Selling online is a numbers game across more channels than ever. We help Shopify, Amazon, eBay and Etsy sellers make sense of payouts, fees, refunds and VAT — with a dedicated named accountant, a fixed monthly fee and cloud books that tie every platform together so you always know your true margin.
E-commerce & Retail
Here's exactly what's involved — and how your own named accountant handles each part for you.
Every marketplace pays you differently, and the headline payout is rarely the real picture once selling fees, advertising, refunds and reserves are stripped out. Without a tidy system it is easy to mistake turnover for profit.
VAT is where most e-commerce businesses come unstuck. You must register once your taxable turnover passes the £90,000 threshold, and from there choosing and running the right scheme matters for both cash flow and compliance.
For certain sales, online marketplaces are treated as the deemed supplier and account for the VAT themselves — for example goods imported in consignments of £135 or less, and some sales made by overseas sellers. Knowing when this applies keeps your own returns accurate.
Cross-border sales bring customs, duties and extra VAT steps. For B2C sales to EU consumers, the One Stop Shop can simplify how you report VAT, and for imports into the EU of €150 or less the Import One Stop Shop can do the same.
Inventory is usually your biggest cost, so getting stock accounting and cost of goods sold right is what turns a busy shop into a profitable one. We track these properly and translate them into live cloud reporting on margin, cash and your best-selling lines.
We run your books in Xero, QuickBooks or Sage with your sales channels feeding in automatically, so reporting is always current. Moving to us is paperless and usually takes a few days — we collect your records under professional clearance and set everything up for you.
Last reviewed: June 2026. This page is general guidance, not advice — figures relate to the 2025/26 UK tax year and may change. Please get in touch for advice tailored to your circumstances.
FAQ
You must register once your taxable turnover passes the £90,000 threshold, though you can register voluntarily before that if it helps you reclaim input VAT. We monitor your turnover and handle registration and returns when the time comes.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we'll show you exactly how MMR can help — with a clear fixed-fee quote and no pressure.
