See what each product and channel contributes

A blended margin can hide a product that contributes differently across channels. A product and channel view separates net sales from assigned costs and shows the allocation rule. Use it to locate the driver in product cost, fees, fulfilment, discounts, returns or acquisition spend.

For a weak result, first check cost coverage and business context. Then identify the price, cost or allocation assumption to test, the person responsible and the measure to review after the change.

Match product identifiers, bundles, channels, currency and reporting dates before combining exports. Show costs with incomplete product-level detail through a documented allocation or an unallocated line. Flag missing product costs with the record needed to resolve them.

For this report, net revenue equals gross product sales less discounts and customer refunds; sales tax collected is excluded. Contribution equals net revenue less recognised COGS, platform and payment fees, fulfilment and shipping, and allocated advertising and affiliate costs. Refunds reduce revenue once; return logistics are included in fulfilment.

Contribution is before fixed overhead, interest and tax. Subtracting fixed operating expenses produces the report's operating result. Agree the included costs for your analysis and display excluded or unallocated amounts alongside the result.

• A SKU and channel view with gross-to-net sales, included cost lines, contribution and contribution margin.
• A calculation bridge with period, currency, data coverage and control totals.
• An allocation schedule explaining direct costs, shared-cost rules, unallocated amounts and missing records.
• A findings list naming the driver to investigate, the evidence needed and the next decision owner.

Shopify's Gross profit by product report covers variants with cost recorded at the time of sale. Its gross-profit calculation subtracts product cost from net sales. Check its definition and missing-cost coverage before comparing it with the broader contribution definition used here.

Amazon's US FBA guide separates selling-plan and referral fees from fulfilment and storage costs. Map the applicable charge categories from your records and use the current fee schedule for any forward calculation.

The September 2026 report compares Hero serum 30 ml in two channels. The Shopify DTC row has higher net revenue and lower assigned fee and acquisition costs. Both rows use the same contribution definition, so the comparison points to the cost lines to investigate.

Assign ledger preparation, product-cost policy, allocation checks and management analysis to named owners. Specify who resolves a source-record difference and who approves a business decision.

Compare Core for SKU and channel contribution reporting where cost and channel data support the analysis. Growth adds CFO strategy, decision scenarios and acquisition-economics analysis where attribution data supports the calculation. Select the package by the depth of work required, including the handover from your existing bookkeeper.

Define covered products, channels, periods, data granularity and review rhythm. Scope historical cleanup, additional entities, specialist currency work and software or data connections separately. Tax filings, legal advice and statutory assurance require specialist arrangements.

Use the cost definition and data-coverage notes when interpreting each comparison.

Use the free initial finance audit to frame the comparison you need. Describe the product or channel, the decision it informs and the sales and cost records available. Define the reporting period and allocation questions to examine.