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Are Shopify Fees Cost of Goods Sold?

Last updated on October 1, 2022 @ 11:58 pm

Shopify fees can be a bit confusing for new ecommerce entrepreneurs. After all, when you’re just starting out, every dollar counts. So when you see a Shopify fee on your bill, it’s natural to wonder if it’s a necessary cost of doing business.

The short answer is: yes, Shopify fees are considered a cost of goods sold (COGS). This is because they’re directly related to the sale of your products. Specifically, the Shopify platform fee and the payment processing fee are both COGS.

The slightly longer answer is: it depends on how you structure your business. If you’re selling physical goods, then Shopify fees are definitely COGS. But if you’re selling digital products or services, then it’s up to you to decide if Shopify fees are COGS or not.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Shopify Platform Fee: This is the monthly fee that you pay to use the Shopify platform. It’s typically $29 per month (or $79 per month for the advanced plan). This fee is definitely a COGS, because without it you wouldn’t be able to sell your products online.

PRO TIP: If you are thinking of using Shopify to sell goods, be aware that the fees associated with Shopify are not considered to be part of the cost of goods sold. This means that you will need to factor in these fees when pricing your goods.

Payment Processing Fee: This is the fee that Shopify charges for processing credit card payments. It’s 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for most plans (3.30 per transaction for the advanced plan). This fee is also a COGS, because without it you wouldn’t be able to accept credit card payments from your customers.

Digital Products or Services: If you’re selling digital products or services (like ebooks, courses, or memberships), then Shopify fees are not considered COGS. This is because there are no physical goods involved in the sale, so the Shopify platform and payment processing fees are not directly related to the sale of your product. However, if you’re using Shopify to process payments for digital products or services (like through a Buy Now button), then the payment processing fee is still considered a COGS.

So there you have it! Whether or not Shopify fees are considered COGS depends on what type of product or service you’re selling.

If you’re selling physical goods, then Shopify fees are definitely COGS.

Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.