
There are several ways to get more information:
- Click Here to read our course outline and summary of value
- Click Here to apply to our program, and speak with Andrew. We screen all applicants to ensure that you're a good fit.
- Click Here to see news and press about our training.
- Click Here to join our DOPE CFO Facebook group that has more useful information, articles, and links.
DOPE CFO is a proud member of the National Cannabis Industry Association!
