Ecommerce accountant Sydney for retail and online businesses
As an ecommerce accountant in Sydney, SMA Business Advisory supports retail and online businesses with the accounting decisions specific to multi-channel selling, from stock valuation to seasonal cash flow.
Understanding retail and ecommerce business finances
Retail and ecommerce businesses carry a specific kind of financial complexity. Stock sits on the balance sheet before it’s sold, sales come in through several channels at once, a Shopify store, a marketplace, in-store POS, and cash flow peaks and troughs around stock buying and seasonal demand.
Retail and ecommerce margin is won or lost in the detail, how stock is valued and accounted for, how platform and merchant fees eat into revenue before it ever reaches your account, and whether GST is being applied correctly across every channel and product line. Cash flow is often the real constraint, with money tied up in stock ahead of a seasonal peak like the pre-Christmas period, then a wait to convert that stock back into cash once it sells.
Financial statements and tax returns need to properly account for stock on hand, cost of goods sold and stock adjustments at stocktake, and BAS preparation needs to apply the right GST treatment across domestic sales, marketplace sales and imported low-value goods. As a business grows from a single channel into several, questions around business structure and ASIC compliance tend to follow.
Stock, channels and seasonal cash flow, worked through properly
Manraj and his team work through your actual stock position, sales channels and seasonal cycle rather than applying a generic retail template, backed by 15+ years of accounting and advisory experience.
That means consolidating sales data from every channel into one clear set of numbers, valuing stock properly at stocktake, and building cash flow forecasting around your actual buying and selling cycle, so a seasonal stock order is planned for rather than a scramble.
- Website, marketplace and in-store sales consolidated into one clear set of numbers
- Stock on hand and cost of goods sold properly valued, so reported profit reflects reality
- Seasonal cash flow forecasting built around your actual stock buying and selling cycle
- BAS prepared with the right treatment across channels, including imported low-value goods
Clear, practical advice across every stage
Our services are structured around the way business owners actually make decisions, at every stage of growth.
Business Accounting & Tax Compliance
The foundation of good compliance, handled accurately and reported on time, every time.
- Financial Statements
- Income Tax Returns
- Personal & HNW Tax
- BAS & IAS
- Payroll Tax
- FBT
- ATO Correspondence & Audit
Business Advisory
Guidance that looks well beyond this quarter, toward where your business is headed next.
Learn more about Business AdvisoryTax Advisory
Structure your business, plan your tax position and protect what you've built with confidence.
- Business Tax
- Personal and Family Groups
- Tax Planning
- Structuring & Asset Protection
- Family Group Structuring
- Trust & Estate Planning
- Wealth & Succession
Business Support Services
Dependable bookkeeping, payroll and systems support working quietly behind the scenes.
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll Processing
- Business Structure and Company Setup
- ASIC Compliance and Management
- Xero Setup and Support
- Cloud Accounting Solutions
Not sure which service you need?
Book an obligation-free consultation and we'll help you find the right starting point for your business.
Book a consultationFrequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
We sell through our own website, a marketplace and in-store. Can you help reconcile it all into one set of numbers?
Yes, consolidating sales, fees and payment timing across multiple channels into a single, clear set of accounts is one of the most common pieces of work we do for retail and ecommerce clients.
How should we be accounting for stock on hand?
Stock on hand needs to be properly valued and reconciled at stocktake so your reported profit reflects reality rather than being distorted by unsold inventory sitting in cost of goods. We build this into your regular financial reporting.
Do platform and merchant fees affect how we should be recording revenue?
Yes, the fees taken by marketplaces, payment gateways and delivery partners should be accounted for clearly so you can see true margin per channel, not just total revenue before fees.
Is GST different for goods we sell through an online marketplace compared with our own website?
GST treatment can vary depending on the sales channel and, in some cases, whether goods are imported. We review this as part of your BAS preparation so it’s applied correctly across every channel.
Our cash is always tight right before a big stock order for a seasonal peak. Can you help plan for that?
Yes, cash flow forecasting built around your actual buying and selling cycle is one of the most useful things we do for retail and ecommerce clients, so seasonal stock buying is planned for rather than a scramble.
We're growing from a single online store into a small retail chain. What should we be thinking about structurally?
Growing into multiple locations or channels often raises real questions about entity structure, ASIC compliance and how each location or channel is reported on. Worth reviewing before you commit to the next lease or platform.
News, guides and practical advice
Considered guidance on the issues that matter most to business owners and family groups.
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Read articleRequest a consultation
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