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Cannabis Tax, Accounting, & Advisory Services

Aprio provides integrated cannabis tax, accounting, audit, and advisory services nationwide, from regulatory compliance and financial audits to exit planning, at every stage of growth.

Engaged cannabis specialists.

A dedicated team that knows your business.

Integrated cannabis accounting and advisory.

Proactive accounting.

Aprio helps cannabusinesses Account for Anything™

Most accounting firms can handle your books. Few understand the intersection of IRC compliance, multi-state regulatory requirements, evolving audit standards, and the operational realities of a profitable cannabusiness. Aprio does. Partners and managers are involved throughout every engagement, not just at kickoff. You work with an integrated team who has your interests in mind. Our cannabis tax and audit advisors stay close to your business year-round, so challenges are addressed before they become problems. One firm providing every service you need, from your first license to your next market.

Cannabis-specific accounting services
Mandated financial statement audits
Cannabis bookkeeping and outsourced accounting
CFO and controller services for cannabusinesses
Transaction advisory, M&A, and exit planning

Our Solutions for the Cannabis Industry

Tax Controversy, Compliance, & Planning

From regulatory compliance to multi-state cannabis tax strategy, Aprio helps cannabusinesses reduce liability and stay ahead of changing tax law.

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Audit, Assurance, & Risk

Aprio delivers financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations that meet regulatory standards and build credibility with investors and lenders.

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M&A Advisory, Valuation, and Exit Planning

From capital raises to multi-state expansion to exit planning, Aprio supports the full transaction lifecycle without you ever needing to change advisors.

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Entity Structuring and Business Formation

The right entity structure can meaningfully manage risks and tax liabilities and protect your assets. Aprio’s cannabusiness consultants help operators structure, restructure, and manage entities with the tax and compliance implications of each state in mind.

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Cost Accounting and Inventory Management

Accurate COGS allocation is your most powerful tool for managing tax liability. Aprio helps with tax accounting for cannabusinesses, building defensible cost models, tracking inventory, and documenting every expense to withstand IRS scrutiny.

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Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigations

Cash-heavy operations and complex multi-entity structures create elevated fraud exposure for cannabusinesses. Aprio’s cannabusiness advisors and forensic accounting team conduct internal, external, and third-party investigations to identify issues and help protect your business.

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State Compliance and Entity Management

Cannabis regulatory compliance across multiple states means registrations, licenses, annual filings, and renewal deadlines in every jurisdiction. Aprio centralizes multi-state compliance, manages registered agent obligations, and helps every entity stay in good standing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Aprio specialize in cannabis accounting and tax?

Yes. Aprio specializes in cannabis accounting and tax services, with a decade of cannabis industry experience. Our dedicated cannabis team provides tax compliance and planning, financial statement audits, outsourced accounting, CFO and controller services, cannabis bookkeeping, and transaction advisory for cultivators, dispensaries, processors, distributors, and multi-state operators (MSOs).

What is IRC Section 280E and how does it affect cannabusinesses?

Internal Revenue Code Section 280E prevents state-legal cannabusinesses from deducting ordinary business expenses, such as rent, marketing, and payroll, on federal taxes. Only cost of goods sold (COGS) can reduce taxable income, which makes cost accounting and expense allocation your most important tools for managing tax liability.

While federal regulators continue to evaluate cannabis scheduling and treatment, Section 280E remains in effect. Until changes are enacted, Aprio helps you navigate its complexities, drawing on deep knowledge of how individual states interpret and apply these rules.

Our team advises license-holding businesses on tax planning strategies, entity and corporate structure, and operational best practices designed to support compliance and improve tax efficiency. We also emphasize the importance of meticulous bookkeeping, record keeping, and financial reporting to help businesses substantiate deductions, manage risk, and remain prepared for evolving regulatory requirements.

Can Aprio help my cannabusiness stay compliant while improving financial performance?

Yes. Aprio goes beyond compliance to help cannabis operators improve visibility into financial performance, strengthen internal controls, and refine tax and accounting strategies. Our integrated approach covers cannabis tax, accounting, audit, and advisory services so compliance and growth strategy work together rather than pulling in opposite directions. Cannabusinesses that work with Aprio get proactive guidance from a consistent team that understands their operations year-round.

Does Aprio work with multi-state cannabis operators?

Yes. Aprio supports MSOs with complex compliance across multiple regulatory environments, including state-by-state cannabis tax requirements, multi-entity accounting, consolidated financial reporting, and state-required audits.

Our team has experience serving cannabis clients across Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and other regulated markets. Aprio’s State Compliance and Entity Management Services (EMS) also helps MSOs centralize entity registrations, manage registered agent obligations, and maintain good standing in every jurisdiction where they operate.

Can Aprio support my cannabusiness through a transaction or exit?

Yes. Aprio supports cannabusinesses from startup through exit, providing continuity across accounting, tax, audit, transaction advisory, and valuation services. Whether you are preparing for a capital raise, merger, acquisition, or full exit, Aprio helps you build investor-ready financials, structure the transaction to reflect your true business value, and navigate the full process without changing advisors.

Our cannabis M&A advisory, valuation, and exit planning services are designed for operators at every stage of the growth lifecycle.

What types of cannabusinesses does Aprio serve?

Aprio serves cultivators, manufacturers, processors, extractors, warehousers, distributors, retail dispensaries, MSOs, investors, and ancillary cannabis businesses. Clients range from single-state operators preparing to scale to large, multi-location companies with revenues from $5 million to $250 million and above. Aprio also works with cannabis-adjacent businesses and investors who need accounting, tax, or advisory support tied to the cannabis industry.