Quick Answer
A good e-commerce accountant in Canada understands platform fee reconciliation, multi-channel revenue consolidation, COGS tracking for FBA and dropshipping, GST/HST marketplace facilitator rules, and CRA digital platform reporting requirements. General accountants often lack this specific knowledge.
Most accountants can prepare a tax return. But e-commerce accounting requires specific platform knowledge — how Amazon settlements work, what Etsy's GST/HST collection means for your filing, how to account for FBA inventory across multiple provinces. A general practitioner without this experience can cost you more in errors than they save in fees.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- How do you handle Amazon FBA settlement reconciliation?
- Do you understand the difference between marketplace facilitator platforms (Etsy) and direct-seller platforms (Amazon.ca, Shopify)?
- How do you track COGS for FBA sellers with inventory in multiple warehouses?
- What software do you use to connect to Shopify, Amazon, and Etsy?
- Are you familiar with DAC7 platform reporting and CRA cross-reference audits?
Bookkeeper vs. Accountant for E-Commerce
Most e-commerce sellers need both: a bookkeeper for ongoing monthly work (reconciliation, GST/HST filings) and an accountant for year-end planning and tax returns. Some firms like MaxRefund offer both services integrated, which reduces handoff friction and errors.
Remote vs. Local
E-commerce businesses are inherently remote-friendly. A remote accountant who specializes in e-commerce will typically provide more value than a local generalist. Cloud accounting tools (QuickBooks, Xero, A2X) make geographic location irrelevant — what matters is platform expertise.
Work With a True E-Commerce Accounting Expert
MaxRefund specializes in bookkeeping and tax services for Canadian online sellers — Shopify, Amazon FBA, Etsy, and multi-platform. Remote, bilingual, and built for e-commerce.
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