CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT · RETAIL
The chartered accountant for retailers and e-commerce
Inventory, margins, certified point-of-sale software, VAT on your sales: we take on the entire accounting management of your shop or online store. You focus on your customers; we watch over your figures and your compliance.
The accounting challenges of retail
Physical shop, wholesale or e-commerce site: your profitability is decided by inventory, margins and cash flow. Here are the watch-points we track for you.
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Inventory management
Your stock ties up a significant share of your cash and weighs directly on your result. Year-end stocktake, valuation, tracking of ins and outs: poorly kept accounts distort your balance sheet and your margins.
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Margin tracking
Gross margin, markup rate, margin by product family: these are your real profitability indicators. Without rigorous tracking of purchases and sales, you’re steering blind.
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Compliant POS software
If you take payments from private customers, France’s anti-VAT-fraud law requires certified point-of-sale software (tamper-proofing, security, retention, archiving). An audit without a valid certificate exposes you to heavy penalties.
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Seasonality and cash flow
Sales periods, holidays, back-to-school, high and low season: your turnover swings widely across the year, while your costs and stock purchases come in advance. Anticipating these peaks is vital so you’re never caught short.
What we bring you
Our role is simple: free you from admin, guarantee your compliance and give you a clear view of your profitability.
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Zero paperwork
Supplier invoices, till receipts, sales journals, e-commerce platform statements: you send us your documents, we handle everything. No more binders or hours lost keying in data.
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Guaranteed compliance
Certified POS software, VAT returns filed on time, VAT rules for e-commerce and distance selling: we secure every obligation to shield you from a tax adjustment.
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Day-to-day peace of mind
You sell, we count. A dedicated, reachable contact who knows your business and answers your questions. You make decisions with reliable figures and no nasty surprise at year-end.
Our support for retailers
Support designed for the reality of retail, wholesale and online selling, from day-to-day bookkeeping to steering your profitability.
Accounting & inventory
- Full bookkeeping and review of your accounts
- Stock valuation and inventory entries
- Tracking of goods purchases
- Preparation of the balance sheet and tax package
- Help with the annual stocktake and till reconciliation
Margins & steering
- Calculating your margin and markup rates
- Management indicators by product family
- Clear, regular dashboards
- Seasonal cash-flow tracking and forecasts
- Advice on your selling prices and profitability
VAT & e-commerce
- VAT returns on your sales, multi-rate
- Certified POS software and compliance
- Distance selling and intra-EU VAT (OSS)
- Reconciling online platforms and marketplaces
- Management of customer and supplier accounts
Why entrust us with your accounts
Do you recognise yourself in one of these concerns? They are at the heart of our support.
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“I want to know my real margins”
We calculate your real gross margin, product by product and family by family, so you know exactly what earns you money, what costs you and where to adjust your prices.
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“I want a fully compliant till”
We check that your POS software meets the anti-VAT-fraud requirement and that your certificate is in order, so you can face a possible audit with peace of mind.
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“I want to anticipate my seasonal cash flow”
We build a cash-flow forecast that factors in your peaks and troughs, so you can finance your stock purchases at the right time and get through the quiet seasons without stress.
Frequently asked questions
Is certified POS software mandatory?
Yes. As soon as you record payments from private customers via till software or a POS system, it must meet the tamper-proofing, security, retention and archiving conditions set by the anti-VAT-fraud law. You must be able to prove this compliance with a certificate from the vendor. We check your situation and help you get compliant if needed.
How do I value my inventory?
Your stock is generally valued at its purchase cost, using a method kept consistent from one year to the next (weighted average cost or first-in-first-out). At year-end, a physical stocktake records the actual quantities and adjusts the balance-sheet value, with any write-downs for unsold or shrinkage. We guide you on the method suited to your business and the entries to post.
How do I calculate my gross margin?
Gross margin is the difference between your sales of goods and their purchase cost (goods consumed, adjusted for the change in stock). From it you derive two key indicators: the markup rate (margin relative to selling price) and the margin rate (margin relative to purchase price). Tracked regularly, they tell you whether your pricing holds up. We calculate and analyse them with you.
How do I handle VAT in e-commerce?
E-commerce VAT depends on the nature of your customers and their country. For distance sales to private customers in other EU countries, thresholds trigger the application of the destination-country VAT, managed through the One-Stop-Shop (OSS). Add to this the rules specific to marketplaces, which may collect VAT on your behalf. We structure your accounting and returns to stay compliant whatever your sales channel.
How do I anticipate a seasonal business?
The key is the cash-flow forecast: we project your receipts and outflows month by month, factoring in your sales peaks and your advance stock purchases. You can then see the tight periods and prepare in advance a credit line, a staggering of costs or an adjustment to your orders. Better to anticipate a dip three months out than discover it the day the account runs dry.
Which indicators should I track in retail?
Beyond turnover, watch gross margin and markup rate, stock turnover, average basket, the payment terms of your customers and suppliers and your break-even point. For e-commerce, add conversion rate and acquisition cost. We condense these indicators into simple dashboards, updated regularly, so you can steer your business without drowning in figures.
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Grow your retail business with peace of mind
Entrust the management of your shop or online store to a firm that knows retail inventory, margins, tills and VAT. Let’s talk about your business and build support that fits you.