Sage eBay Integration Guide: How To Automate Your Accounting
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes.
Integrating eBay with cloud accounting software is a great way to save you time, make sure nothing is missed in your bookkeeping, and give you access to financial information anytime, anywhere.
Sage is a fantastic option for any eBay seller, with plans that can grow with you and an internationally-acclaimed reputation.
But whilst integrating eBay and Sage is a smart first step, it won’t get you the optimal accounting stack for ecommerce - that’s the same for any other platform and accounting software provider, too.
There’s a significant gap that will still require hours of manual calculations, which will only get more overwhelming as you grow.
But there is an answer, one that is quick to set up, easy to use and will save you more than time - it’ll save you money and headaches too!
In this guide on Sage and eBay integration:
Table of Contents
Let’s dive into some detail.
How Does Sage Work For You As An eBay Seller?
First, let’s consider the bigger picture around your ecommerce business.
The sky is your limit: Online sales have accelerated at the rate of four to six years in one chaotic, pandemic-pummeled year, according to data reported by Forbes.
But the devil lies in the accounting detail and ecommerce businesses can’t survive with it.
Whilst eBay’s Seller Hub has been designed to make business operations smoother, more streamlined and conducive to growth, this doesn’t help your bookkeeping. The numbers need crunching, and in ecommerce, there is an optimal way to do this.
This is where cloud accounting software like Sage comes in.
Sage cloud based accounting software has all the benefits of cloud accounting that you need to thrive in the ecommerce world.
How Sage accounting integration with eBay serves you
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Sage slashes the time you spend on accounting.
Machines are great at repetition - human beings? Not so much. Spreadsheets are a common first tool for many sellers but they’re not scalable, prone to error and time-consuming. Sage transfers your order information from eBay automatically, displays it for you in easy-to-digest ways and records everything for you. It’s quick, it’s accurate and it never misses a thing.
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Sage scales with your business, providing a range of automation tools.
The Sage accounting cloud has simple, easy to use features for any size business. And if you grow and need more complex support (perhaps by hiring employees), other Sage ecommerce solutions like Sage HRMS Payroll are there to help you automate and manage more complex business processes. It’s a one-stop shop for business data management.
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eBay listings and Seller Hub are mobile-friendly, and so is Sage.
You can access both your eBay business and your Sage account from your mobile device. The Sage mobile app works on Android and iOS.
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Sage is also buildable with extra apps and integrations.
Sage even integrates with partner support apps for things like document management on its Sage Business Cloud Marketplace. This enables you to optimize any aspect of your accounts that might best suit your business model.
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Sage offers excellent support across multiple channels.
If you need help, Sage offers online chat support, as well as a huge online resources portal that includes Sage Knowledgebase, Sage City and Sage University - all designed to support you in your business journey.
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Sage supports your eBay business in smashing geographic boundaries.
According to eBay’s Main Street (a gold mine of support and advocacy for online sellers), 96% of eBay-enabled sellers in the US are exporters, compared to only 1% of traditional business.
If you’re part of the 96%, automating your accounting is critical to your business survival and growth. Sage recognises this and enables global trade in your ecommerce business by allowing you to automate tax obligations and other fees.
In short, you’re covered from any angle.
“Sage cloud accounting is the future.
Automatic bank feed and mapping for future imports. Accessibility from anywhere. Up to date financial information at the tip of your finger to make informed business decisions.
Information is live and up to date to make financial decisions.”
How To Optimize Your Sage eBay Accounting Automation
The settlement statements you receive from eBay which summarise your orders are only so helpful. Each payout consists of a number of line items which you need to know and are not separated out for you.
The payouts that arrive in your bank are not just the prices of your products sold. Fees were taken out, sales tax added in (which doesn’t belong to you), reimbursements added perhaps or fulfilment fees taken. You need to know these details.
Neither eBay nor your accounting software will give you this detail, but A2X will.
A2X: The answer to eBay Sage cloud accounting automation
A2X for eBay captures the data in your eBay settlement statements, organises it into neat journal summaries, and feeds them into Sage. All of that detail is laid out for you, eliminating the need for manual number-crunching. Phew!
A2X also splits settlement statements that span months and organises your books via the accrual method. These two things allow you to more accurately forecast your business’ peaks and troughs, and effectively give you books that are organised by the GAAP-approved industry standard.
Integrate A2X with eBay and Sage for:
- Neat, organised books calculated automatically so you have all the details you need.
- Journal summaries sent to Sage so that it doesn’t become overwhelmed by individual transactions.
- Statements split by month and accrual-based records for better forecasting.
- Remote access from the cloud anytime, anywhere.
- A scalable solution that can support multiple channels if/when you decide to grow.
- Integrated COGS so that you can keep track of your inventory as you make sales.
- Integrated chart of accounts and tax mappings to Sage. These help save time at the end of the tax year.
‘[A2X] Saves so much time and removes all those laborious reporting tasks. We don’t have to think about that level of reporting any more, the data goes through seamlessly, and everything gets reconciled correctly. The software saves the need for running loads of separate reports for our accountancy and bookkeeping.’
- Russell S., MD
If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level, let’s get started - you’ll be up and running in no time.
How To Integrate Sage And eBay With A2X: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Create your A2X account.
If you’re completely new to A2X, you can try it out for free.
This is the signup page. You can use Google or Intuit to sign up. The third option for signing up is only for Xero accounting software account holders.
If you already have an A2X account, you’ll be asked if you want to continue with your existing account, or create a new one.
Once you’ve created your account, you’ll arrive at this screen:
That was easy, wasn’t it?
And you don’t need to worry about any automation happening without your consent - A2X will not perform anything in the background until you tell it to!
When you click Continue to set up, at the bottom of the screen, you’ll arrive at your brand new A2X dashboard:
Now you can quickly and easily connect your eBay account to your Sage account. There are four steps in the A2X dashboard, which we’ll outline as steps 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Step 2: Connect your A2X account to eBay
First, you’ll connect A2X to your eBay Seller Central.
From your A2X dashboard, go to STEP 1 on the top left of the screen. Click on Connect to eBay.
(Note that if you also sell on Amazon, Walmart or Shopify, or want to later you can set it up for each of these platforms too.)
There are two options for connecting A2X to eBay:
- If you’re managing your own account, you will click I’m the owner of an eBay Seller account. (This is the default option.)
- If you’re an accountant or person performing this work on behalf of a seller, you’ll select I’m requesting access to an eBay Seller account.
Then you’ll click Continue to eBay, at the bottom of the screen.
When you click on that, you’ll be taken to the sign in page for eBay.
Here, you have the choice of signing in using your mobile number, or you can click Continue, Continue with Facebook, Continue with Google, or Continue with Apple.
Select the way that works best for you.
Next, you’ll be directed to a page where you need to provide permission for Grant Application Access. Don’t worry that you can’t see Sage represented here. Click I agree.
Follow the prompts there and click Connect.
Nice going! Now you’ve connected eBay and A2X.
You’ll return to your A2X dashboard for the next step.
Step 3: Connect A2X to your Sage cloud account
From your A2X dashboard, click Connect to Sage under STEP 2 Connect to accounting.
You’ll have the option to connect to Sage for the first time.
Sage needs to know your main region or country from which you sell. Make your selection by clicking on the relevant country or region.
Now you’ll log in to your Sage account.
Once you’ve logged in to Sage and clicked Connect, you will have completed the connection across eBay, A2X and Sage.
You’ll be directed back to your dashboard for the next important step - mapping your tax and accounting.
Step 4: Choose accounting and taxes
A2X allows you to map the tax and accounting descriptions you need for your eBay business, so that they match your chart of accounts in Sage.
It’s best to wait for some of your payouts from eBay to begin to be reflected in your A2X account, before following this step.
You can start from the top of your A2X dashboard and click on Accounts and Taxes.
Or, you can click Customise accounting and taxes from the set-up menu:
If you want A2X to create your accounts for you, all you need to do now is click on the x next to each account descriptor that applies to your eBay business.
Alternatively, if you’d like to connect to your existing Chart of Accounts in your Sage account, then click on the x next to Create account ‘eBay Adjustments’.
And then click on the drop-down menu to select your relevant account.
Note that if you sell in more than one eBay marketplace, A2X will map transactions to the relevant one - for example, ebay.com, or ebay.co.uk.
In the example below, an amount of 12.58 was debited as Sale Discount ebay.co.uk. This seller also sells on ebay.com and ebay.ca.
Next, use the drop-down menus to select the relevant rates of tax applicable to each account.
Taxes can be complex, especially if you’re selling across different states and countries. Here a list of trusted accountants who can help you get set up.
Now that all of that is out of the way, you’re ready to post eBay accounts to Sage!
Step 5: Post eBay Payouts
Go back to your A2X dashboard. Click on Post eBay Payouts.
A2X will import your payouts automatically. All you have to do is review and reconcile your transactions by posting payouts.
You can go to your A2X home tab and click on Payouts.
Your dashboard will look something like this QuickBooks example, but for your Sage account:
Go to Latest Payouts near the bottom of the screen.
Click Review next to each payout to check and review it.
The settlement transaction will be shown like this:
Review each translation and then post it to Sage by clicking Send to Sage.
If you log in to Sage, you’ll find all your transitions from eBay, ready and waiting for you.
Accurate ecommerce accounting without the fuss.
FAQs And Helpful Tips
Get the essential information you need right here, at a glance.
My business is complex - I have an eBay store and a bricks-and-mortar business. Is Sage right for me?
Sage ecommerce solutions support you from any starting point in your business - from side-hustle to massive global entity. Sage ecommerce offers a sophisticated one-stop integration with Sage 300Cloud - seamless integration between your accounting system and CMS, digital marketing, and sales rep hub, among others.
Is Sage the best cloud accounting software?
Sage is compatible with multiple ecommerce sites and has a solution for any size business, with all the time-saving and data-accuracy benefits of cloud accounting.
How can I get Sage business cloud accounting?
You can sign up for a Sage product that suits your needs here.
Where can I find Sage cloud pricing?
You can pop across here to find the latest Sage cloud accounting pricing options.
What is the best cloud accounting software for the UK?
Sage cloud based accounting originated in the UK. It’s a trusted brand among UK ecommerce sellers and across the world.
What about Sage Amazon integration?
You sell on Amazon as well as eBay? Fantastic! Sage can be integrated with Amazon and A2X, too.
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