What to look for in an accountant for a UK ecommerce business
The sales in your shop and the deposits in your bank rarely match, and a good accountant knows why.
Books reconciled weekly - no quarter-end pile of payouts that don't add up
Selling platforms and payment providers usually pay you out after taking their fees and any refunds. That leaves the money in your bank smaller than the sales behind it, and it lands after the sale.
Until each payout is matched to the orders inside it, your profit figure is a guess. We reconcile your books every week, so a gap shows up while you still remember the sale behind it.
Refunds need the same care. A refund lowers your sales and can change your VAT, so it has to be booked against the order it came from.
VAT filed with HMRC - no headache over overseas orders
We file your VAT returns directly with HMRC, and the return is part of the same flat monthly fee as the rest of the work.
Selling to customers outside the UK brings its own VAT treatment, which depends on the country and on how the goods travel. If you plan to start, message us before the first overseas order and we'll talk it through, because the set-up is easier to get right before the first order than after it.
Year-end accounts filed for you - no guessing what your stock is worth
Stock you have bought and not yet sold counts as something your company owns at year end. Only the cost of what you have sold comes off your profit, so your accountant needs a stock figure and needs to know how you arrived at it.
We file your annual accounts with Companies House and your corporation tax return with HMRC, and year-end is part of the flat monthly fee.
A qualified team on WhatsApp - no waiting weeks for a reply
Our median WhatsApp reply is 2m 14s, and the reply comes from a qualified person.
Absolv is the trading name of Absolv Services Ltd. It has been an ICAEW member firm since registration was confirmed on 12 August 2026, and professional indemnity insurance is in place.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant for an online shop cost?
Fees vary by firm, so compare what each one covers as well as the monthly number. Absolv charges one flat monthly fee that covers your books, VAT, year-end accounts and correspondence, with one subscription, no scope to argue over and no surprises. Ask any firm you're comparing which of those it bills separately.
Do I need to register for VAT to sell online?
Selling online gets no special treatment. You have to register once your taxable turnover passes the HMRC threshold, and that turnover adds up every channel you sell on, so a shop plus a marketplace can reach the line sooner than either looks on its own. You can also register earlier if you choose, which means charging VAT on your taxable sales from that point. Message us if you're getting close and we'll work out where you stand.
What records should I keep as an online seller?
Keep the payout report from every platform you sell on and the invoice for each batch of stock you buy, because those are what your sales and your costs get checked against. A limited company has to keep its records for at least six years from the end of the financial year they relate to. If your suppliers email you invoices, connect your Gmail to Absolv and you never have to forward one.