The Cannabis Accounting Toolkit
You don't need a finance degree to run excellent cannabis books. You need the right setup, a monthly routine and a COGS method you can defend. This toolkit gives you all three, ready to use.
- Set up QuickBooks with a cannabis chart of accounts that separates production, selling and admin from day one
- Close every month the same way, with an owner and a deadline for each task
- Calculate COGS and allocate shared costs, and see what each choice is worth in tax
- Split medical and adult-use activity with a documented method
What's inside
Import file
Cannabis Chart of Accounts
A QuickBooks-ready chart of accounts that keeps production, selling and admin costs apart, so COGS isn't a year-end reconstruction.
Checklist
Month-End Close Checklist
Cash counts, bank recs, inventory counts, seed-to-sale reconciliation and cost allocation, in the order your bookkeeper should do them. Tick off all 12 months.
Workbook
COGS & Cost Allocation Workbook
Enter your trial balance, classify each account, and allocate shared costs by square footage or labor. It calculates COGS, gross margin and what 280E is costing you.
Template
Medical vs. Adult-Use Split
Allocate revenue, COGS and shared costs between medical and adult-use activity, and document why your method is reasonable.
Who it's for
- Operators (dispensaries, cultivators, manufacturers) who want books they can trust and fewer tax-season surprises
- Bookkeepers who want a repeatable cannabis process instead of a year-end scramble
- CPAs and finance pros new to cannabis who want a client-ready starting point
Who it's not for
If you need someone to prepare your return or represent you in an audit, you need a cannabis CPA. This toolkit makes that relationship cheaper and faster, but it doesn't replace it.
Made by
Simone Cimiluca-Radzins, CPA: PwC alum, in regulated cannabis since 2015, featured in Entrepreneur · NPR · LA Weekly · Grazia · CPA Trendlines.
Questions
I'm not an accountant. Can I use this?
Yes. The workbook opens on a plain-English "Start here" tab and comes filled in with sample numbers, so you can see how it works before adding yours. If you have a bookkeeper, hand it to them. That's exactly who it's built for.
What format are the files?
An Excel (.xlsx) workbook that also opens in Google Sheets, plus a CSV chart of accounts you can import into QuickBooks Online.
Does this cover 280E?
Yes. The COGS workbook shows your taxable income under 280E, and the split template handles medical vs. adult-use activity after the 2026 rescheduling. Buyers get free updates as IRS guidance comes out.
Is this tax advice?
No. It's an educational tool and template set. Review your results with a qualified cannabis tax professional before filing.
What if it's not for me?
Email within 30 days for a full refund.