Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies
Accountants UK
Chartered accountants specialising in ecommerce & shopify agencies. We understand your business model, cash flow patterns, and growth trajectory.
Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies have unique accounting challenges. Unlike generalist accountants, we understand your business model, your cash flow patterns, and your growth trajectory.
TL;DR
- Project profitability for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento builds
- Recurring revenue management for maintenance and optimisation retainers
- Platform commission and app fee tracking for resold products
- R&D credits for themes, apps, checkout tools (£10k-£35k claimable)
💡Quick reference summary. Continue reading for comprehensive analysis and context.
Accounting Challenges for Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies
Unique challenges that most generalist accountants simply don't understand:
Platform Partnership Revenue
Shopify Partner revenue, app referral commissions, and theme royalties need different accounting treatment. Mixing them creates reporting chaos.
Project vs Recurring Revenue Mix
Build projects (one-time) plus retainers (ongoing support) plus partner commissions (variable). Forecasting is impossible without clear separation.
Developer & Specialist Costs
Mix of in-house developers and specialist contractors (Shopify experts, app developers). True project margins are hidden by this complexity.
Tailored for Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies
Services designed specifically for your business model:
Partner Revenue Accounting
Properly account for Shopify Partner revenue, app commissions, and theme royalties. Clear separation for tax efficiency and reporting.
Revenue Stream Separation
Track project revenue, retainer revenue, and partner commissions separately. Forecast each stream independently for accurate planning.
Project Profitability Analysis
Allocate developer costs, contractor fees, and overhead to each project. Know true margins per build and per client.
R&D Tax Credits for Development
Custom Shopify app development, theme creation, and technical integrations often qualify. Claim 20-25% back on eligible development costs.
Monthly Bookkeeping
Client invoicing, contractor payments, platform commissions, software subscriptions. Clean records and VAT compliance.
Tax Planning for Tech Agencies
Salary/dividend optimization, EMI share schemes for key developers, and Corporation Tax planning.
Why Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies Choose Alto
Clear partner revenue accounting
Shopify Partner, app commissions, royalties
Forecast each revenue stream
Projects, retainers, commissions
Know true project margins
After all developer costs
Claim R&D tax credits
On custom development work
EMI share schemes
Retain key developers tax-efficiently
Serving Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies Nationwide
We're remote-first, but have deep expertise in these key locations:
Common Questions
How do I account for Shopify Partner revenue?
Can ecommerce agencies claim R&D tax credits?
What ecommerce tools are tax-deductible?
How do I retain key developers tax-efficiently?
You Might Also Be Interested In
We also work with businesses in complementary industries:
Guides for Ecommerce & Shopify Agencies
Expert insights and tools tailored for your business:
Ready to work with specialists?
Get a free consultation with an accountant who truly understands ecommerce & shopify agencies. No jargon, no surprises.
We onboard a limited number of new clients each quarter to ensure quality.