Bookkeeping & Accounting Guides for Online Sellers - Seller Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping & Accounting Guides

Step-by-step guides for online sellers to master accounting and maximize profitability

Master Your Business Finances

Whether you're selling on Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, or Walmart, proper bookkeeping is the foundation of profitability. Our comprehensive guides walk you through every aspect of accounting for e-commerce—from COGS calculations to tax deductions to fee tracking.

The goal: Understand exactly how much you're making, identify where profits are leaking, and ensure tax compliance. Most sellers are leaving thousands on the table because they don't know their true numbers.

Core Accounting Guides

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Calculate your true product costs including hidden expenses like shipping, packaging, QC inspections, and import duties.

Hidden Costs in COGS

Discover 10 hidden costs that most sellers forget to include, costing them thousands in lost profitability each year.

Profit Calculation

Learn the complete formula: Revenue - COGS - Fees - Expenses = Net Profit. Plus real examples with calculations.

Tax Planning for Sellers

Self-employment tax, income tax, quarterly estimates, deductions, and tax-saving strategies for online sellers.

1099-K Tax Reporting

Understand what Amazon reports to the IRS, how to reconcile with your records, and avoid audit red flags.

Reading Seller Central Reports

Master Sales & Traffic, Payments, and Account Health reports to understand your business performance.

Platform-Specific Guides

Amazon FBA Accounting

Complete FBA fee tracking, journal entries, accrual accounting, and reconciliation with 1099-K reporting.

FBA vs FBM Economics

Compare profitability: FBA Prime eligibility vs FBM cost savings. When to use each method with real calculations.

Amazon FBA Fees Breakdown

2025 fulfillment fees, storage rates, long-term storage penalties, and strategies to reduce Amazon fees.

Shopify Accounting

Accounting for Shopify stores: transaction fees, payment processing, inventory, and profit calculations.

Etsy Seller Accounting

Track Etsy fees, shipping costs, shop management, and true profitability across multiple listings.

Multi-Channel Accounting

Manage accounting across Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, and Walmart simultaneously with proper tracking.

Getting Started

Accounting Setup 101

First-time sellers: Choose accounting method, set up records, and implement systems from day one.

Accounting Software Guide

QuickBooks, Xero, Freshbooks, Wave, Link My Books: Setup and best practices for each platform.

Monthly Accounting Checklist

7-step monthly process: reconcile, record, audit, and report to stay on top of finances every month.

Why Good Accounting Matters

Know Your Profits

Understand exactly how much each product, channel, and customer costs to serve and profits to generate.

Tax Compliance

Stay audit-proof: track all income, report accurately, and claim every legitimate deduction allowed.

Smart Decisions

Data-driven choices: which products to expand, which to kill, and where to invest marketing dollars.

Save Thousands

Identify hidden costs, optimize pricing, recover Amazon overcharges, and minimize tax liability.

Save Time

Automated systems and monthly checklists save 5-10 hours monthly compared to manual tracking.

Scale Faster

Once systems are in place, you can scale without chaos. Accounting grows with your business.

Quick Tips for Better Accounting

Track Everything

Every receipt, invoice, and transaction. Don't trust memory. Use software or spreadsheets, but document everything.

Reconcile Monthly

Compare bank deposits to platform reports. Identify discrepancies immediately. Don't let them pile up.

Calculate True COGS

Include shipping, packaging, QC, duties, and defects. Missing even $2-3 per unit destroys margins.

Accrue, Don't Delay

Record sales and expenses when they occur (accrual), not when money moves. This shows true profitability.

Separate by Channel

Track Amazon, Shopify, Etsy separately. Know which channel is actually profitable vs subsidizing others.

Hire Help Early

Once revenue exceeds $50K/year, a bookkeeper ($200-500/month) saves you money vs DIY mistakes and wasted time.

Ready to Master Your Finances?

Start with our Free Getting Started Guide or browse specific topics above.