The Shopify Seller Who Wasn’t Really Making a Profit (And How We Fixed It)
The Illusion of “Busy = Profitable"
If you’ve ever looked at your Shopify dashboard and thought, “Wow, sales are up!” only to check your bank balance and feel that sinking “Wait, where’s the money?” feeling… you’re not alone.
I once worked with a Shopify seller who was selling hundreds of T-shirts every month. Her orders were coming in fast, her notifications were nonstop — but her bank account told a very different story. She was exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how her business could be this busy and still not profitable.
That’s when she booked a Bookkeeping Clarity Review with me. What we found shocked her — and it might surprise you, too.
The Hidden Problem: Revenue ≠ Profit
When we opened her QuickBooks, the first thing I noticed was that all her Shopify deposits were being lumped together without accounting for fees, refunds, and discounts.
It looked like she was making $10,000 in sales each month… but once we broke it down:
Shopify fees: $350/month
Print-on-demand costs: $4,200/month
Shipping & packaging: $1,100/month
Ad spend: $2,500/month
After those deductions, her “$10,000 month” became closer to $1,850 in actual profit — before taxes.
No wonder she felt like she was working 24/7 and barely staying afloat.
The Real Fix: Clarity in the Numbers
Here’s what we did:
✅ Set up Shopify-to-QuickBooks mapping properly (so deposits matched actual payouts).
✅ Added COGS tracking for print-on-demand and materials.
✅ Created a weekly cash flow snapshot so she could see what was truly available.
✅ Reviewed her ad ROI — and discovered one ad was costing $17 per sale on a $25 item.
Within one month, she stopped guessing. She finally knew:
Which products were actually profitable.
Which expenses were draining her cash.
How much she could safely pay herself.
And most importantly, she said something I’ll never forget:
“For the first time, I feel like I’m running my business — not the other way around.”
The Takeaway for You
If your sales look good but your cash feels tight, there’s a good chance you’re missing the full picture.
Profit isn’t about selling more — it’s about understanding what’s behind the numbers.
You don’t have to guess where the money’s going. You just need clarity.
Call to Action (CTA): Get Your Clarity Back
If you’re ready to finally see what’s really going on in your books — before another month slips by — book a Bookkeeping Clarity Review today.
You’ll get:
A 12-point health check of your QuickBooks
A simple report showing what’s off (and how to fix it)
A clear direction for your next 90 days — whether you DIY or hire help
Because you didn’t start your business to become a bookkeeper — but you do deserve to feel confident about your numbers.
