Questions
Practical answers to the bookkeeping, accounting, and financial questions that come up when running a business.
How do I do bookkeeping for my Amazon FBA business?
The key is understanding that Amazon deposits aren't your revenue. They're the net result after fees, refunds, and deductions. You need integration software to break down settlements properly and careful tracking of inventory costs.
Read answerWhat's the best way to track Amazon seller fees in QuickBooks?
The key is breaking apart Amazon's net deposits into gross sales and individual fee categories. You can do this manually using settlement reports or automate it with integration tools like A2X.
Read answerHow do I reconcile Amazon payouts with my bank account?
Amazon deposits a net payout that includes sales minus fees, refunds, and reserves. Use your Settlement Report from Seller Central to see what's inside each deposit and record the components separately in your books.
Read answerWhy don't my Amazon deposits match my sales reports?
Amazon deposits are net amounts after fees, refunds, advertising costs, and reserves are deducted. The number hitting your bank is what remains after Amazon takes its cut, not your gross sales.
Read answerHow do I calculate cost of goods sold for my e-commerce store?
Cost of goods sold equals beginning inventory plus purchases minus ending inventory. For e-commerce, include product costs and inbound freight in COGS, but keep platform fees and outbound shipping as operating expenses.
Read answerWhat accounting method should I use for my Shopify store?
Most small Shopify stores can legally use cash basis accounting, but accrual often makes more sense once you're carrying inventory. Cash is simpler for tax prep, but accrual shows actual profitability by matching product costs to the revenue they generate.
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