Put simply, e-commerce accounting is managing, understanding, and reporting on your business finances. As an online business there are key things that you need to think about when it comes to accounting:
Reporting: it’s important to keep track of stock, sales, and returns so that you know your costs, where you’re making money and how much you’re selling.
Bookkeeping: you need to keep track of transactions whether it’s a sale, a return, or if you’re buying items. Through bookkeeping, you can keep an audit trail of all these actions so that you have clear visibility of your finances. Remember that tax requirements can change depending on where you’re selling so make sure you do your research.
Tax filing and reports: make sure you are completing tax returns each year. This is where you declare your income and capital gains for the tax year. You’ll also need to prepare statutory (or annual) accounts at the end of each financial year.
There’s a lot to think about when looking at your finances, from supplier payments, banking fees, and stock levels to sales and returns. With accounting systems in place, you can make sense of money coming in and out of your business with simple reporting, an easier way to collaborate with your bookkeeper or accountant, and automation so that you’ve got time to focus on your business.