Selling on Amazon’s FBA platform offers numerous benefits for eCommerce entrepreneurs. However, navigating the complexities of FBA, especially when it comes to managing reimbursements and recovering lost funds due to operational errors, can be a challenge. This is where TrueOps steps in as a powerful tool for Amazon sellers. TrueOps specializes in helping sellers recover money lost through FBA errors, reimbursements, and mistakes that often go unnoticed or unresolved.

What is TrueOps?

TrueOps is an advanced, data-driven platform designed specifically to help Amazon FBA sellers recover funds that they are owed. Many Amazon sellers often face issues such as inventory loss, damaged goods, misplaced items, or unprocessed returns that result in missed reimbursements. TrueOps uses cutting-edge technology combined with expert audit teams to identify these issues and ensure sellers receive the reimbursements they are entitled to.

The company’s mission is to eliminate the stress and complexity involved in navigating Amazon’s complex FBA refund system. It acts as a third-party auditor, offering a fully managed service to recover funds for sellers without requiring any upfront payment or long-term commitment.

How TrueOps Works

TrueOps leverages a simple, yet highly effective process to recover refunds for Amazon sellers:

1. Account Analysis: The TrueOps platform scans your Amazon FBA account to identify potential reimbursement opportunities, including inventory discrepancies, lost items, returns, and other operational errors.

2. Claim Submission: Once eligible reimbursements are identified, TrueOps drafts and submits claims on behalf of the seller, ensuring that all claims comply with Amazon’s policies.

3. Follow-Up: TrueOps’ team of North American-based claims auditors follows up with Amazon on behalf of the seller to ensure that claims are processed correctly and refunds are issued promptly.

4. Performance-Based Fees: Sellers only pay a 10% commission on successful claims, meaning there are no upfront costs, and sellers only pay for results. If no refunds are recovered, sellers incur no charges.

Why Sellers Choose TrueOps

The appeal of TrueOps lies in its ability to take the burden off Amazon sellers by streamlining the process of handling reimbursements. Here are some key reasons why TrueOps is a trusted partner for many sellers:

1. Expert Claims Auditing: TrueOps has a dedicated team of claims auditors with deep knowledge of Amazon’s reimbursement policies. Their expertise ensures that sellers get the best possible outcome for every claim.

2. No Upfront Fees: Sellers are only charged when TrueOps successfully recovers funds. This performance-based pricing model reduces the financial risk for sellers, making the service a low-cost option for maximizing profits.

3. Automated Claim Tracking: The platform continuously tracks and manages claims, updating sellers on the status of their reimbursements. This saves sellers time and effort, as they don’t have to manually monitor each claim.

4. Data Security: TrueOps places a strong emphasis on security, using encryption and secure servers to ensure that sellers’ data is protected throughout the process.

5. Easy Cancellation: If a seller feels that TrueOps isn’t a good fit, they can easily cancel their subscription without any penalties.

6. Flexible Service Options: TrueOps allows sellers to manage their claims and services according to their preferences, giving them flexibility in how they use the platform.

The Benefits of Using TrueOps

TrueOps provides several benefits that can help Amazon FBA sellers improve their bottom line. Here’s a summary of these benefits:

Conclusion

TrueOps is an invaluable resource for Amazon FBA sellers looking to maximize their profitability by recovering lost funds from FBA errors, reimbursements, and operational mistakes. By offering an automated, data-driven solution with expert auditing and a performance-based pricing model, TrueOps removes much of the hassle from the reimbursement process. With its easy-to-use platform, expert support, and no upfront costs, TrueOps is an essential tool for any serious Amazon seller who wants to ensure they’re receiving every dollar they’re owed.

Check out TrueOps and see how much money Amazon Owes you.

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CronosNow’s services go beyond standard bookkeeping to cover a broad spectrum of accounting needs, from daily financial tracking to strategic financial planning.

Benefits of CronosNow for eCommerce Sellers

CronosNow’s expertise in eCommerce makes them a trusted partner for online businesses. By focusing on accurate bookkeeping, streamlined tax compliance, and proactive inventory management, they help sellers avoid common financial pitfalls. International sellers, in particular, benefit from their support with VAT, GST, and other cross-border tax requirements, reducing the burden of global financial management.

CronosNow’s Competitive Advantage

CronosNow stands out by offering specialized eCommerce accounting knowledge. Unlike generic accounting firms, they understand the nuances of online retail, such as inventory fluctuations, seasonal sales trends, and the need for rapid tax adjustments across different markets. With their services, sellers are not only compliant but also gain insights into cash flow and profitability trends unique to eCommerce.

Why Choose CronosNow?

CronosNow enables eCommerce businesses to focus on growth rather than worrying about financial management and compliance. With their expert team handling complex bookkeeping and tax needs, sellers gain the confidence to make data-backed financial decisions. Whether you’re an established business or a growing brand, CronosNow’s specialized services offer tailored solutions that simplify accounting and empower sellers to thrive.

With over 20 years in finance and exclusive eCommerce expertise since 2019, CronosNow is the ideal partner for online businesses looking to enhance financial accuracy and optimize growth. For more information, visit CronosNow.

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Key Features and Benefits of Viably

Viably’s finance platform has been designed to support eCommerce sellers at every stage of growth, providing flexible funding, banking solutions, analytics, and real-time insights that empower sellers to make data-driven financial decisions. Some of the platform’s standout features include:

1. Flexible Funding: Viably offers working capital solutions that scale with a business, giving sellers access to funds based on their revenue history and current cash flow needs. This helps sellers stay agile and avoid the rigidity of traditional financing options.

2. Multi-Currency Banking: With international payment and currency management capabilities, Viably supports sellers who operate in multiple regions, reducing currency exchange fees and allowing for more efficient global operations.

3. Integrated Bookkeeping and Analytics: Viably combines financial tracking with powerful profit and loss analytics, enabling sellers to monitor the health of their business and keep an eye on essential metrics without the need for additional software.

4. Predictive Cash Flow Analysis: One of Viably's most valuable tools is its ability to analyze cash flow patterns and provide projections based on historical data, helping sellers predict future funding needs and optimize inventory planning.

5. Multi-platform Integration: Viably seamlessly integrates with popular eCommerce and accounting platforms, allowing for smooth data syncing and easy management of financial records, which is especially useful for sellers operating across multiple channels.

Benefits for SellerVue Users

Viably and SellerVue together form a robust solution that not only covers the financial health of an eCommerce business but also focuses on optimizing operational costs, such as Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and landed costs, to increase profitability. Here are a few ways Viably complements SellerVue’s unique value:

1. Enhanced Cash Flow Management: With Viably’s cash flow projections, SellerVue users can more accurately predict and adjust for the costs associated with new inventory orders, helping to prevent overstock and understock situations.

2. Streamlined Cost Tracking: SellerVue’s tools focus on optimizing landed costs and managing COGS, making it easier to calculate margins. When paired with Viably’s profit analytics, sellers gain a comprehensive view of both gross and net profit, providing a full financial snapshot.

3. Informed Scaling Decisions: Viably’s funding flexibility means SellerVue users can reinvest into growth areas confidently, knowing they have access to funds without affecting their cash flow. This enables them to balance spending on inventory and marketing more effectively.

4. Financial Insights in Real Time: Viably’s real-time insights combined with SellerVue’s detailed profit recovery and optimization tools mean that sellers can make adjustments to both costs and revenue strategies on the fly.

Comprehensive Features and Benefits of Viably

Why Viably and SellerVue Work Well Together

For eCommerce sellers, managing cash flow and cost optimization are two sides of the same coin. Viably’s platform allows sellers to take control of their finances, ensuring they have the resources to invest in their business without compromising on working capital. SellerVue’s focus on cost optimization makes this combination a powerful tool for any seller looking to maximize profit margins while scaling efficiently.

By integrating the cost-saving insights of SellerVue with Viably’s financial flexibility and advanced analytics, sellers gain a 360-degree view of their business health. This combination empowers sellers to recover costs, reinvest more effectively, and set clear, data-backed strategies for sustained growth.

Unlock your eCommerce potential today! Discover how Viably’s flexible funding and analytics can work seamlessly with SellerVue’s cost optimization tools to drive your business growth. Don’t miss out on maximizing your profits and streamlining your financial management. Visit Viably now to learn more!

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A stand-out solution that we can recommend: Mail.Click.Profit, a tailored email marketing service designed to help e-commerce businesses succeed without the headaches of mastering complex email strategies.

In this article, we’ll explore how Mail.Click.Profit can revolutionize your email marketing efforts and bring your business closer to achieving an impressive 42.8% AVERAGE increase in revenue with the potential to even DOUBLE your revenue - all from this one essential strategy. 

Why Email Marketing is Crucial for E-commerce Success

We’ll hold off for a minute on diving into the specifics of Mail.Click.Profit - let’s first understand why email marketing is so important for e-commerce businesses like yours. 

Most forms of digital marketing, like social media or paid ads, are not direct conversations with the viewers. Email marketing, on the other hand, provides a direct and personal line of communication with your customers. 

With a well-structured email marketing strategy, you can:

1. Build Customer Relationships: Email allows you to engage with customers on a deeper level by sending personalized messages that build trust and brand loyalty.

2. Generate Repeat Business: Through regular email campaigns, you can turn one-time buyers into repeat customers, increasing the overall lifetime value of your audience.

3. Promote New Products: One of the biggest challenges on Amazon is launching and ranking new products. Email marketing is a great way to announce those products, get early, fast sales, and get quick traction during the “honeymoon” phase of a new product. 

4. Boost Revenue: According to industry studies, email marketing has a potential ROI of up to 4,200%—meaning for every dollar you spend, you can earn $42 in return. Try finding that kind of return ANYWHERE else!

What’s the catch?

Email marketing requires a well-thought-out approach. From turning Amazon purchases from unknown customers into a substantial subscriber list… from writing effective email copy to designing email campaigns that move the needle with Amazon-specific strategies… There’s a lot that goes into crafting effective emails. 

At the end of the day, Amazon sellers are typically NOT email marketers. It takes a vastly different skillset. And that is why so FEW Amazon sellers employ email in their marketing strategies.

And it is exactly there that Mail.Click.Profit comes into play: The Perfect Solution for Amazon Sellers

Mail.Click.Profit simplifies and speeds the process for you. 

They provide you with a templated and automated email marketing system designed specifically for you as an Amazon seller. 

It offers plug-and-play optimized, ready-to-use email sequences that help businesses boost sales, engage with customers, and drive product ranking, all while generating a strong return on investment (ROI). 

All you need to do is insert your brand and product information and you’re ready to go. And they EVEN offer automations to make that a matter of a few button-clicks so you don’t spend an entire day filling them out manually.

Let’s break down some of the core features that set Mail.Click.Profit apart from other email marketing services:

1. Done-For-You (DFY) Email Campaign Templates

Mail.Click.Profit hands you a system of pre-built email campaigns that have been tested and optimized for maximum conversion. This means you won’t need to worry about writing your own emails, figuring out what to say or how to tailor them to Amazon maximize impact for your Amazon products. These DFY templates are perfect for sellers who don’t have the time or expertise to craft high-converting emails. With Mail.Click.Profit, you get:

– Proven Templates: Designed to generate sales immediately after deployment.

– Custom Software to Automate the Branding of Your Emails: Just fill in your business details, activate the software, and the campaigns are ready to go.

– Advanced Tools: Multiple bonus tools that help you move faster in the process and get better results.

2. Automated Drip Campaigns

Evergreen onboarding sequences that begin immediately when a new customer signs up. These are key to creating strong brand awareness and connection right out of the gate - as well as generating more sales from your best “prospects”: people who have ALREADY purchased from you!

Some key benefits include:

– Welcome Series: Introduce new subscribers to your brand and get them excited about future emails.

– Driving Additional Sales: The most likely thing that any customer is going to buy from you is more of what they already bought. The initial on-boarding Drip campaign focuses on this - and that in turn boosts ranking, conversion rate and profit, to name a few.

– Establishing “FBT” Product Relationships: “Connecting the dots” for the Amazon algorithm, you can suggest products from OTHER brands…  This is designed to land your products in the “frequently bought together” box… and by doing so, their traffic becomes your traffic

3. Email Capture Solutions

One of the most challenging aspects of email marketing is gathering customer email addresses, especially for Amazon sellers. Amazon actively hides the customer contact information, so you MUST know how to get customers to want to opt-in to hear from you. Mail.Click.Profit provides their Insert.Capture.Profit. system, a unique method that shows you exactly how to capture customer emails using product inserts in ways you’ve likely never heard of before.

– Product Insert Templates: Designed to incentivize customers to opt into your email list. The “secret” is creating an offer that is just too good to pass up - and making CERTAIN that they don’t miss it when they toss the product packaging.

– Landing Page Templates: Easily customizable landers optimized for high conversions, so customers are more likely to sign up for your email list.

– Fast & Easy Training To Get It Done: No one wants to sit through hours of complex “how-to’s”. You can complete the training and begin executing on the tactics FAST.

4. Revenue-Driving Promotional Campaigns

Mail.Click.Profit also provides you with Blast.Click.Profit. - every month of the year. These are highly strategic, promotional email blasts sent to your entire subscriber list.

Tailored to the month and season, these campaigns promote special sales, seasonal discounts, new product launches, gift guides, as well as providing your customers with high-value emails that help build raving brand fans.

– Pre-built Templates: Simply customize the offer, and the emails are ready to send.

– Strategic Timing: Mail.Click.Profit’s content calendar helps you schedule promotions during high-converting times, such as holidays or seasonal events. Seasonal gift guides, BFCM promos, “insider-only” access… the list is long.

– Increase Customer Retention: The proper mix of “value-add” emails that are NOT focused on sales as well as regular promotional emails are how you create “raving brand fans.” When you do this correctly, you keep your brand top-of-mind for your customers, making them more likely to buy from YOU again, rather than just choosing the next cheapest competitor.

Key Benefits of the Mail.Click.Profit Service

As you can tell from everything we’ve talked about, there is a lot of value that Mail.Click.Profit. brings to your business. Broadly speaking, they help you access one of the highest ROI strategies that you are probably not using. They save you time, they save you brain-energy, they save you effort, and they make you money.

More specifically, here are just few of the things they provide for you:

1. An INVESTMENT, Not An Expense: For the tiny amount they charge for the service, you can get increasing larger and larger returns every month. Investing in email marketing is one of the most proven ways of boosting revenue for ANY business. Even more so for an FBA  business.

2. Email Verification System: Keeping your list “clean” is critical. Verifying that customers are giving you real emails so you aren’t sending to “deadly spam-traps” or other high-risk emails is important. 

3. An ROI That Will GROW Every Month: If you have any list at all, you will get an immediate boost in revenue just by beginning to send emails. As you begin to actively collect more and more emails, you will get more direct revenue from campaigns. That results in better rankings, which means more organic sales… which leads to even more opt-ins. Upward spiral! The longer you “play the long game” with email marketing, the bigger your return.

4. Easy to Use: You don’t need to be a marketing expert to use Mail.Click.Profit. The platform’s done-for-you campaigns make it easy for anyone to start generating sales through email marketing.

5. Save Time: With custom software that creates your finished email sequences from pre-built templates, Mail.Click.Profit frees you up to focus on other areas of your business while the system takes care of your email marketing.

6. Grow Your List: Mail.Click.Profit’s email capture solutions help you build a valuable list of customers that you can re-market to for ongoing revenue. Even more importantly, one of the BIGGEST boosters of a brand’s exit value is the presence of a robust and engaged email list. If you own the customer information, THAT is a powerfully valuable asset and buyers know it.

How to Get Started with Mail.Click.Profit

Getting started with Mail.Click.Profit is simple. Whether you’re an experienced seller or just getting started in the e-commerce world, the service is designed to be user-friendly and easy to implement. Here’s a quick overview of the steps:

1. Click Here and Register: At sign-up, use the code SELLERVUE30 for 30% off their MCP Automate membership - every month for life!

2. Enter Your Information: Add your brand and product info to the Brand.Flow.Automator. - their custom software. It’s very straightfoward with tons of examples and directions.

3. Customize Your Templates: Once your information is entered, use the MCP Templates along with the Brand.Flow.Automator. Software to quickly create your ENTIRE email campaign sequence. (takes about 3 minutes once your info is entered. Repeat this once per month for the promo campaigns).

4. Set Up Campaigns: Enter your branded emails into your email service provider (ESP) and schedule them to be sent as the templates indicate.

5. Monitor Results & Watch the Sales Roll In: Use your ESP’s tools to track your campaign performance and make adjustments as needed.
    

Our Thoughts as Ecom Experts - the “Big Picture”

Email marketing is a vital tool for any e-commerce business looking to drive sales and build long-term relationships with customers. If you’re NOT using email as a primary strategy for marketing, you are losing money every month. It’s likely you’re only ignoring it because it’s too complex.

Mail.Click.Profit takes the complexity out of email marketing by offering pre-built, optimized solutions that deliver results quickly. If you’re selling on Amazon, Mail.Click.Profit provides the tools and strategies needed to capture emails, automate campaigns, and boost revenue by 30-50% - and even up to 80%+.

Take control of your email marketing today and start seeing BIG results with Mail.Click.Profit.

Calculate what your business could be losing annually without accurate cost management.

Quite simply, the less successful ones are not building their own audiences.

LandingCube is an Amazon landing page builder that allows you to create beautiful landing pages on your Amazon product pages with a single click of a button. Allowing you to start building up your Amazon audience.

Allowing you to:

➡️Collect Emails (MailChimp/Klaviyo/Active Campaign integration)

➡️Retarget leads

➡️Attribution your off Amazon traffic via tracking links

➡️Single Use coupon distribution

➡️Landing pages with your own custom brand’s URL

➡️Launch Google Ads Campaign with our Google Ads Launcher

Pricing starts as little as $45/month with a 21 days trial

Calculate what your business could be losing annually without accurate cost management.

Unlock hidden efficiencies, streamline your back-office (accounting, inventory management, operations, and more), and drive profitable growth with a business partner that cares as much as you do.

👋, I'm Scott Scharf

Since 2011, I’ve worked with hundreds of 7 and 8-figure ecommerce sellers. I can parachute into your business to quickly identify gaps and opportunities that others might miss, and provide tailored solutions to streamline your operations, enhance your tech stack, and improve overall efficiency and financial visibility. I also bring a robust network of industry contacts and can connect you with the right people, technologies, and strategies to help your business succeed.

What You Get When Working with Scharf Consulting:

● Comprehensive Audit and Back-Office Process Optimization
I’ll review your back-office and tech, from accounting to inventory management, identify gaps, pain points, and opportunities to ensure your financial and operational processes are accurate, automated, and effective – saving your team time and increasing visibility.

● Tailored Tech and Automation Recommendations
As a technologist at heart with deep ties to the ecommerce app ecosystem, I can guide you in selecting the best-fit back-office technology for your business, and the optimal implementation plan for you and your team.

● Accelerated Growth Through Expert Partnerships
Leverage my extensive ecommerce network to rapidly build your ideal tech stack and dream team. You'll save countless hours vetting solutions and candidates, while gaining a competitive edge with top-tier tools and talent perfectly aligned to your unique back-office needs.

● Enhanced Financial Visibility and Control
With the right technology and processes in place, you’ll have more trust in your numbers and better financial visibility, empowering you to make strategic decisions that reduce stress and increase profitability.

● Unlock Continuous Growth and Operational Excellence

Transform your back-office into a powerful engine driving your business forward. With ongoing expert guidance, you'll smoothly navigate challenges, seize growth opportunities, and maintain peak operational efficiency. Experience reduced stress, increased profitability, and the confidence to focus on strategic priorities while your streamlined back-office hums along seamlessly.

Ready to Transform Your Ecommerce Back-Office?

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In today’s competitive eCommerce environment, maximizing profit margins is key to long-term success. SellerVue, founded by seasoned Amazon seller Mark Botha, provides a powerful solution that enables sellers to manage supply chain costs with precision. With its detailed breakdown of every product’s cost down to the cent, SellerVue saves businesses countless dollars by automatically updating costs with every new order. This level of transparency allows sellers to make informed, profitable decisions by clearly understanding their spending.

Focusing on profit recovery strategies, SellerVue optimizes supply chains and calculates accurate costs per unit. It identifies inefficiencies in key areas like shipping, duties, and warehousing, empowering sellers to make data-driven decisions that lead to improved profitability. In fact, businesses using SellerVue have the potential to recover 2-3% or more of their revenue, turning lost profits into opportunities for reinvestment and growth.

Mark Botha’s personal experience—freeing up $78,000 in cash flow—demonstrates how SellerVue streamlines operations and enhances financial efficiency.

A well-managed supply chain isn’t just about moving products from point A to point B; it’s about doing so efficiently and cost-effectively without sacrificing quality or speed. SellerVue ensures sellers understand the costs in every sector of their business:

• Are you securing the best possible terms and prices from your supplier?

• Are your shipping rates competitive?

• Are your products arriving within the expected lead time?

• Are your HS import codes correct?

• Are your landed costs updated after each shipment?

Overlooking any of these factors can impact profit margins, affect your bottom line, and ultimately hinder growth. With its innovative approach, SellerVue is an essential partner for eCommerce businesses looking to optimize margins and scale their success.

End-to-End Supply Chain Review Analysis

In addition to its software, SellerVue offers a comprehensive Supply Chain Optimization Analysis service. This in-depth service analyzes every aspect of your supply chain to ensure you’re getting the best possible terms from suppliers, securing competitive shipping rates, and updating your landed costs for every shipment.

During this review, we assess:

• Supplier pricing and terms to ensure you're getting the best deals.

• Shipping costs and calculations to uncover any unnecessary expenses.

• Correct HS import codes to prevent costly import mistakes.

• Review of product materials to ensure quality and cost-efficiency.

• Examination of carton specifications to optimize packaging and reduce shipping costs.

• Accurate cost-per-unit calculations, both at the factory and inbound, to provide a clear picture of total expenses.

• Stock values to ensure you're balancing inventory efficiently and avoiding excess storage costs.

This service goes far beyond a standard review—it delivers actionable insights that empower you to refine your processes and boost profitability. By thoroughly evaluating and optimizing every facet of your supply chain, SellerVue ensures no opportunities for savings are overlooked.

These comprehensive assessments, paired with real-time updates to your landed costs, give you complete visibility into your actual costs per unit. With this level of transparency, you'll be equipped to make data-driven decisions that directly enhance your profit margins and drive sustainable business growth.

Unlock your business Profit With SellerVue Sign-up for a Free Demo with SellerVue today to start optimizing your Ecommerce business and increasing your profit margins!

SellerVue is a supply chain management software for eCommerce sellers. It streamlines purchase orders, tracks costs, manages shipments, and uncovers hidden expenses to boost profitability. By automating calculations and providing real-time insights, SellerVue helps sellers and accountants optimize operations and drive business growth.

Profit is like that unopened box sitting on your desk. You know the one. It’s gathering dust because every time you think about cracking it open, you’re reminded of the endless rabbit hole of to-dos waiting inside—inventory management, cost calculations, taxes, supply chain inefficiencies, and all that left-brain, analytical stuff.

It’s much easier to focus on the shiny side of the business: driving revenue. More sales, more customers, more products. Surely, you think, if you just push hard enough on revenue, profit will naturally follow, right?

Wrong.

Revenue is exciting. It’s flashy, loud, and brings that instant dopamine hit when you see the numbers climb. But without profit, it’s a hollow victory. Revenue without profit is like building a house on sand—it looks great from the outside, but try to grow and it all starts sinking.

Profit is the foundation.

It’s the fuel that drives growth. No profit means no reinvestment, no scaling, no freedom to innovate. It’s the steady, often overlooked engine quietly powering everything behind the scenes. Yet so many sellers avoid it, like it’s some Pandora’s box of stress.

Yes, opening the box means dealing with things you might not want to—cost of goods sold, margins, logistics expenses, and all the messy details that aren't as glamorous as launching new products or winning over customers. But once you tackle these things head-on, you'll realize they’re not as scary as they seem.

Profit gives you power.

It’s the difference between surviving and thriving. It lets you control your destiny, whether that’s reinvesting in new products, expanding into new markets, or simply taking a much-needed break from the day-to-day grind.

So stop letting that unopened box sit there, collecting dust. Open it up. Dive into the numbers, get your costs in check, and build a business that doesn’t just look successful, but is successful.

Because without profit, revenue is just noise. But with profit? That’s where the real growth begins.

Calculate what your business could be losing annually without accurate cost management.

SellerVue is a supply chain management software for eCommerce sellers. It streamlines purchase orders, tracks costs, manages shipments, and uncovers hidden expenses to boost profitability. By automating calculations and providing real-time insights, SellerVue helps sellers and accountants optimize operations and drive business growth.

Ah, revenue growth—the sweet, intoxicating nectar of success that every eCommerce seller chases. It’s what we live for, isn’t it? Watching that sales graph spike up, soaring higher than your caffeine levels during peak season. New products launched! Customers singing your praises in five-star reviews! It’s all sunshine and rainbows... until your bank account starts looking like the desert: dry, barren, and mysteriously devoid of actual profit.

Welcome to the paradox of eCommerce: Revenue makes you feel like a genius, but profit keeps you in business.

Right Brain: The Sweet, Sweet High of Revenue Growth

Let’s admit it—there’s nothing quite like seeing those revenue numbers climb. It’s addictive, really. Launching new products is a dopamine hit. You brainstorm, you design, you build the perfect listing, optimizing that product page to absolute perfection, convincing yourself it will single-handedly change the game.

“I’m going to be the next household name,” you tell yourself, as you throw confetti in your brain. “Everyone will remember the day my eco-friendly, artisanal, glow-in-the-dark coasters hit the market.”

Your right brain is on fire. The ideas! The innovation! The buzz! Revenue is skyrocketing, and you can practically see yourself sipping margaritas on a private beach. You’ve cracked the code to growth, and it feels…well, downright euphoric.

But wait—what’s this? A message from your left brain? It’s saying something about…profit?

Left Brain: The Cold, Hard Truth About Profit

While your right brain is off gallivanting through fields of imaginary riches, your left brain is nervously crunching numbers like an anxious accountant at tax time.

“Uh, excuse me,” says Left Brain, tapping Right Brain on the shoulder, “I hate to ruin your little revenue parade, but have you looked at the cost-per-unit lately?”

Right Brain rolls its eyes. “Details, details. Who cares about costs when the money’s rolling in?”

Left Brain sighs. “Well, your landed cost just went up by 15% because of supply chain issues. And don’t even get me started on that rush shipping from China you authorized.”

Cue the crickets.

Suddenly, your right brain’s gleeful product launch parties seem a little… premature. Sure, your revenue is growing, but every dollar you make is being chipped away by shipping, storage fees, and product returns. And don’t even think about those marketing expenses you splurged on. Revenue is booming, but profit? Yeah, that’s missing in action.

The Balancing Act: You Need Both to Thrive

Here’s the thing: revenue growth gets the attention, but profit is what will keep your business alive—and thriving.

Revenue might fill your ego, but profit fills your wallet. The problem is, most sellers are too busy chasing the thrill of growth to notice when costs are quietly eating away at their profits like termites. And when you don’t pay attention to your profit margins, your business turns into one of those flashy, unsustainable startups we all read about—big numbers, big hype, but ultimately a big crash.

Your left brain is trying to tell you something important: You can’t grow if you’re bleeding money.

Right Brain: Finding Harmony

So, what’s a seller to do? Do you abandon your dreams of revenue domination and resign yourself to a life of number-crunching and penny-pinching? Absolutely not. Your right brain is still essential—creativity, brand building, and innovation are the lifeblood of a successful eCommerce business.

But you need to get your left brain involved early and often. Instead of chasing after every shiny new revenue opportunity, bring your left brain to the strategy meetings. Before you dive into a product launch or a marketing blitz, have a little heart-to-heart with your cost-per-unit and profit margins. Make sure you’re not just feeding the revenue beast, but also fueling long-term profitability.

Because here’s the truth: Revenue might get you in the game, but profit keeps you playing.

Here's a breakdown of the pleasure and pain points for eCommerce sellers, aligning with right-brain (creative, emotional) and left-brain (logical, analytical) thinking:

The Sweet Spot: Revenue and Profit in Perfect Harmony

Imagine a world where your revenue dreams and profit realities coexist in harmony—a place where you can launch exciting new products and also know, deep down, that they’re profitable. It’s possible, but it takes a little discipline.

Keep dreaming, keep creating, but never forget that it’s the cold, hard cash in your pocket (not just the sales on your dashboard) that will fund your next big idea. After all, your right brain deserves to keep dreaming up new revenue streams, but your left brain deserves the satisfaction of knowing those dreams will pay off.

So, go ahead—chase that revenue. Just make sure profit is invited to the party too.

Remember: Revenue is king, but profit is queen—and we all know who really runs the show.

Calculate what your business could be losing annually without accurate cost management.

If you’re spending large chunks of time lost in the complex rows & columns of your trusty old spreadsheet… 

via GIPHY Over the past several weeks we’ve been talking through some of the problems that come with trying to run your ecommerce business through a spreadsheet, and just how ineffective and inaccurate a spreadsheet can be.

Today we’re tackling something a little less tangible, but it’s one of the most important resources you have as a business owner—

Your TIME.

Time is a finite resource. If you were to add up all the minutes & hours you spend wrangling data inside an unwieldy spreadsheet, what do you think the total would be?

…And more importantly, what was your ROI on that time? 

Did it make you any money? Increase your profitability? Lower your bottom line?

Probably not. Spreadsheets are a massive time-suck, and since they’re so inaccurate and ineffective at helping you run your business, that time almost definitely costs you.

We’ll get into more specifics on just how much it’s costing you in a future email. Today we’re going to deep-dive into all the ways you lose time in spreadsheet-land, and how you can start getting that time back.

Buckle up!

Copying & pasting (and copying & pasting, and copying & pasting)

via GIPHY So, it’s our New Year’s Resolution to stop copying & pasting forever. 

This is probably the most time-consuming aspect we’ll talk about, and also the most annoying. (When we asked a group of ecommerce sellers what their biggest spreadsheet-related pain points were, this one came up a LOT.) 

You already know there are plenty of ways to use your time that would be more effective, more profitable, more fun, and more meaningful than hunching over your screen, squinting, as you copy & paste some numbers from one place to another.

But—just to drive this home—your spreadsheet becomes inaccurate the SECOND it stops being current. Which means there’s a good chance that all that time you spent copying & pasting doesn’t even matter anymore. Ouch.

Too much data

A spreadsheet can contain endless rows and columns, with multiple tabs containing even MORE rows and columns. (Please save us from ourselves!) 

Couple that with all the data coming at you in an ecommerce business, and many sellers will stuff their spreadsheets with every single data point available.

It’s too much. Honestly.

External users

Say you need to share your spreadsheet with a CPA, or your bookkeeper, or a potential buyer, or a new hire. Granting access, recording screencasts to explain all the formulas and where everything lives, fielding questions—what. a. time. suck.

And that’s not to mention the extra time spent on daily upkeep and keeping track of who’s doing what inside the spreadsheet. Ugh.

Making it look pretty

If you’re a spreadsheet nerd like us, you can spend a LOT of time color-coding & rearranging your spreadsheet to make it cleaner and more user-friendly—and you might tell yourself you’re saving a ton of time in the future by creating such a smooth, streamlined, cool-looking tool.

Well, we hate to break it to you, especially because we are BIG fans of beautiful-but-unnecessary spreadsheet features, but prettying up a spreadsheet can take HOURS. Days, sometimes. 

And while that may make things marginally easier for your future self… it’s just not the best use of your time as a business owner. 

When a formula breaks

Uh oh! There must have been an error in one of the 547 cells that go into this one particular formula, because the whole thing just broke! Now you have to go back through each one of those cells to figure out where the problem is. Noooooooo!

Double checking your work

Even when everything’s running smoothly, you still have to double check your work, especially when you have a lot of products to wade through. 

Let’s say you have multiple columns, and you’re trying to add together all your various costs, big and small. So you set up your sum formula, and select all the columns you need to add up. This one plus that one plus this other one… until you get your total. And then that total goes onto another spreadsheet… but… 

…did you miss a column? 

Better go back and check to make sure. Aaaaaand #timesuck. 🙁

When the internet breaks

Fortunately, the “blue screen of death” is more or less a thing of the past—but that doesn’t mean you’re immune from losing your entire data set. And while this is less likely in Google sheets or other cloud-based platforms, there’s still a risk of losing your most recent changes in the event of an outage. 

Plus, Google sheets don’t have as much functionality as Excel, so what you gain in backups you lose in usability.

Making spreadsheets to manage your spreadsheet

Ok, now we’re just getting ridiculous.

But what often happens is that you have one spreadsheet for all your raw data and formulas, and then ANOTHER spreadsheet where you can easily track your end results over time.

This might make sense in the short term, or when you only have a handful of products. But as you grow, the multiple-spreadsheets thing is going to become a major issue.

So, listen.

You DO need a place to store, track, and analyze your data, especially when it comes to knowing your costs. But for that to truly work as intended, that process needs to be effortless, efficient, and above all, ACCURATE.

When you switch from spreadsheets to SellerVue, you’ll be amazed at how much time it saves you. Learn more on about SellerVue’s cost tracking software and watch a demo Today! 

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Six profit-generating habits of successful Amazon sellers

“People don’t decide their futures. They decide their habits, and then their habits decide their future.”

Are you looking for ways to correct, change, or build upon your business habits? Here are the top six profit-generating habits of successful Amazon sellers:

Habit #1: Be efficient with your time.

When I began my Amazon business many years ago, even though we were growing rapidly, I built daily and weekly habits of the things to focus on. I focused on profit, passionately pursuing profits in the form of every single skew. Every single product needed to perform to be successful.

Sellie, the software that we are developing, was born out of automating many of my habits. I still have those habits. I don’t just let the software do the job. I’m still involved, but I’m making smart choices and is being smarter with my time.

When we first started working on the software, it took several days each month to work through the numbers. I don’t know how many skews it was back then, but it was taking me a good week just to slice and dice the information I was getting and putting it into spreadsheets and organizing it the way I needed.

Now I can get any data daily, whenever I want.

In the beginning, 80% of my time was spent on 20% of my business, primarily on the data. Many people ignore the data, spending 80% of their time selecting products, writing copy, and creating marketing images, but they don’t look at the data as early enough.

Since I put in the upfront effort, now I can spend 20% of my time on the data, and 80% of my business is impacted positively. I’ve also freed up my time, something I factored into how I built and scaled my business. I was passionate about not wasting time. I’m not always busy working. I make sure that I can do the things that I want and make my business work for me instead of me working for my business.

Habit #2: Make informed decisions.

Automation is an excellent idea, but be careful what you automate. Sometimes there’s no better recipe for success than really mastering the process by doing it manually. Understand it. Refine it. That is what I did with my business.

And once you sort out what works in a very manual way, you can refine the process you’ve built for your business and automate it.

If I had automated what I did initially, I would have failed a lot quicker (which is not always a bad thing), or I would have never achieved the growth that I did.

I would have just been more inefficient, faster.

Habit #3: Know your costs.

To be a successful Amazon seller, you need to know your supply chain, your costs from the factory, all the way to the warehouse floor.

You’ll need to track the whole supply—making sure you understand your costs, which pieces are going up, which shipping methods the best, and how you will decrease costs.

Ask yourself, what are the best ways to maximize your profit? Because at the end of the day, you are in it to give a service, but you need to be profitable to stay in business. So one of the most significant pieces of the pie is costs.

Make sure that you know your cost in and out and that they are always accurate.

It’s discipline as well. That’s part of your time management, in terms of staying curious about your business, asking yourself, “Could I get more out of this product?” and data is going to tell you that.

You should know when a product is at its all-time high in terms of its performance metrics and when it shows signs of wavering at all.

It is understanding your products’ life cycle. Products don’t last forever. Look at brands like Under Armor or Nike. Trends come and go. So that’s where making informed decisions comes in.

Habit #4: Know your inventory process.

Your product has a lifecycle from your warehouse or your Amazon performance center to your customer. Think of all those steps that occur. If you’re running a Shopify store, your own store, or Amazon, your costs are fixed. You will have payment processing fees with Amazon, storage fees, transaction fees, et cetera.

At SellerVue, we make sure that the fees that you’re paying are fair and accurate. But you need to have the same lens with the pre-life of your product in terms of when it makes it to your warehouse from your supplier, and the same life cycle occurs as it leaves the supplier’s warehouse and makes its way to you.

We are the clients receiving the goods; our experience is really about convenience in terms of getting the right product and trusting our suppliers to make sure that it will land safely. But you want to make that as efficient as possible.

And you do that by understanding all the moving parts.

Don’t get stuck in a rhythm of ordering the same product in the exact quantities every month because it’s easy. If you need to increase your quantities, negotiate lower shipping.

There’s no such thing as set it and forget it. Get the data and act on that data.

By spending time focusing on your data, you not only minimize your mistakes, but you learn from the mistakes because data doesn’t lie.

Remove the emotion out of those decisions. It may be your favorite product, or maybe your first winner. But if it’s dragging you down, it’s got to go. You have to be very ruthless that way.

Habit #5: Diversify your products.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Good sellers know there’s going to be some home runs.

Don’t get fooled into thinking you only need one product.

What happens with that product tanks? Or if you need certification, or there’s a requirement? Or someone steals your product idea, and suddenly you’ve got the best product out there, but someone’s selling a copy for half the price.

We just want to have a strong profile. You’re going to have some products that perform better than others. But, you need to give products some time. We had a client that misread data, and it was about to cut a product, but with some renegotiating, fixing some inefficiencies and logistics, we had a winner again.

Make sure that you’re extending your product lines or expanding your brands. There’s going to be shining stars, but make sure you have a few stars.

Habit #6: Know when to delegate.

The last habit of successful Amazon sellers is knowing when to delegate. If you’re growing or expanding, what are the things that you can get off your desk and moved on to an independent contractor? Or is it time to hire an employee? What are the things that you can do to delegate, to grow?

Get a good support team in place so that you’re ready to grow and outperform the competition.

Implement these six habits, and you’ll be ahead of your competition.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Compiling Invoices: The Foundation of Cost Per Unit Calculation

One of the first steps in determining your cost per unit is to compile all relevant invoices and purchase records. These documents provide a detailed record of your expenses related to the products you sell on Amazon. Your bookkeeper can help you gather this data efficiently, ensuring that no expenses are overlooked.

Identifying Vendor Costs: The Key to Accurate Calculations

Once you have your invoices in hand, the next step is to identify vendor costs. This includes not only the purchase price of the product itself but also any associated costs such as shipping, import duties, and handling fees. Bookkeepers with experience in e-commerce can assist in categorizing and tracking these costs accurately.

Using Allocation Methods: Dividing Costs Effectively

In many cases, expenses may not be directly tied to a single product but rather need to be allocated across multiple units. For example, shipping costs for a bulk shipment of products need to be distributed among all the units in that shipment. Your bookkeeper can employ allocation methods to ensure that costs are divided fairly and accurately.

Creating COGS Analysis Reports: The Roadmap to Profit Optimization

With all the necessary data in hand, your bookkeeper can create COGS analysis reports that break down your costs on a per-unit basis. These reports serve as a roadmap to understanding how much it truly costs you to produce or acquire each product you sell on Amazon. They provide insights into where your expenses are concentrated and highlight areas where cost savings can be achieved.

The Role of Technology and Tools

In today’s digital age, bookkeepers can leverage technology and specialized software to streamline the cost calculation process. Tools designed for e-commerce businesses, like SellerVue, can automate many aspects of cost-per-unit calculation. These tools not only save time but also reduce the risk of errors in manual calculations.

Why Collaboration with Bookkeepers is Beneficial for Amazon Sellers

1. Expertise in E-commerce: Bookkeepers with experience in the e-commerce sector understand the unique challenges and intricacies of Amazon selling. They can navigate the complexities of Amazon’s fee structures and policies.

2. Accuracy and Compliance: Bookkeepers ensure that your cost calculations are accurate and compliant with accounting standards. This is essential for financial reporting and tax purposes.

3. Strategic Insights: Bookkeepers can provide valuable insights into your business’s financial health. They help you identify areas where cost reductions are possible, ultimately leading to increased profitability.

4. Time Savings: By outsourcing the task of cost per unit calculation to a bookkeeper, you free up your time to focus on other critical aspects of your Amazon business, such as product sourcing and marketing.

In the ultra-competitive world of Amazon selling, understanding your precise cost per unit is a game-changer. It empowers you to make informed decisions, optimize your pricing strategy, and boost your profit margins. Collaborating with experienced bookkeepers who specialize in e-commerce can make this process efficient and accurate.

By compiling invoices, identifying vendor costs, using allocation methods, and creating COGS analysis reports, bookkeepers play a pivotal role in helping Amazon sellers unlock their full profit potential. In addition, leveraging technology and tools designed for e-commerce can further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of cost calculations.

If you’re an Amazon seller looking to take your business to the next level, consider partnering with a knowledgeable bookkeeper who can assist you in calculating your precise cost per unit and, in turn, drive your profitability skyward.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Why Calculating Your True CPU Matters

Before we dive into how to calculate your Amazon FBA per unit, let’s first understand why calculating your true CPU is so important. 

Your CPU represents the total cost it takes to produce and deliver one unit of your product to the customer. Accurate CPU calculation helps you:

1. Optimize Pricing: Knowing your true costs enables you to set competitive prices while maintaining healthy profit margins.

2. Profit Margin Analysis: It allows you to analyze your profit margins accurately on a per-product basis, helping you identify which products are more profitable and which ones might be draining your resources.

3. Budgeting and Planning: Accurate CPU figures are essential for financial planning, allowing you to make informed decisions about inventory, marketing, and scaling your business.

Calculating Your Amazon FBA Cost Per Unit

Now, let’s get into the steps to calculate your Amazon FBA cost per unit.

Step 1: Calculate Landed Costs

Landed costs include everything associated with getting your products from the manufacturer to Amazon’s fulfillment center. This encompasses manufacturing costs, shipping fees, customs duties, taxes, and even storage fees. To calculate your landed costs, add up all these expenses and divide the total by the number of units in your shipment.

Step 2: Include Amazon’s Fees

Amazon charges various fees for FBA services, including pick and pack fees, storage fees, and referral fees. Make sure to include these in your CPU calculation. You can find detailed fee breakdowns in your Amazon Seller Central account.

Step 3: Account for Returns and Damages

Returns and damaged products can eat into your profits. To account for this, estimate the percentage of returns and damages for each product, and adjust your CPU accordingly.

Step 4: Overhead Costs

Don’t forget to include overhead costs, such as advertising expenses, software subscriptions, and employee salaries related to your Amazon business. Divide these costs by the number of units sold to allocate a portion of your overhead to each unit.

Step 5: Factor in Long-term Storage Fees

If your products sit in Amazon’s fulfillment centers for an extended period, you’ll incur long-term storage fees. These can significantly impact your CPU, so keep an eye on inventory turnover and adjust your calculations accordingly.

Step 6: Regularly Update Your Calculations

Costs can fluctuate, so it’s crucial to revisit your CPU calculations regularly. As your business grows and evolves, you may find new ways to reduce costs or improve efficiency.

Step 7: Leverage Technology

Consider using specialized tools and software, like SellerVue, to streamline and automate your COGS accounting. These tools can help you stay on top of your expenses and ensure accuracy in your calculations.

By following these steps and maintaining a diligent approach to COGS accounting, you’ll be better equipped to uncover hidden profit leaks in your Amazon FBA business. Remember that the key to long-term success in e-commerce lies not just in generating revenue but in managing your costs effectively. With accurate CPU calculations, you can make informed decisions that drive profitability and growth for your business.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Choose the Right Business Structure

One of the first decisions you’ll face as an e-commerce seller is choosing a business structure. The structure you select can have a significant impact on your tax liability. Common options include sole proprietorships, LLCs, S corporations, and C corporations. Each structure comes with its own tax advantages and disadvantages.

• Sole Proprietorship: This is the simplest structure, but you’ll report business income and expenses on your personal tax return.

• LLC: Offers flexibility and limited liability, and you can choose how you want to be taxed.

• S Corporation: Can help you avoid double taxation, as income passes through to shareholders’ personal tax returns.

• C Corporation: While subject to corporate tax rates, it may offer certain tax advantages, such as deductions for employee benefits.

Selecting the right structure requires careful consideration of your business goals and financial situation. Consult with a tax professional or accountant who specializes in e-commerce to make an informed decision.

Maximize Deductions

E-commerce sellers have numerous deductions at their disposal to reduce taxable income. Some common deductions include:

• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Deduct the cost of products you sell. Accurate cost calculations, as provided by services like SellerVue, are crucial here.

• Home Office Deduction: If you run your business from home, you may be eligible for deductions related to your home office expenses.

• Shipping and Packaging Costs: Deduct expenses related to shipping and packaging materials.

• Marketing and Advertising Expenses: Deduct advertising costs, including fees paid to Amazon for promotions.

• Travel and Meal Expenses: If you travel for business purposes, you can deduct related expenses.

• Software and Subscription Fees: Deduct the costs of software and subscriptions used for your business, such as inventory management tools.

 Use Accounting Methods to Your Advantage

Choosing the right accounting method can also impact your tax liability. There are two primary methods: cash basis and accrual basis.

• Cash Basis: You report income and expenses when they are received or paid. This method can provide more immediate tax benefits by delaying income recognition.

• Accrual Basis: You report income and expenses when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when the money changes hands. This method can provide a more accurate reflection of your business’s financial position.

The choice between cash and accrual accounting depends on your business’s size, industry, and goals. Consult with an accountant to determine which method aligns best with your e-commerce business.

 Understand Sales Tax Compliance

E-commerce sellers must navigate the complex world of sales tax. Sales tax laws vary by state and even by locality. Failure to comply with sales tax regulations can lead to penalties and fines.

To stay in compliance, consider:

• Automated Sales Tax Solutions: Use software that calculates and collects sales tax based on the customer’s location.

• Regular Sales Tax Audits: Periodically review your sales tax obligations to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Professional Guidance: Consult with a tax professional or tax advisor who specializes in e-commerce to navigate the intricacies of sales tax.

Plan for Retirement

As an e-commerce seller, you may not have access to traditional employer-sponsored retirement plans. However, there are tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Solo 401(k)s, that can help you save for the future while reducing your taxable income.

In conclusion, effective tax planning is essential for e-commerce sellers looking to maximize profits and minimize tax obligations. By choosing the right business structure, leveraging deductions, using the appropriate accounting method, understanding sales tax compliance, and planning for retirement, you can navigate the complex tax landscape with confidence. Remember that tax laws can change, so it’s crucial to stay informed and work closely with tax professionals who understand the unique needs of e-commerce businesses. With the right strategies in place, you can keep more of your hard-earned money while ensuring compliance with tax regulations.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

We all know there’s not much you can do to get around fees. The only way that you can maybe manipulate the fees is if you charge more for your product. But then as a percentage, your fees will go down, but you could out-price yourself to competitors.

What you can look at is your product costs and landed costs. That’s where you have a lot more control.

Understanding Product Costs and Landed Costs 

• Product Costs are what you pay the factory per unit

• Landed Costs are the total cost to get a shipment to its destination

Right now, you might be averaging your shipping costs across a shipment— but there is a downfall to that method. You may have a pallet that has 50 units, and you may have another pallet that has 5,000 units. If you are allocating the cost across 5,500 units, you’re not allocating the right proportion.

You have to proportionately allocate the costs based on the size and the cost of the SKU.

If you have multiple products and multiple containers, using CBM (cubic meter) allows you to get a true, accurate shipping cost.

Recently, we were going through a trimming exercise with one of our clients, reviewing their product catalog for profitability. There was one product that was on the chopping block.

This product was falling out of range and it seemed like it wasn’t fitting into the “winner” formula.

When we dug in, we found that it was a heavy product and it was delivered from the factory to the warehouse, and then it was shipped to Amazon which included Partner Carrier Fees.

Our solution was to ship it from China straight to FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), and we were able to bypass the unnecessary shipping fees—shaving off around $1.25!

And now it is a winner.

Had we not done that in-depth analysis and got that true cost, he probably would have cut it and missed out on a winner.

I think that happens a lot.

Make sure you have 100% accurate numbers, you know those numbers, and then you can make good decisions.

How do you evaluate what a ‘winner’ is? 

In our new course “Profit Bootcamp” coming out soon, one of the things we teach is how to evaluate what a winner is.

We look at:

• How much does the product actually profit?

• What is the return on investment on the product?

• Does the product have a healthy profit margin?

• What is the product’s overall percentage of sales as a whole?

You’ll learn how to find the winners and scale your profitably. 

Start your free trial today with SellerVue’s cost tracking software.

SellerVue is a product cost builder for Sellers who want accurate Cost of Goods Sold and Unit Prices. Yes, SellerVue was created so that Sellers like you (and us), who aren’t bookkeepers or CPAs and who want to ditch their spreadsheets, can easily understand their product costs, to grow your company bottom line! That means you can track and view your total product & unit costs, without spending another minute inside a spreadsheet.

It was founded by Mark, a real-life Amazon seller who used to track his data on a spreadsheet.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

We asked some sellers what their biggest challenges were when it comes to knowing their costs. 

Here’s what they had to say—

The common thread here is this: spreadsheets suck (at running a business). 

Once you’re up and running with SellerVue, you’ll have 100% accurate cost info, that’s easily searchable(!) and you won’t need to spend hours keeping it updated.

But this isn’t just about taking back your time.

When one of our businesses was on the market recently, we had to hire a bookkeeper to come in and go through everything with a fine-toothed comb, plus we had to use a 3rd party software to integrate with Amazon… it was a whole thing. 

And all this, EVEN THOUGH I’d been keeping our data in an intricate spreadsheet for years.

When I finally got my costs right—using a prototype version of the app we’re about to release in a couple months, I was able to recoup almost an additional $150k in profit, which added around $800k to our final valuation. Just by getting our costs right!

So today, we’re sharing some ideas for what you can do with your spreadsheet once you’re up and running with SellerVue’s cost tracking software.

In Defense Of Making Spreadsheets For Fun, Tyler Robertson, Zapier blog

“Making something that is intentionally supposed to be Weird and/or Fun gives you an incredible amount of power. First, making something For Fun often means that you have a clearer vision of what the end goal is, and you tend to enjoy that end goal more. Second, making something Wacky or Weird means that you’re not upset when things go sideways (yes, I’ve become the Bob Ross of spreadsheets).” 

Top Crazy Things You Can Do in Excel Key SkillSet

From a functioning Monopoly board, to fine art, to an actual video game you can play on Excel, we’re obsessed with all of these ideas!

The 7 Most Epic Excel Creations Ever Chandni Trehan, UpSlide 

We’ll let the picture speak for this one…

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Revenue isn’t the important thing — it’s profitability.Most sellers understand profitability from a fundamental standpoint. If sales cover your expenses, you are profitable. Naturally, ‘being profitable’ tends to be one of the primary goals of any Amazon Seller. However, I will show you why sellers like you and me should look beyond a simple profit amount. The simple profit amount doesn’t indicate the why’s and how’s that make the business profitable. Analysing key metrics is the pulse of any business. KPIs help determine whether a company is healthy, profitable, and sustainable.

By calculating and comparing metrics, sellers can identify the products that are working well and those that need attention and/or improvement. As an online company, we will be focusing on the product–level profitability.If you looked at your products right now, would you know which one performs the best and which does the worst? If you’re not paying attention to the costs of selling your product, you’re potentially losing money with each sale.SKU profitability reporting is the answer to this problem. Tracking the KPIs of each product is the key to improving your profits. It can be very challenging to fix if you can’t pinpoint which KPI is causing you to lose money. By tracking profitability at the SKU level, you can make better decisions about what to do with underperforming products, from adjusting your pricing strategy to discontinuing the product entirely without losing money. Without SKU monitoring, you’ll have no idea when poorly selling products are bringing your profits down.Don’t let poor product management sink your business. In this article, we’ll show you how to optimize the profitability of your SKUs and give you the tools to manage your landed product unit costs more effectively.

Benefits and Importance of SKU-by-SKU Management

Knowing your bottom line profit, and understanding how you got there, is absolutely vital to your longevity as an Amazon Seller. When your ‘silent partner’ can share (okay, take) over FIFTY PERCENT of the business’ revenue, costs matter. You must fully understand your costs. The profit is in the details, and the cost of neglecting key metrics in your Amazon business is too great just to skip. Just because you’re seeing a deposit from Amazon, does not necessarily mean you are profitable.

1. Clearer Cost-Analysis

Are you calculating an accurate cost per SKU? The first step in getting your COGS under control is calculating an accurate cost per SKU. Are you including all costs associated with getting your product to your door (landed cost calculation)? This calculation can get complicated, and time-consuming, with the more SKU’s you have to handle.

2. Provide a clear direction for your business

Setting objectives requires making tough choices and addressing realities. Where is your business now? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Where do you want your business to go? However, answering these questions requires data, and without it,  you are simply guessing.

3. Measure ROI And Improve Investment Decisions

To measure ROI (Return on Investment), you must know your SKU-by-SKU Landed Product Unit Cost. Strategic investment decisions require this metric to be as accurate as possible. Poor decisions are often a result of inaccurate data.

Without a SKU-by-SKU management system and careful monitoring, you could spend months, if not years, wasting money on products that generate revenue, but no longer generate a profit. By the time you identify the products damaging your gross profit, it could be too late.

How To Determine SKU Profitability

The formula for understanding your profitability on Amazon is relatively easy…

Revenue – Amazon Fees – Advertising – COGS = Product Profit

Let’s say you sell a Silicone Spatula for $14.95.  Amazon Selling Fees are $7.87, including potential storage costs. You spend about 8% on marketing, that’s another $1.20 and your ‘Lean Product Landed Unit Cost’ is $2.03.

$14.95 – $7.87 – $1.20 – $2.03 = $3.85 (25.73%  Profit Margin)

Most people do this calculation once when they are getting ready to pull the trigger on a new product. But what if things changed; selling fees went up, the market was more competitive and you had to lower your price, shipping and import and tariffs costs went up. If you aren’t paying attention, your margin will begin to suffer. The example below is a real possibility!

You can see in the example on the right that the Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS) to Revenue ratio is 23.37%, up from 13.58%. Optimizing your CoGS for lean Landed Product Unit Cost is essential to keep this listing profitable.Once you begin to optimise and scale your Amazon business, it often becomes challenging to keep track of individual SKUs/products.

You may be tempted to only pay attention to how your company is performing overall.Despite this temptation, you should still be monitoring the profitability at SKU-by-SKU level. You’re missing out on an opportunity to identify problem SKUs before they drain your profit.Knowing what products are the most successful is crucial to a profitable account.

Profitability Metrics:

Let’s review these profitability metrics:

Return of Investment – (ROI) Return of Investment – (ROI) is a popular profitability metric used to evaluate how well an investment has performed. It is how much it costs to produce and develop a product versus how much profit that product generates. ROI = Net Profit / Cost of the Investment * 100. For instance, if your business ends up spending $7,000 purchasing a product that earns you a profit of $16,000 – your ROI is 228%.

Profit Margin Profit Margin – To find a profit margin, divide your gross profit by revenue. To make the margin a percentage, multiply your result by 100. If the margin is 30%, you keep 30% of your total revenue.

Ecommerce Profit Margins from sales can be calculated by the price you sell your product for minus your Landed Product Unit Cost (COGS), your Total Advertising Cost of Sale (TaCOS), and the Selling Fees (Fees – Referral Fees, Marketplaces Fees and any Service Fees).

Per Unit Profit Per Unit Profit – Gross Per Unit Profit is Sales minus your Landed Product Unit Cost (COGS), your Total Advertising Cost of Sale (TaCOS), and the Selling Fees (Fees – Referral Fees, Marketplaces Fees and any Service Fees).

Tracking these metrics does not have to become your second full-time job, but understanding how your costs evolve and contribute to a growing or diminishing ROI and profit margins can only happen when you have access to this information.Having an accurate grasp on your Profit KPIs will increase when you empower yourself and your business with this process. It is vital to track all costs attributed to the cost of the product to ensure the accuracy of the metrics.

Factors To Calculate SKU-by-SKU Profitability

Selling on Amazon is no different from investing. If something isn’t making you money, you need to make a change or make the difficult choice to discontinue it. But before you need to take the time to understand why the product is no longer performing.A costly mistake would be to discontinue a product when action could have been taken to increase the profitability.Think about the different Cost/Expense categories and ask these questions:

Amazon Fees Are the Fees correct?​ Are you overpaying for storage? Is the price too low? Is the niche too competitive?​

Advertising Spend What is the TaCOS/Revenue percentage?​Can I increase my bids to increase the velocity of sales?​​Is the rise in Advertising Costs worth it in the long run?

Landed Product Costs Is your Landed Product Unit Cost as Accurate as possible?​Have you removed non-recurring expenses from the Unit cost?What is the CoGS/Revenue percentage?Is there an alternative Shipping method?

To answer these questions, you need to have the data available to calculate your profitability SKU-by-SKU. Accessible data is the key, and typically Amazon Fees and Advertising Costs are readily available through Amazon itself or other software solutions. But the difficult task is finding your ‘Lean’ Landed Product Unit Cost. Your Cost of Good Sold output needs to be without question as accurately as possible. 

Failing to have an accurate Product Unit Cost will affect EVERY Profit metric and ultimately leave you with false data. Tracking product costs isn’t easy – especially as you grow. Getting it wrong can hurt your bottom line. Too often sellers put this task to the side and focus more attention on marketing and driving sales hoping the annoying busywork won’t matter in the long run. But tracking your costs doesn’t need to be time-consuming or complex.

Tracking the performance and costs of a few landed products is easier. However, once a business scales up, many professionals struggle to monitor each and every product separately. When expanding, businesses primarily focus on enhancing their overall performance instead of getting into details.

However, it’s crucial to monitor the profitability of individual landed products. The problematic SKUs can disrupt your revenue before you even know it.

Why Is It Important to Track Your Cost of Goods?

The landed product cost is part of the Cost of Goods Sold category.Cost of Goods Sold is from the factory floor to your customers’ door, whereas Landed Product Cost is from the factory floor to your ‘warehouse floor’ (FBA, a storage unit, a warehouse, or your mom’s basement.)The cost of goods sold (COGS) is an accounting expense. On Amazon, it is an accounting principle matching the cost of an item and its sale. With the help of this metric, you can track your revenue and profitability in a specific month. It helps you better manage your cash flow conversion, a topic for another day.The cost of goods includes Landed Product Cost Per Unit, which includes expenses such as Supplier/Factory invoices, Shipping, Customs and Duties and other miscellaneous costs. The cost of the product is deducted from the value of your inventory and applied against the revenue from the sale, for the calculation of the gross profit. SKU profitability makes it easier to spot these opportunities so you can maximize your profits and improve your product catalog.

How To Level Up Your CoGS Management with SellerVue

Excel or Google Sheets might be useful tools for tracking inventory and analysing data, but they are also error-prone and time-consuming. Formulas and data points are built manually, and if one value is entered incorrectly, it can skew your numbers, leading to wrong decisions.Cost Management Software can mitigate this by automating calculations for you.

Transparent Cost Analysis is the key to profitability. A full view of Product Costs is essential to maximize profit margins. So, it’s essential to consider all costs whether one-time or recurring when determining the total costs of a product, its profitability and return on investment.  Inputting all these factors at a per-SKU level will help you see underperforming products and those doing well.

Don’t Let Unprofitable SKUs Bring Down Your Business

A poorly managed inventory or supply chain can cause an instant drop in your business profits. So, you need to know which products are working for you and which are not. SKU profitability allows you to identify underperforming and costly landed products and make informed decisions.

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are valuable tools in tracking inventory and its costs and interpreting data. However, they require a lot of effort and time since you have to feed in formulas manually.This is when a product cost builder, like SellerVue, can help you out. It saves you time by allowing you to track and view the costs of your landed products without working on spreadsheets.SellerVue provides you with tools that help you evaluate your landing products costs, so you can sell your product online more profitably.

SellerVue gives you the tools you need to know your costs so you can be more profitable selling your products online:

Accurately Calculate Your Budget & Profit. This means you’ll make smarter decisions to improve that profitability over time. Accurate Records if you ever want to sell your company. This will save you from a world of spreadsheets and backtracking (trust us, we’ve been there).Valid KPI Metrics. If your Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS) are incorrect, then every metric is incorrect. Make the right decision is easier when you have the correct data. Understand Costs in the Supply Chain. Once you’re clear on the actual landed cost of each of your products, you can see where there’s money to be saved. Better Financial Reporting. Knowing the landed cost of each product will make it a lot easier to create financial reports on sales, expenses, etc. As a result, you can make informed business decisions— based on real data—to scale faster. Scalability. Once you have accurate data around your landed costs and profit margins, and you’ve optimized your spending throughout the supply chain, you’ll be able to replicate your processes on a larger scale.MORE PROFIT! The best part of being a business owner is all the glitzy, creative work you get to do—product creation, marketing, design, etc. Tracking your costs is pretty boring, but it has to be taken care of, or all that glitz is just an expensive hobby.Not to mention your CPA or Bookkeeper will love you.

So, ultimately, stop struggling with spreadsheets and wasting your valuable time. Download our guide and start tracking your products without wasting any more time on spreadsheets!

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!

Optimize Your Amazon FBA Costs

For Amazon Private Label Sellers, accurately calculating your Amazon FBA cost per unit is essential to uncover hidden profit leaks. We’ve outlined six crucial steps to help you calculate these costs, including:
1. Landed costs
2. Pick and pack fees
3. Other overlooked variables

Identifying these hidden costs can allow sellers to adjust their COGS accounting, thereby increasing profit margins.

Negotiate Better with Chinese Suppliers

Reducing production costs is key for private label sellers. At SellerVue, we offer six proven negotiation strategies for working with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers, including:

– Building strong supplier relationships

– Benchmarking for competitive pricing

– Supply chain optimization

These strategies help lower production costs and increase profit margins. 

Improve Inventory Management to Maximize Profits

Effective inventory management is vital to maximizing profits. SellerVue provides a comprehensive guide focused on profit-driven inventory management. Our guide covers:

– Increasing inventory turns

– Reducing carrying costs

– Optimizing storage and forwarding

– Leveraging Amazon FBA tools

By implementing these strategies, sellers can improve their inventory management and, ultimately, their profitability.

Recover Lost Profits with SellerVue’s COGS Optimization

Our unique approach to COGS accounting optimization helps recover 2% to 3% of revenue through precise profit recovery strategies. At SellerVue, we understand the importance of an accurate COGS accounting system, and our strategies ensure that no profits are lost or overlooked.

Advanced Technology to Boost Your Business

As a strategic partner with SellerVue, you gain access to our advanced tech platform that seamlessly integrates with Amazon Seller Central. Our platform provides detailed reports on:

– FBA fees

– Amazon order reports

– Inventory data

Additionally, the system automates alerts on refunds, overcharges, and returns, ensuring you maintain accurate financial records.

Increase Profit Margins with SellerVue

At SellerVue, our mission is to help eCommerce businesses, especially those selling on Amazon, increase their profit margins through:

– Optimizing cost of goods sold (COGS)

– Implementing tailored profit recovery strategies

– Leveraging detailed, data-driven insights through our innovative tech platform

By using our services, businesses can make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and boost profitability.

Sign-up for 21 Day Free Trial with SellerVue today (No Credit Card Required) to start optimizing your Amazon business and increasing your profit margins!