Accounting for Retail
& E-commerce
Selling across multiple channels means managing inventory valuation, multi-state sales tax, payment processor reconciliation, and seasonal cash flow swings. We bring clarity to the complexity so you can focus on growing your brand.
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
The Financial Complexities
of Modern Retail
Inventory Management
Between FIFO, LIFO, and weighted average costing methods, inventory valuation directly impacts your tax bill and reported profits. Dead stock ties up cash, and shrinkage eats margins. Without accurate inventory accounting, you are flying blind on true profitability.
Multi-State Sales Tax
After South Dakota v. Wayfair, selling online means you likely have sales tax nexus in multiple states. Each state has different rates, filing frequencies, product exemptions, and penalties. One missed filing can trigger audits and back-tax assessments.
Payment Processor Reconciliation
Shopify, Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, Square -- each processor holds funds, charges fees, and deposits on different schedules. Reconciling these against your actual sales, returns, and chargebacks is tedious but critical for accurate financials.
Seasonal Cash Flow
Holiday rushes, back-to-school surges, and Q1 slowdowns create dramatic cash flow swings. You need to stockpile inventory months before peak season while managing the cash gap between spending and revenue. Poor planning means missed opportunities or cash crunches.
HOW WE HELP
Retail-Specific Services
That Protect Your Margins
Inventory Accounting
We implement the right costing method for your business and maintain accurate inventory valuations that reflect reality. Regular analysis identifies slow-moving stock, shrinkage patterns, and opportunities to improve turnover rates and free up working capital.
Sales Tax Nexus Analysis
We determine where you have sales tax obligations based on your sales volume, warehouse locations, and marketplace activity. Then we set up automated collection and handle filings across every state where you have nexus -- so you never face a surprise assessment.
Marketplace Integrations
We connect your Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, Walmart, and other marketplace accounts directly to your accounting system. Automated data flows eliminate manual entry errors and give you a unified view of revenue, fees, and net proceeds across all channels.
COGS Optimization
Accurate cost of goods sold calculations that capture not just product cost but landed costs including shipping, duties, tariffs, and warehousing. Understanding your true COGS per SKU reveals which products actually contribute to profit and which drain it.
Processor Reconciliation
We reconcile every payment processor deposit against your actual sales data, accounting for processing fees, holds, chargebacks, and refunds. Your books reflect actual cash received -- not just gross sales figures that overstate your revenue.
Seasonal Cash Flow Planning
Forward-looking cash flow models that account for seasonal purchasing cycles, inventory build-up, and revenue patterns. We help you plan financing, manage vendor payment terms, and ensure you have the liquidity to capitalize on peak selling seasons.
WHY TODAY CFO
Why Retailers Choose Today CFO
E-commerce Native
We work with Shopify, Amazon Seller Central, WooCommerce, and all major platforms daily. We understand FBA fees, marketplace commissions, and the difference between gross sales and actual revenue -- and we set up your books to reflect that reality.
Margin-Focused Reporting
Our reporting goes beyond top-line revenue to show you true profitability by product, channel, and customer segment. Know exactly which SKUs, categories, and sales channels are worth doubling down on versus cutting.
Tax Strategy Beyond Compliance
We do not just file your sales tax returns -- we proactively optimize your income tax position through entity structure, inventory method selection, and retirement plan strategies designed specifically for retail business owners.
Find Out How Much Your Retail
Business Could Save
Get a personalized estimate based on your revenue, entity type, and business complexity. Our calculator takes less than 2 minutes and shows you the impact of proactive financial management on your retail or e-commerce business.
Calculate Your Savings