Accountant for wholesalers and distributors

As a distributor or wholesaler in France, your life revolves around incoming pallets and outgoing orders: inventory turnover, cost of goods sold, volume discounts, and supplier rebates. Net margins are slim, and working capital is constantly stretched between customers who are paid in 30 or 60 days and suppliers who must be paid first. Your accounting must keep pace with this rhythm, otherwise your margins will erode without you even noticing.

We'll find you the perfect accountant for your distribution business, free of charge: a professional who understands inventory valuation, multi-province taxes (GST, VAT), imports, and customer credit. We'll present you with as many accountants as you need, we'll stay by your side, and you only pay your accountant, never Bankeo. No commitment required.

• Mines net margins (often 2 to 5% in distribution): every point of gross margin, every volume reduction and every supplier discount must be closely monitored.
• Stock rotation and valuation (EPS or average cost): obsolete or slow-moving stocks must be written off before the end of the financial year.
• Working capital under pressure: customers paid in 30 or 60 days, suppliers to be paid beforehand; the average recovery time becomes a vital indicator.
• Customer credit and uncollectible receivables.
• Imports: exchange rates, customs duties and transport must be included in the landing cost to know the true margin per product.
• Sales in multiple departments: the tax follows the destination (GST 5%, VAT 13-15%, VAT 9.975%), with tax codes to be configured correctly.
• Volume growth: revenue quickly exceeds the $500,000 small business deduction limit, hence tax planning needs adjusting.

• VAT registration (9.975%) as soon as the small supplier threshold of $30,000 is exceeded, which is crossed almost immediately in distribution; monthly or quarterly declarations depending on the volume.
• Place of supply rules: VAT collected according to the province of destination for sales outside Quebec, tax-free exports with proof of shipment to be kept.
• Year-end inventory count and compliant valuation (less of cost and fair market value) to determine the cost of goods sold.
• T2 (federal) and CO-17 (Quebec) corporate tax returns are required annually, with installments to be paid during the fiscal year.
• Source deductions on warehouse, sales and delivery payroll: tax, CNSS, RQAP, unemployment insurance, FSS, then T4 and Relevé 1 to be produced in February.
• Imports: CBSA (GCRA) customs accounts, VAT paid at the border to be recovered as input tax credit, with supporting customs documents.
• Retention of records and supporting documents (invoices, bills of lading, inventory reports) for six years, as required by the CRA and Revenu Québec.

How can I properly value and track my inventory? An accountant specializing in this sector will choose the right valuation method (EPS or average cost), apply the lower cost rule and fair market value, and ensure the accuracy of your cost of goods sold. They will also manage the year-end accounting and the write-off of obsolete inventory. We can connect you with the right accountant for your sector, free of charge, as many times as you need.

I sell in several departments: how do I manage VAT? Taxes vary depending on the destination. In Quebec, you collect GST at 5% and QST at 9.975%; elsewhere in... Canada It's either VAT alone or VAT (13% to 15% depending on the province), and exports are tax-exempt. Your accountant sets up the correct tax codes, prepares the returns, and secures your input tax credits.

Combien coûte un comptable pour ce secteur ? Selon le Baromètre Bankeo, fondé sur 1 248 dossiers réels (2024-2026), la médiane d'un comptable au Québec tourne autour de 3 000 $ par année, de 500 à 6 000 $ selon le secteur et la complexité. Le jumelage Bankeo est gratuit : vous payez votre comptable directement, aux honoraires habituels du marché.

How can I change accountants without disrupting my distribution? The best time is after the end of the fiscal year, once the inventory count and tax returns are finalized. The new accountant will take over your records (inventory, accounts receivable and payable, taxes) directly from the previous accountant—a common and regulated practice. We'll pair you with an accountant who understands the distribution sector, free of charge, and we'll support you throughout the entire transition.

Local or remote accountant for a wholesaler? Both work very well: your sales, inventory, and taxes already reside in cloud systems, and a remote accountant monitors them in real time. A local accountant can add a helpful warehouse visit during inventory counts. We'll present you with the profile that best suits your needs, local or remote—the choice is yours.

Can I reclaim the VAT paid at customs on my imports? Yes: the 5% VAT paid at the border can be reclaimed as an input tax credit, provided you keep your customs documents (GCRA declarations, commercial invoices, bills of lading). Customs duties, however, are not reclaimable: they are included in the cost of unloading your products. An accountant specializing in this sector will secure these credits and your true profit margin per product.