Seller financial accounting: P&L and profit report

Seller financial accounting is the regular recording of all money in the business so you can see real profit rather than "how much landed in the account." The core tool is the P&L (profit and loss statement): revenue minus all expenses (procurement, commission, logistics, advertising, storage, taxes) = net profit. Without accounting, a seller confuses turnover with profit and learns about a loss too late. Accounting shows whether you are earning money or just circulating the platform's cash.

In short: accounting = tracking all profit and expenses as they actually happen. The P&L answers the question "did I earn money or am I just moving it around."

• Revenue — actual sales for the period (net of returns).
• Cost of goods sold — the purchase cost of the goods sold.
• Platform expenses — commission, logistics, storage, hidden deductions.
• Marketing — advertising and promotion (ad spend share, DRR).
• Other — taxes (including VAT above the simplified tax system threshold), acquiring fees, subscriptions, services.

• Consolidate the data at least once a month — from WB/Ozon reports, not "by eye."
• Calculate profit on shipment/sale, not on when the money hits the account.
• Separate business money from personal money — otherwise the accounting is useless.
• Look at profit together with inventory turnover and ABC analysis.
• Plan your cash: working capital and a payment calendar against cash gaps.
• Set up the tax side of accounting separately: seller bookkeeping.

Related deep dives: manager or agency.

Related deep dives: Inventory accounting on a marketplace.

"Why does a seller need financial accounting?" To see real profit rather than turnover. Without accounting it is easy to mistake platform payouts for earnings and discover a loss too late, when the money is already spent.

"What is a P&L for a seller?" A P&L (profit and loss statement) consolidates revenue and all expenses for the period: procurement, commission, logistics, advertising, storage, taxes. The bottom line is the business's net profit.

"Why is cash in the account not profit?" A payout from the platform includes amounts you will still have to pay out: returns, unpaid expenses, taxes. Profit only becomes visible after deducting all costs in the P&L.

"How often should I consolidate the accounts?" At least once a month, based on actual WB/Ozon reports. A regular P&L lets you catch falling margins and loss-making products in time instead of investigating after the fact.