TL;DR
- Ecommerce accounting is a discipline: marketplace settlements, multi-channel VAT, the bridge layer, multi-currency, per-channel margin.
- Works across Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, TikTok Shop, the VAT treatment differs per platform and stock location.
- Expect A2X or Link My Books into Xero/QuickBooks as standard, plus PVA and OSS/IOSS fluency.
- Matched free with a pre-screened UK ecommerce specialist; fees published up front, from £44/mo.
- Register for VAT at the £90,000 taxable-turnover threshold.
On this page
Why ecommerce accounting is different
The things a generalist will not have seen:
- Marketplace settlements. Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy and TikTok each pay out net of platform fees, refunds and advertising on their own cadence. These need splitting into clean entries via A2X or Link My Books.
- VAT that varies by platform and stock location. The marketplace deemed-supplier rules decide whether you or the platform accounts for VAT, see marketplace VAT, plus OSS/IOSS for EU consumers and PVA on imports.
- Per-channel margin. Headline revenue hides that Amazon's ~15-20% fees and Shopify's ~3% give wildly different unit economics.
- Multi-currency and inventory/COGS across channels.
What an ecommerce accountant does
- Sets up the stack: Xero or QuickBooks plus the right bridge for your platforms.
- Reconciles every channel's payouts into clean management accounts.
- Gets VAT right across platforms, stock locations and borders.
- Builds per-channel reporting so you can see what is actually profitable.
- Files the statutory work: accounts, corporation tax, VAT, payroll.
Per-platform nuance
| Platform | Key accounting nuance |
|---|---|
| Shopify | You are always VAT-responsible (not a marketplace); Stripe/Shopify Payments fees; IOSS for EU. See Shopify accountant. |
| Amazon | 14-day settlements, FBA fees, Pan-EU VAT. See FBA accountant. |
| eBay / Etsy / TikTok | Managed-payment payouts, marketplace-collected VAT in some scenarios, each on its own cadence. |
| Multi-channel | Per-channel P&L, single inventory pool, COGS allocation. See multi-channel. |
Typical fees
| Stage | Monthly fee | Turnover |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £44-£100/mo | Under £150k |
| Growth | £100-£250/mo | £150k - £500k |
| Scale | £250-£500/mo | £500k - £2M |
Core fees usually cover accounts, corporation tax, monthly bookkeeping, quarterly VAT, director payroll and the bridge subscription. International VAT is typically an add-on. Your matched firm gives a fixed quote.
Get matched with an ecommerce specialist
Run the 60-second quiz, get a shortlist of pre-screened UK ecommerce accountants with fees up front, and pick the fit. Free to you, the accountant pays GoEcom on conversion. Match me with an ecommerce accountant →