Retail & Wholesale Accounting & Tax Services in the UK

The Retail & Wholesale industry is one of the most competitive and fast-moving sectors in the United Kingdom. With rising operational costs, changing consumer behaviour, supply chain disruptions, seasonal demand, inventory challenges, and complex VAT rules, businesses in this sector require accurate, strategic and reliable financial support.

Audit Consulting Group has years of experience working with:

• Brick-and-mortar retail shops
• E-commerce businesses
• Online marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, etc.)
• Wholesale distributors
• Cash & carry businesses
• Fashion & apparel retailers
• Food & beverage retailers
• Beauty, cosmetics & personal care shops
• Electronics retailers
• Furniture stores
• Imports & exports
• Multi-channel retail brands
• Franchise stores
• Supply chain & distribution companies

Your industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving. That means your accounting and tax strategy must evolve too.

Why Retail & Wholesale Companies Need Specialist Accountants

Retail & wholesale businesses face unique challenges that general accountants often do not understand deeply enough:

Complex Cashflows

Multiple payment methods:

• card payments
• cash sales
• online transactions
• buy now, pay later
• instalments
• refunds & returns
• chargebacks

Inventory Management & Costing

Issues like:

• stock valuation
• shrinkage & wastage
• seasonal fluctuations
• supplier price changes
• multi-location stock records

Supply Chain & Import/Export

Many businesses require:

• EORI registration
• international VAT
• customs compliance
• duty calculations

Retail VAT Complexity

Retailers deal with:

• multiple VAT rates
• VAT on discounts
• VAT on promotional bundles
• margin schemes
• VAT on online sales
• overseas VAT obligations

Payroll Challenges

Retail & wholesale often involve:

• high staff turnover
• different shifts and overtime
• part-time employees
• seasonal staff
• bonuses & commissions

Wholesale Contracts

Wholesalers need:

• accurate B2B invoicing
• payment term tracking
• credit control
• large volume transaction processing

Retail and wholesale accounting isn’t just about numbers — it’s about operational efficiency, compliance, cost control and strategic growth.

Audit Consulting Group provides the financial clarity businesses need to operate profitably and sustainably.

Full Accounting & Bookkeeping Services for Retail & Wholesale

Bookkeeping & Reporting for Retail & Wholesale Businesses

Daily bookkeeping is essential in this industry due to high transaction volume, fluctuating inventory and tight margins.

We offer:

Bookkeeping Services

• Bookkeeping
• Xero Bookkeeping
• QuickBooks Bookkeeping
• Small Business Bookkeeping
• Sole Trader Bookkeeping
• Payroll Bookkeeping
• Outsourced Bookkeeping
• Retail Bookkeeping
• Wholesale Bookkeeping
• Basic Bookkeeping
• Accounting Bookkeeping
• Construction Bookkeeping (for shopfitting or warehouse installation teams)

Our bookkeeping includes:

• daily sales reconciliation
• card and cash takings
• online platform integration (Shopify, Amazon, etc.)
• stock purchases & supplier invoices
• refunds & returns
• voucher/promo reconciliation
• merchant charges
• cost of goods sold (COGS) analysis
• inventory valuation
• multi-channel sales reporting

Bookkeeping Contracts & Templates

For wholesalers dealing with multiple vendors and logistics partners, we provide:

• Bookkeeping Contract Templates
• Custom Bookkeeping Agreements

Management & Annual Accounts

We produce:

• Monthly Management Accounts
• Annual Accounts
• Ltd Company Accounts
• Companies House Accounts Filing

Our retail & wholesale management reports include:

• sales trends
• best-selling products
• margin analysis
• stock turnover rate
• shrinkage cost
• supplier performance
• seasonal performance
• channel profitability (online vs in-store)

Clear financial data helps you make better buying, staffing and expansion decisions.

Tax Services for Retail & Wholesale Businesses

Tax obligations in this sector are complex due to stock movement, multi-channel sales and VAT rules. We simplify it.

CIS Services

If your retail/wholesale business uses contractors for shopfitting, refurbishment or warehouse projects:

• CIS for Subcontractors
• CIS & VAT Compliance
• CIS Penalties & Appeals
• CIS Refunds
• Gross Payment Status
• CIS Registration & Filing

Personal Tax for Retail Owners & Traders

Self-employed traders, market stall owners, online sellers and franchise operators can rely on:

• Personal Tax / Self-Assessment
• Tax Account Management
• Deductions & Allowances
• Making Tax Digital Compliance
• Penalties & Appeals
• Personal Tax Filing

Allowable expenses may include:

• stock purchases
• delivery and shipping
• home storage
• business mileage
• packaging
• advertising
• platform fees

Small Business Tax Services

For independent shops and small wholesalers:

• Small Business Tax Returns
• Tax Planning
• Business Structuring
• Self-employed Registration

We help you reduce tax legally and efficiently.

VAT Services for Retail & Wholesale

VAT is one of the most challenging areas for this industry.

You may deal with:

• standard, reduced and zero VAT rates
• VAT on promotional pricing
• VAT on returned goods
• margin scheme
• VAT on imports
• VAT on online marketplaces
• VAT on wholesale bulk pricing

We provide:

• VAT Compliance & Advisory
• VAT Registration
• VAT Deregistration
• VAT Filing & Submission
• VAT Reclaim
• VAT Refunds
• VAT Number Verification
• VAT for Specific Sectors (food, clothing, electronics, etc.)
• International VAT Guidance

With accurate VAT handling, you avoid penalties and protect your margins.

Corporation Tax for Retail & Wholesale Companies

Margins in retail & wholesale can be tight — which means efficient tax planning is essential.

We support:

• Corporation Tax Filing
• Corporation Tax Planning
• Expense optimisation
• Stock write-off deductions
• Capital allowances on equipment
• Corporation Tax Returns
• Corporation Tax Appeals

We help ensure that your business pays only what it legally must — nothing more.

Advanced Tax Planning

We assist retail & wholesale owners with:

• Retirement Tax Planning
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Estate Tax Strategies
• High-Net-Worth Tax Advisory
• Penalty Appeals
• Exit strategies for business sale
• Investment structuring

Payroll & Pension Services for Retail & Wholesale

Payroll in this sector is dynamic and often complicated.

We provide:

Payroll Services

• Payroll Setup & Implementation
• Payroll Software Solutions
• Online Payroll
• Xero / QuickBooks / Sage Payroll
• Payroll Reconciliation
• Monthly Payroll
• Payroll for One Employee
• Seasonal Worker Payroll
• Contractor Payroll
• Outsourced Payroll Management
• Payroll Controls

Pension Services

• Pension Scheme Management
• Pension Tax Advisory
• Pension Tax Reclaims
• Directors’ Pension Schemes
• PAYE Registration & Filing

We ensure:

• accurate timesheets
• overtime calculations
• bonus/commission pay
• compliance with employment laws

Company Formation & Corporate Governance

We help retail & wholesale companies with:

• Company Formation
• Confirmation Statements
• EORI Registration (especially for product imports)

We create structures designed for growth, franchising or multi-site management.

Advisory Services for Retail & Wholesale Businesses

Our consulting includes:

• Expansion planning
• Cashflow forecasting
• Pricing and margin optimisation
• Inventory strategy
• Supplier negotiation support
• Overseas VAT advice
• General & individual consultations

We help you make confident business decisions.

Real Case Studies

Case Study 1 — Clothing Retail Chain

Problems: poor stock control, VAT errors, payroll issues.
Solutions:

• rewrote bookkeeping
• automated stock reporting
• fixed VAT filing
• introduced simple payroll system

Result: profit margin increased by 12%.

Case Study 2 — Wholesaler Importing from EU & Asia

Problems: VAT confusion, customs charges, multi-currency payments.
Solutions:

• EORI registration
• international VAT guidance
• automated purchase tracking
• monthly management accounts

Result: supply chain cost savings of 9% annually.

Case Study 3 — Online Marketplace Seller

Problems: messy bookkeeping, platform fee confusion, tax uncertainty.
Solutions:

• integrated Shopify, Amazon & eBay reports
• optimised tax structure
• created clear financial dashboards

Result: owner saved over £7,500 in tax in one year.

Client Reviews

Emma Hughes, Owner — TrendHouse Retail
“Audit Consulting Group helped us finally understand our margins and stock flow. Brilliant service.”

Michael Turner, Director — Wholesale Direct UK
“They manage our VAT, payroll and corporation tax flawlessly. Highly responsive and professional.”

Sofia Patel, Founder — UrbanBeauty E-Commerce
“Our online business became so much more organised thanks to their bookkeeping and tax planning. Highly recommended.”

FAQ

Do you work with both retail shops and wholesalers?

Yes — from small boutiques to large distribution companies.

Do you integrate with e-commerce platforms?

Absolutely. We work with Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce and more.

Can you help with VAT on imports?

Yes — including international VAT, EORI, customs duty and reclaim guidance.

Do you offer payroll for seasonal staff?

Yes — including part-time and flexible schedules.

Ready to Transform Your Retail or Wholesale Business?

Audit Consulting Group
+44 7386 212550
info@auditconsultinggroup.co.uk