As your online business evolves, pondering the various e-commerce accounting services and looking to hire a knowledgeable accountant becomes inevitable.

Whether you want to streamline your processes, ensure tax compliance, or gain valuable financial insights, the right accountant can make all the difference.

In this blog post, we’ll show you:

How to find an accountant who’s experienced with e-commerce
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What bookkeeping tools can support an accountant in becoming your financial strategist

Read on to discover how to tap into your e-commerce accounting’s full potential starting today.

Key Takeaways from this Post

Specialized Expertise: E-commerce accounting demands professionals familiar with digital sales nuances, international transactions, and tax laws. They optimize strategies, ensuring compliance and financial efficiency.

Automated Tools: Streamline accounting with software like Link My Books, integrating various sales channels into platforms like Xero or QuickBooks. Automation reduces errors, saves time, and enhances accuracy.

Service Selection: Choose between freelance accountants, agencies, or accounting software based on business size and needs. Freelancers offer personalized attention, agencies provide broad expertise, while software ensures efficiency and integration.

TL;DR - Where Should I Look, and How Do I Choose?

Before we get to the nitty-gritty of accounting for e-commerce, here’s a quick overview of where to look for and how to choose your accountant:

You want someone who gets the e-commerce world, is comfortable using tech, and can grow with you as your business takes off.
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You can explore freelance accountants, accounting agencies, and even robust bookkeeping software.
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The best choice depends on the size of your business and what you need help with. Bookkeeping tools are particularly flexible and versatile.

Next, we’ll break down the specifics of e-commerce accounting, the ideal accountant, and the features of different services.

Professional female in glasses managing finances at her well-lit home workspace.

Why Do You Need a Specialized E-commerce Accountant?

E-commerce businesses typically involve complex financial transactions across multiple online platforms.

Traditional accountants could easily feel overwhelmed by the challenges of multichannel e-commerce, whereas specialized online business accountants are:

Familiar with the nuances of digital sales
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Capable of handling multi-currency transactions
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Up-to-date with the e-commerce tax laws
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Experienced at managing online payment systems

In short, a specialized e-commerce accountant can process your VAT and import your taxes and revenue from different countries efficiently. They’ll ensure compliance and optimize your financial strategy to save money and avoid legal pitfalls.

How Can I Ease the Process?

To ease this process, you need a tool that automates and simplifies data collection.

If you can get all your data from all your sales channels and connect it to your bookkeeping platform automatically, you’re more likely to:

Keep your financial reports accurate and up-to-date
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Significantly reduce errors
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Save time

Enter: Link My Books. Integrating our tool can significantly simplify your accounting on platforms like Xero or QuickBooks. Sign up for a free trial with us today and experience the comfort and peace of mind that come with automated bookkeeping.

An accountant confidently doing his accounting with the help of LMB.

E-commerce Accounting vs. Traditional Accounting

Rather than being a digital twist of traditional methods, e-commerce accounting is significantly more complex and challenging.

The global e-commerce market is expected to total $6.3 trillion this year. As a digital seller in this huge market, you’ll encounter situations that traditional brick-and-mortar shops rarely do.

Here’s why this difference matters and what you need to know about e-commerce accounting:

| **Aspect** | **E-commerce Accounting** | **Traditional Accounting** | |---|---|---| | **Sales volume** | High, often from multiple countries | Lower, typically localized transactions | | **Tax obligations** | Complex VAT/GST obligations across different regions | More straightforward, often with local tax rules | | **Payment methods** | Diverse, including credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, and other digital platforms | Diverse but more traditional, including cash, credit card, checks | | **Currency handling** | Multi-currency transactions are more common and require conversion and rate management | Single-currency transactions are the norm | | **Financial reporting** | Real-time reporting needs because of fast-moving inventory and sales metrics | Less frequent reporting, often monthly or quarterly | | **Regulatory compliance** | Must adhere to e-commerce-specific regulations (e.g., data privacy laws) | Compliance primarily with local business regulations | | **Transaction complexity** | High, often involving refunds, chargebacks, and multiple payment gateways | Lower, with simpler transactions and straightforward payment methods |

What E-commerce Accounting Services Can I Utilize?

How you manage your e-commerce business accounting will make your store either grow or regress. If you want to streamline your operations and make your business more profitable while staying compliant, choose your e-commerce accounting services wisely.

Here are your options:

#1. Freelance Accountant

Hire an individual expert in e-commerce accounting to manage your financials. This choice is best for small e-commerce stores or startups that want personalized attention without the overhead of an agency.

Pros: Cost-effective, personalized service
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Cons: Limited availability and potentially varying expertise levels.

#2. Accounting Agency

Involve a professional e-commerce accounting firm to handle your books. This option is best for growing and large e-commerce stores that need a team of experts.

Pros: Broad expertise, scalable services
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Cons: It can be more expensive than other options.

#3. Accounting Software with Support

Register with specialized e-commerce accounting software that integrates with major e-commerce platforms and offers technical support. This solution is best for e-commerce businesses at any scale that value automation and integration with sales channels.

Pros: High efficiency, consistent updates, great handling of regulatory changes.
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Cons: It may require some initial learning to maximize benefits.

Focused individual using a smartphone calculator next to money on a desk.

What to Look for in an E-commerce Accountant

As you’ve probably noticed, an e-commerce tax accountant is typically involved regardless of your choices from above. Agencies hire accountants to manage client accounts; even if you pick accounting software, you might want a pro to handle it for you.

So, as you’re searching for an e-commerce accountant, remember this expert shouldn’t just crunch numbers. Instead, they should be a strategist offering financial guidance for your e-commerce business's growth. But such an expert is harder to find.

DID YOU KNOW?

41% of tax professionals declare themselves “somewhat confident” or “not at all confident” in giving business advice.

Below, we’ll show you the most important aspects to look for in a skilled and knowledgeable accountant for your online store:

E-commerce Expertise: Choose an accountant who understands e-commerce challenges such as managing VAT and handling international transactions.
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Proficiency in Technology: Look for someone tech-savvy who can use modern accounting software. They will easily integrate data from platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify into accounting systems like Xero or QuickBooks.
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Regulatory Knowledge: Work with someone who is current with the latest tax and data privacy regulations. They will keep you compliant and avoid heavy fines.
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Strategic Insights: Your e-commerce accountant should be able to manage compliance and offer strategic advice based on your financial data.
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Scalability: The best accountant for your online business must be ready to scale with it. They must smoothly handle the increasing complexity and volume of your finances.

Businesswoman calculating expenses with smartphone calculator on wooden desk.

Top 3 Best E-commerce Accounting Services

Part of an e-commerce accountant’s job is to input all sales data into your bookkeeping platform. The bigger your business, the more time-consuming the whole process becomes, and the likelihood of errors increases.

That’s why it’s best to use accounting software that transfers data quickly and accurately. This way, you’ll give your accountant more time and headspace to focus on analyzing and optimizing your e-commerce finances.

So, let’s look at the three best e-commerce accounting services you can try.

#1. Link My Books

Link My Books is a top choice for bridging the gap between your sales channels and accounting platform. It’s best for small and medium-sized, platform-focused e-commerce businesses and offers excellent value with comprehensive features.

Pricing plans:

Lite: $17/mo
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Pro: $29/mo
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Premium: $56/mo

These prices apply to 200 orders/mo or less, but you can customize your plan if you have more sales than that. Also, you get two months free if you pay annually.

As an e-commerce accounting automation tool, Link My Books simplifies and automates your bookkeeping, saving you time, sparing you from overpaying taxes, and showing you a quick view of your bottom line at any moment.

Here are some of its top features:

Setup wizard to guide new users through initial configuration effortlessly
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Seamless integration with major e-commerce platforms: Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Walmart, TikTok Shop
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Direct feeds into Xero and QuickBooks, ensuring real-time data syncing
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Built-in support for Sales Tax, VAT, and GST
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Auto-post settlements, COGS tracking, and guided tax wizard
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Free bookable onboarding call available with all plans
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Detailed profit analysis with summaries and visualization under development

| **Pros** | **Cons** | |---|---| | Advanced automation saves you considerable time | Users without accounting knowledge might have to invite their accountants onto the platform for the setup. | | Affordable packages with configuration options | With some upgrades, it might take a while for the user to access their older data. | | Free trial and demo available | | | Great customer support with a team of qualified accountants | |

If you’re interested in how Link My Books connects specific sales channels with accounting software, check out the following resources:

#2. Synder

Synder is an accounting solution that integrates e-commerce business activities with accounting software. It focuses on huge transaction volumes of up to 50,000+ per month, so it’s more suitable for large enterprises than most online sellers looking for simple bookkeeping solutions.

Pricing plans:

Medium: $61/mo, up to 500 transactions/mo
Scale: $110/mo, 1-5K transactions/mo
Large: From $275/mo, 10-50K transactions/mo
Enterprise: Custom, for multimillion international corporations

So, Synder is a top choice for multi-channel sales.

Here are some of its best features:

Real-time synchronization of sales, fees, taxes, and other transaction details
25+ integrations and multi-currency operations
Detailed financial reporting tailored for e-commerce specifics
Automatic inventory and order management
Full data security with SOC2 compliance

| **Pros** | **Cons** | |---|---| | Simplifies e-commerce accounting for big sellers | Not the most affordable option | | Enhances detail and accuracy in records | Feature overload for smaller sellers | | Automates repetitive tasks | Subscription costs add up depending on your specific needs | | Offers white-glove onboarding with a personal Synder expert to guide you | Some advanced features require a learning curve |

#3. Parex Bridge

Parex Bridge is an automated accounting solution by ParexTech designed to streamline the integration of e-commerce sales data into accounting systems.

With its low cost and basic features, this is a decent entry point for small businesses just starting out and needing the most basic accounting solutions.

Pricing plans:

Silver: $10/mo for 100 orders, with $0.05 for additional orders
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Gold: $20/mo for 800 orders, with $0.02 for additional orders
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Platinum: $30/mo for 2000 orders, with $0.01 for additional orders
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Desktop: $40/mo for 1000 orders, with $0.05 for additional orders, QuickBooks Desktop only and Shopify only

Are you looking for a no-frills approach that supports your basic needs?

You can get it with ParexTech:

Automatic data sync for complete orders
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Integration with Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage
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Option to choose between daily automation and manual sync
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Simple setup with just a few clicks

| **Pros** | **Cons** | |---|---| | Even those without accounting expertise can easily set it up | Only email support, which may not be enough for urgent issues | | Accommodates various tax and regulatory environments | Certain plans are restricted to specific platforms like Shopify and QuickBooks Desktop | | Offers competitive pricing and flexibility when exceeding the number of orders in the plan | May not easily scale with your business |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before you look for an accountant for your e-commerce business, check the answers to these frequently asked questions about the topic.

What Financial Statements Do E-commerce Companies Need?

E-commerce companies need to maintain income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. A tool like Link My Books streamlines data entry into these documents, ensuring accuracy and saving time.

How Do E-commerce Accounting Services Handle Sales Tax?

Accounting services automate sales tax calculations. They typically adjust for the various jurisdictions your e-commerce operates within. By doing so, they significantly reduce the manual workload and minimize errors.

What Accounting Challenges Do E-commerce Businesses Face?

Challenges include high transaction volumes, multi-currency operations, and sales tax compliance. At Link My Books, we address these by automating data collection and financial reporting. In short, we make managing large volumes of data easier.

How Often Should E-commerce Businesses Update Their Financial Records?

E-commerce businesses should update their financial records frequently, ideally monthly. Link My Books' integration with Xero and Quickbooks ensures your records are continuously up-to-date.

Can E-commerce Accounting Services Help with International Sales?

Yes, e-commerce accounting services can simplify the complexities of international sales. They handle tasks such as currency conversions and compliance with international tax regulations, making it easier to expand your business globally.

Conclusion

Effective e-commerce accounting involves understanding digital sales complexities, integrating technology, and adhering to regulatory demands.

As you consider your options, from freelance experts to dedicated software, remember the importance of specialized expertise and scalability.

Are you interested in automating and optimizing your bookkeeping? Book a demo with Link My Books to discover how we can support your e-commerce business's financial management.