How Much Do Bookkeeping Services Cost for Ecommerce Businesses?
Running an ecommerce store means juggling orders, payouts, returns, inventory, and sales tax-so it’s no surprise bookkeeping costs can vary widely. Most ecommerce businesses pay about $200-$600+ per month for ongoing bookkeeping, with higher fees when transaction volume, sales channels, or inventory complexity increase. The right partner should deliver accurate financials, clear reporting, and compliance without wasting your time.
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At a glance (what affects price)
- Ecommerce bookkeeping services usually start around $200-$600+/month.
- Costs scale with monthly transactions, number of sales channels (Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, eBay), and inventory/COGS complexity.
- Add-ons like sales tax support, accounts payable/receivable, and controller/CFO oversight increase price.
- One-time cleanup or catch-up projects are typically fixed-fee based on months of backlog.
- Expect better outcomes from providers with platform reconciliation (Stripe/PayPal/Amazon settlements) and CPA-reviewed monthly reports.
What drives ecommerce bookkeeping cost?
1) Transaction volume
More orders and payouts mean more reconciliations and categorization. Volume also affects payment processor fees and refunds/chargebacks handling.
2) Sales channels & processors
Multi-channel setups (e.g., Shopify + Amazon + Etsy) and multiple processors (Stripe/PayPal/Amazon Pay/Shopify Payments) add settlement reconciliations and fee mapping.
multi-channel reconciliation (Shopify, Amazon, PayPal, Stripe) →
3) Inventory & COGS
If you track inventory (including landed cost, kits/bundles, 3PL activity, or returns to stock), your books need accrual timing and accurate COGS-this takes more time.
4) Sales tax
Nexus across states and marketplace facilitator rules increase complexity. Even if marketplaces remit tax, you still need to record it correctly.
5) Number of accounts
More bank/credit cards, merchant accounts, wallets, and loans = more reconciliations.
6) Reporting requirements
Unit economics, product/category margins, channel P&Ls, or investor-ready packages increase scope.
7) Add-on services
A/P, A/R, payroll postings, inventory valuations, or controller/CFO review add to monthly fees.
8) Cleanup/catch-up
Historical repairs (uncategorized transactions, unreconciled settlements, mis-stated COGS) are typically a separate, one-time project.
Typical pricing models
Flat-rate monthly (most common)
A predictable fee tied to your size and complexity. Often tiered by transactions, channels, and add-ons.
flat-rate monthly bookkeeping →
Hourly
Useful for projects or irregular needs; less predictable for ongoing ecommerce operations.
Hybrid
Flat-rate for regular work + hourly for special projects (e.g., sales tax remediation or system migrations).
Project-based (cleanup/catch-up)
One-time quote based on months of backlog and data quality.
Common monthly ranges (examples)
These are illustrative bands-your quote should reflect your actual stack, volume, and reporting needs.
Starter (single channel, light volume): $200-$350/mo
- 1 sales channel (e.g., Shopify) + 1-2 processors
- Basic categorization & monthly bank/credit reconciliations
- Cash-basis P&L & balance sheet
Growing (multi-channel OR higher volume): $350-$700/mo
- 2–3 channels (Shopify + Amazon/Etsy)
- Settlement/fee reconciliation (Stripe/PayPal/Amazon)
- Basic inventory/COGS and monthly close package
Advanced (inventory-heavy or detailed analytics): $700-$1,500+/mo
- Multi-channel with 3PL, returns, landed cost
- Accrual-basis inventory/COGS with adjustments
- Channel P&Ls, SKU/category margins, and management dashboards
- Optional controller/CFO review
Cleanup/Catch-Up (one-time)
- Priced by months of backlog and complexity (e.g., missing bank feeds, unreconciled Amazon settlements, mis-posted inventory).
DIY vs in-house vs outsourced
DIY
- Lowest cash outlay; highest founder time cost and error risk.
- Better only for very low volume stores with simple cash-basis needs.
In-house hire (part-time or full-time)
- Control and proximity; higher fixed cost (wages + benefits + software).
- Works well when you need someone embedded in operations (A/P, vendor comms).
Outsourced bookkeeping firm
- Ecommerce platform expertise, documented processes, and coverage for vacations/turnover.
- Usually the most cost-effective path to accurate, timely financials for small and mid-sized stores.
What’s usually included (and what’s extra)
Included in most plans
- Bank/credit/processor reconciliations
- Transaction categorization and month-end close
- Standard monthly P&L, balance sheet, cash flow
- Basic support for Stripe/PayPal settlements
CPA-reviewed monthly reports →
Often add-ons
- Amazon/eBay/Etsy settlement mapping with fees & reserves
- Accrual inventory/COGS, landed cost, and 3PL adjustments
- Sales tax nexus monitoring/entries (filing is commonly separate)
- A/P & bill pay, A/R & invoicing, payroll postings
- Controller/CFO oversight and custom dashboards
How to get an accurate quote (send this to your provider)
- Average monthly orders/transactions
- Sales channels & processors (Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Walmart, Stripe, PayPal, Shop Pay)
- Inventory status (cash vs accrual, SKUs, 3PL details)
- Number of bank/credit accounts and loans
- Current software (QuickBooks/Xero + apps like A2X, Webgility, Inventory Planner)
- Reporting needs (channel P&L, SKU/category margins, unit economics)
- Months of cleanup/catch-up (if any)
- Sales tax footprint and filing setup
Ways to control or reduce cost
- Consolidate processors where possible; fewer settlements = fewer reconciliations.
- Use bank rules and consistent memo conventions to speed categorization.
- Adopt an order-to-books app (e.g., A2X/Webgility) for clean postings.
- Keep a tight chart of accounts tailored to ecommerce.
- Close monthly, not quarterly-small, regular closes prevent large cleanups.
- Provide timely docs (vendor bills, credit memos, 3PL reports).
When it’s worth paying more
- You need investor-ready or lender-grade reporting.
- Inventory margins are unclear and you need SKU-level profitability.
- Rapid channel expansion (Amazon + Walmart + wholesale) needs accrual controls.
- Multi-entity or international operations require advanced consolidations.
FAQs
Is cash or accrual better for ecommerce?
Cash can work for very small shops, but accrual provides accurate inventory/COGS timing and margin visibility as you grow.
Do bookkeepers file sales tax?
Many bookkeepers record sales tax; filing is often a separate service or handled via a sales tax tool. Clarify this in your engagement.
What about platforms that “remit tax for me”?
Marketplace facilitator rules don’t remove the need to record tax properly in your books and reports.
How long does cleanup take?
Anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on months of backlog and whether settlements/inventory need rework.
Most ecommerce brands will find solid coverage in the $200-$600+/month range, increasing with channels, inventory, and reporting depth. Choose a provider with ecommerce platform expertise, clear deliverables, and a documented month-end close-your margins and peace of mind depend on it.
Looking for local expertise? We offer Ecommerce bookkeeping in California, Texas, and Florida – or view all locations.
