Wholesale and retail trade
Wholesale and retail are two distinct but closely linked business models that operate along the supply chain. Both are part of the retail sector, but differ in the type of customers, the volumes of goods, the pricing and the scope of activities. Wholesale is B2B (business-to-business) oriented and retail is B2C (business-to-consumer) oriented.
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ACCOUNTING FOR WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BUSINESSES
Wholesale trade focuses on the sale of goods in large quantities to other businesses, such as retailers, manufacturers or other intermediaries, in order to ensure the smooth distribution of goods on the market. Meanwhile, retail is aimed at the final consumer, where goods are sold directly to people through physical or electronic stores. The wholesaler often acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the retailer, while the retailer is the link that interacts directly with the customer and creates the final consumer experience.
Our accountants become not only a technical accounting contractor for our wholesale and retail clients, but also a competent financial advisor who helps the client to ensure smooth operations, manage risks and increase profitability.
Accounting and warehouse management
In both wholesale and retail trade, accurate inventory accounting is critical – inaccuracies can affect both profitability and supply continuity. Our accountants help you set up and maintain inventory accounting systems, track stock balances, ensure correct costing and more.
Correct calculation and declaration of VAT
In wholesale trade, there are frequent cross-border transactions as well as supplies of goods within the EU or to third countries, which adds complexities to the VAT regime. Our accountants ensure the correct calculation and declaration of VAT and apply the different VAT regimes (0%, reverse charge, etc.), which reduces the risk of potential errors and penalties.
Controlling profit margins and costs
The trade often deals with many products and services and different pricing strategies, which can make it difficult to accurately measure profitability. Our accountants provide managers with information for cost profit margin analysis, fixed and variable cost structure control through detailed accounting.
Controlling debts and settlements
Deferred payment terms are common in the wholesale trade and there is a risk of unpaid invoices not being paid on time. Our accountants help our clients to control their arrears, prepare accounts receivable reports and identify the time to react to late payments.
Tax optimisation
Managing and controlling costs is important in every business. Our accountants and their expertise not only help our clients to ensure correct tax calculations and timely submission of declarations and reports to the public authorities, but at the same time our experts advise clients on tax optimisation.
Process automation
The data flows in the trading business are really high, so manual work slows down processes and increases the risk of errors. By investing in our own IT infrastructure and the tools needed to perform accounting, our accountants help our clients apply the automation solutions that are right for them, and we advise on and help build integrations between the IT tools used by the client and the accounting software.