Retail and
E-Commerce
Sales are visible; profit is harder to see. We bring every store, marketplace and payment platform into one set of books, so you know what each product and channel truly earns.
Online sellers and high-street shops
From a brand selling on five marketplaces to an independent shop with a loyal local following.
- Online and marketplace sellersBrands selling across marketplaces and their own sites, with fees, refunds and payouts to reconcile.
- High-street and specialist retailIndependent and specialist shops balancing stock, staff and rent.
Where margin goes missing
Many channels
Sales, fees and refunds spread across marketplaces and payment providers.
Stock and cash
Inventory that ties up working capital and must be valued correctly.
VAT complexity
Cross-border sales, marketplace rules and frequent regulatory change.
Margin blind spots
Revenue grows while profit per order steadily erodes.
Where we make the difference
One dedicated team for your books, accounts, tax and advice, shaped around how retail and e-commerce works.
- Automated sales reconciliationPlatform payouts matched automatically to orders, fees and refunds.
- Stock and margin reportingMonthly reports showing which products and channels are profitable once fees, returns and postage are counted, and what your stock is truly worth.
- VAT for online sellersThe right registrations and returns in every market where you sell.
- Systems that scaleInventory and finance systems integrated before volume outgrows them.
- Cash flow and stock planningForecasts that show how much cash your next stock order, peak season or new channel will absorb, and when it will return.
Our latest thinking
- Growth and advisoryAccounting and bookkeepingThe true margin on a retail sale: stock, returns and the cost of fulfilmentInsight2 min read2 min read
- TaxBusiness transformationSelling online: VAT, platform reporting and the marketplace change in 2027Briefing2 min read2 min read
- TaxGrowth and advisoryBusiness rates: 70,000 more shops, pubs and cafés pay nothing from April 2027Briefing2 min read2 min read
Frequently asked questions
I sell on Amazon, eBay, Etsy and TikTok Shop. How do you keep the books straight?
Marketplaces pay out in lump sums after deducting fees, refunds, advertising and reserves, so the amount in the bank rarely matches what you sold. We connect each channel to your accounting software and record sales, fees, refunds and VAT separately, so you can see the true margin on every channel and product.
Read: The true margin on a retail sale: stock, returns and the cost of fulfilmentDo online marketplaces report my sales to HMRC?
Yes. Platforms that pay sellers collect their details and earnings and report them to HMRC every year, and HMRC compares the figures with your returns. Marketplaces are also taking a growing part in collecting VAT on the sales made through them. We make sure your accounts, your returns and the platforms’ statements tell the same story.
When do I need to register for VAT?
When your taxable UK sales pass the VAT registration threshold in any rolling 12 months, or you expect them to within the next 30 days. The test runs every month, not once a year, so growing sellers can cross it without noticing. Selling from overseas stock or to customers abroad brings further rules, and we set up whatever your channels need.
Read: The VAT threshold: why the rolling 12 months catches people outHow do we know which products really make money?
By counting every cost of a sale against it, including the product itself, platform and payment fees, postage and packaging, returns and advertising. Many sellers find their best-selling lines earn the least once those are included. We report margin by product and channel each month, so you can price, promote or drop lines with confidence.
Read: The arithmetic of price: why a small discount needs a lot more salesHow should I value my stock?
At the lower of what it cost you and what you can realistically sell it for. Slow-moving, damaged or discontinued lines should be written down, not left in at cost. An accurate year-end stock figure is what makes your gross margin, and your tax bill, right.
Talk to us about retail and e-commerce
Tell us about your business. We will reply within one working day and arrange a call with the people in our team best placed to help.