Yvonne is running her business online.

She sells groceries and household products through her store and platforms like Bolt.

One afternoon, a customer orders goods worth KSh 5,000.

The customer pays through the platform.

Yvonne's staff pick the goods, pack them and send them out.

A few days later, Yvonne checks her bank account.

Only KSh 4,400 has arrived.

She starts wondering.

"What happened to the other KSh 600?"

The platform deducted its fees and charges before sending her the money.

But here's where things get interesting.

Yvonne has three different records to keep track of:

1. The platform shows what customers ordered and paid.
2. Her stock records show what was picked, delivered or returned.
3. Her bank or M-Pesa statement shows what the platform eventually paid her.

These figures won't always match.

If Yvonne records only the KSh 4,400 received, she could understate her sales and miss the KSh 600 in platform charges.

If she doesn't record the goods leaving her store, her stock records will also become inaccurate.

So, what should Yvonne do?

• Compare platform orders with the payment reports.
• Record the full KSh 5,000 sale separately from the platform charges.
• Record refunds and cancelled orders correctly.
• Match every completed order to the stock that left the shop.
• Make sure the required eTIMS invoices are issued and recorded correctly.

Online selling has made shopping easier for customers.

But it has also changed how business owners need to track their money and stock.

A sale isn't fully accounted for just because the money has landed in your bank.