Accounting built for cannabis

Clear books. Smarter cannabis business.

TCS Advisory helps licensed cannabis operators keep accurate books, understand cash flow, prepare for business taxes, and make better decisions with clear financial reports.

Books. Taxes. Better decisions.

We help cannabis operators organize their books, track inventory and costs, strengthen cash controls, and keep business records ready for tax time.

280ECost allocation and tax planning
QBOCOA, cleanup, and monthly close
InsightsCash flow, budgets, and clear reporting
TaxReturns, estimates, and workpapers
The 280E Problem

280E can turn ordinary expenses into non-deductible costs.

Cannabis operators face a federal tax framework that does not treat them like most other businesses. Rent, payroll, software, insurance, marketing, and professional fees can be limited or disallowed, which makes COGS classification and documentation critical.

The core issue: Your chart of accounts, inventory records, and cost allocation methodology need to be built before tax season — not reconstructed after the year is already closed.
Illustrative Impact
Annual revenue$2.4M
280E taxable income$1.2M
Federal tax at 21%$252K
Non-cannabis peer comparison$100.8K
Potential added annual burden$151.2K

Tax strategy starts in the books.

Year-end planning cannot fix a weak accounting structure. The books need to be organized around COGS, inventory movement, and supportable allocations throughout the year.

Your COA is a defense system.

A cannabis-specific chart of accounts helps separate deductible cost categories from expenses that may be limited under 280E.

Documentation matters.

Every meaningful COGS position should have written support. A clear 280E cost allocation memo can help support your tax position if questions arise.

Cannabis accounting is specialized.

280E, IRC 471, seed-to-sale reconciliation, and inventory accounting require more than general tax preparation experience.

Problems We Solve

Financial issues cannabis operators cannot afford to ignore.

TCS Advisory helps operators move from messy books and unclear tax positions to organized reporting, cleaner documentation, and better decision-making.

Weak 280E documentation

Build support for cost allocation and COGS positions before year-end pressure hits.

Messy QuickBooks files

Clean up accounts, classifications, reconciliations, and financial statement presentation.

Inventory and COGS issues

Improve the connection between inventory activity, COGS methodology, and tax-ready workpapers.

No financial visibility

Create reporting that helps ownership understand margins, cash flow, and operating performance.

About the Founder

Meet Chikezie Egwu, CPA.

TCS Advisory was founded to bring institutional-quality finance, tax strategy, and CFO services to cannabis operators.

Chikezie Egwu, CPA

I’m Chikezie Egwu, founder of TCS Advisory. I’m a licensed CPA in New York with experience across KPMG’s audit practice and senior corporate accounting work at TKO, the parent company of WWE and UFC.

I founded TCS Advisory after seeing a clear gap in the cannabis industry: licensed operators were building legitimate businesses while relying on accounting systems that were never designed for IRC Section 280E, cannabis inventory accounting, or investor-grade financial reporting.

My career trained me to think through accounting the way serious businesses need it handled: clean documentation, accurate reconciliations, GAAP-based financial statements, internal controls, variance analysis, and reporting leadership can actually use.

Today, I bring those same institutional standards to cannabis operators. Whether you are opening your first dispensary or operating across multiple licenses, the goal is simple: build financial infrastructure that allows your business to scale with confidence.

“Institutional financial discipline for cannabis operators.”
Monthly Retainers

Ongoing accounting, tax, and advisory support.

Monthly packages are built for operators who want a consistent finance function — not a scramble at tax time.

Foundation

Essentials

Core accounting and compliance support for single-location operators getting their financial foundation in order.

$1,500 /month
Founding client rate: $1,200/mo · Billed monthly · 3-month minimum
  • Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliation
  • QBO maintenance and categorization
  • Monthly financial statements: P&L and Balance Sheet
  • 280E COGS tracking and reconciliation
  • Quarterly estimated tax calculations
  • Annual federal tax return preparation included
  • Monthly check-in call, 30 minutes
  • Email support within 24 business hours

Get Started
Executive

CFO Advisory

Strategic finance support for multi-entity, multi-license, or capital-seeking cannabis businesses.

$5,500 /month
Founding client rate: $4,400/mo · Billed monthly · 6-month minimum
  • Everything in Growth, plus
  • Fractional CFO advisory and financial leadership
  • Multi-entity and multi-license accounting support
  • Intercompany transaction and MSA management
  • Cash flow forecasting and budgeting
  • Investor reporting and financial narrative
  • Capital raise support and financial modeling
  • Weekly advisory calls and unlimited email access
  • Multi-state tax coordination
  • IRS audit support included up to 10 hours per year

Apply for CFO Advisory
Founding client rate: TCS Advisory is accepting an initial client group at reduced pricing. Founding rates are available for early clients who sign a service agreement during the launch period.
Project-Based Services

Standalone cannabis accounting and tax projects.

Designed for cannabis operators, license applicants, and businesses that need specialized support before moving into an ongoing accounting relationship.

These are one-time and project-based services: QBO setup, 280E reviews, tax return preparation, tax planning sessions, audit support, and license application financial advisory.

Cannabis COA Design & QBO Setup

A purpose-built QuickBooks Online chart of accounts designed around your license type, reporting needs, and 280E position.

$1,500 flat fee
Founding client rate: $1,200
  • License-specific chart of accounts
  • QBO build and configuration
  • Class tracking setup for 280E allocation
  • 60-minute implementation walkthrough
  • 280E Cost Allocation Memo template

280E Compliance Review & COGS Methodology

A top-to-bottom review of your current accounting setup, COGS classification, and overhead allocation methodology with recommended corrections.

$2,500 flat fee
Founding client rate: $2,000
  • Full review of existing COA and classifications
  • COGS methodology analysis under IRC 471
  • Written findings and recommendations report
  • 280E Cost Allocation Memo drafted for your entity
  • 90-minute review call

Federal Tax Return Preparation

Federal income tax return preparation for cannabis businesses with 280E analysis, book-to-tax reconciliation, and written tax position support.

$3,500 starting at
Founding client rate: $2,800 · Complexity may affect final fee
  • Federal return preparation: 1120, 1120-S, or 1065
  • Full 280E analysis and taxable income calculation
  • Book-to-tax reconciliation workpaper
  • Written tax position summary
  • E-filing and confirmation

Tax Planning & Strategy Session

A focused strategy session covering your 280E exposure, entity structure, tax position, and legal ways to reduce avoidable federal tax drag.

$750 / session
Founding client rate: $600 · 90-minute session
  • Pre-session intake questionnaire
  • 90-minute strategy session
  • Written action plan delivered within 48 hours
  • 280E exposure analysis
  • Entity structure review and recommendations

IRS Audit Support & Defense

Representation and documentation support for cannabis businesses under IRS examination, including COGS defense and correspondence support.

$350 / hour
Founding client rate: $280/hr · Minimum 5-hour engagement
  • IRS correspondence review and response
  • COGS documentation and defense preparation
  • Inventory record substantiation
  • 280E position defense workpapers
  • Coordination with your tax attorney if engaged

Cannabis License Application - Financial Advisory

Comprehensive financial preparation for cannabis license applicants in New York, New Jersey, and similar regulated markets.

$3,500 starting at
Founding client rate: $2,800 · Final fee may increase with complexity
  • 3-year monthly pro forma financial projections
  • Startup capital requirements and source of funds documentation
  • Business plan financial narrative and supporting schedules
  • Financial responsibility documentation package
  • Accounting system design and compliance readiness memo
  • 280E and federal tax compliance planning memo
  • Financial Q&A support throughout application review
  • Coordination with legal counsel on financial components
Scope note: License application financial advisory covers the financial components of the application process only. TCS Advisory does not provide legal advice or legal application services.
Why TCS

Built for cannabis operators who need more than bookkeeping.

TCS Advisory combines CPA-level technical accounting, cannabis-specific tax strategy, and operator-focused financial reporting.

Reduce tax risk

Build stronger 280E documentation, COGS support, and tax-ready workpapers before issues become expensive.

Clean up the numbers

Turn messy books into reliable monthly financials that can support decisions, tax filings, lenders, and investors.

Make better decisions

Use forecasting, KPI reporting, cash flow planning, and advisory calls to understand what is actually driving the business.

Polished Client Onboarding

Simple, direct, and built around your books.

STEP 01

Discovery

A short call to understand your operation, accounting setup, and biggest tax or reporting concerns.

STEP 02

Review

I review your QBO file, financial statements, chart of accounts, tax exposure, and workflow.

STEP 03

Plan

You receive a clear recommendation for cleanup, 280E support, reporting, or advisory services.

STEP 04

Execute

We move into cleanup, monthly close, tax planning, financial reporting, and advisory support.

FAQ

Common questions before working together.

Do you work with dispensaries?

Yes. TCS Advisory is built for dispensaries, cultivators, processors, delivery operators, license applicants, and multi-license cannabis businesses.

Do you prepare tax returns?

Yes. TCS Advisory prepares business tax returns for cannabis operators. We do not offer individual tax preparation.

Can you clean up QuickBooks?

Yes. QBO cleanup, chart of accounts design, reconciliation support, and 280E reclassification are available.

Do you replace my bookkeeper?

It depends. TCS can handle monthly accounting directly or work alongside your internal bookkeeper to improve process, reporting, and tax readiness.

How does onboarding work?

We start with discovery, review your books and workflow, identify key risks, then recommend the right monthly or project-based support.

Do you provide legal advice?

No. TCS Advisory provides accounting, tax, and financial advisory services. Legal matters should be handled by cannabis counsel.

Discovery Consultation

Let’s talk about your business.

Book a free 30-minute call to discuss where your accounting stands today, identify your biggest financial risks, and determine how TCS Advisory can help.

Book a Discovery Call
Email TCS Advisory