Ecommerce Finance Podcast
by Stephen Brown | LedgerGurus
Hosted by Stephen Brown, COO of LedgerGurus and co-owner of DTC brand Sole Toscana, this podcast is your go-to resource for mastering the financial side of ecommerce. Stephen and his team have worked with hundreds of brands through LedgerGurus which specializes in ecommerce accounting. Add to that his hands-on experience with Sole Toscana, gives him unique insights into the challenges and opportunities ecommerce businesses face. On The eCommerce Finance Podcast, we dive deep into the financial side of ecommerce. Any topic is open for discussion as everything you do in business has a financial impact. Be prepared to go deep with experts and brand leaders on a variety of topics with an understanding of their financial impacts. Join us as we bring you practical tips, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you thrive with ecommerce. Tune in and transform your ecommerce business today!
Episodes
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E38: Accounts Payable Fraud: How Ecommerce Businesses Lose Six Figures to Fake Invoices
Stop accounts payable fraud before it hits your bottom line. Learn how to protect your ecommerce business from risky overseas inventory payments. In this episode of the ecommerce finance podcast, Stephen Brown and Rachel Wright break down the mechanics of accounts payable fraud. We examine...
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E37: Ecommerce Fintech Risks: What Happens When Your Payment App Goes Bankrupt?
Fintech touches nearly every part of an ecommerce operation, from buy now pay later at checkout to bill pay on the back end, and most brands evaluate these tools on features and price alone. Understanding ecommerce fintech risks matters far more than comparing feature lists, and the collapse of...
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E36: Build or Buy: Is It Cheaper to Vibe Code with AI or Use SaaS?
Stop overpaying for rigid software. Learn how to build AI internal tools for your ecommerce business to save money and increase efficiency. Stephen Brown and Stacy Walker from Ledger Gurus join The Ecommerce Finance Podcast to break down why expensive, off-the-shelf software is often the wrong...
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E35: AI Software Costs Are About to Explode: Is Your Ecommerce Brand Ready?
Are you prepared for rising AI software costs? Learn how to adjust your e-commerce budget now to protect your margins. In this discussion, Stephen Brown and Stacy Walker from LedgerGurus break down the financial impact of new technology adoption. They analyze why AI software costs are trending...
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E34: Highbeam vs Traditional Banks: Which Wins for Ecommerce?
Ecommerce banking with Highbeam is what a financial platform built for online sellers actually looks like, and this episode breaks down exactly why that matters. Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus and co-owner of Sole Toscana, sits down with Samir Shergill, CEO and co-founder of Highbeam, to dig...
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E33: Ecommerce Tax Strategy - The Big Beautiful Bill Just Changed the Game!
Ecommerce tax strategy changed dramatically in 2025 and most online business owners have no idea what they are missing. The Big Beautiful Bill introduced some of the biggest tax planning opportunities ecommerce sellers have seen in years, and understanding them could mean thousands of dollars…
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E32: Financial Impacts of EOS in Ecommerce
EOS is gaining serious traction in the ecommerce space and the financial results are hard to ignore. In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus, sits down with Bret Mitchell, EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide, to break down what EOS actually is, why…
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E31: IEPPA Tariff Refunds
IEEPA tariff refunds are now legally available and the filing system is live. In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus and co-owner of Sole Toscana, walks through the complete IEEPA tariff refund process from start to finish alongside Stacy Walker,...
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E30: Ecommerce Debt Mistakes That Quietly Drain Your Margins
Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus and co-owner of Sole Toscana, sits down with his business partner Preston Alder to talk about ecommerce debt. They break down why debt feels so confusing for operators, how bad loan terms get hidden behind simple marketing, and why cash flow pressure makes these...
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E29: Why Your Ecommerce Metrics Don't Match the Top Performers (Ecommerce KPI Benchmark Report)
Stephen Brown, COO of LedgerGurus and co-owner of Sole Toscana, sits down with Stacy Walker, Director of Growth at LedgerGurus, to break down their 2025 Ecommerce KPI report. They walk through what actually separates profitable brands from struggling ones using clean, real financial data. They...
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E28: Growing Without Debt: The Slow, Sustainable Path to a Profitable Ecommerce Brand
In this episode, Stephen Brown of LedgerGurus talks with Matthew Kidman, co-founder of House of Joppa. Matthew shares how he built a profitable ecommerce brand without taking on debt, even with the cash pressure that comes from inventory, long lead times, and seasonal demand. They break down what...
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E27: Business Valuation Before the Sale: How to Build Value You Can Use Right Now
Stephen Brown from LedgerGurus sits down with Mark Lupton, founder of Greenhouse Business Advisors, to talk about what actually makes a business valuable while you are still running it. Most founders only think about valuation when they are ready to sell. But the choices you make every day about...
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E26: Metrics for Every Stage of Ecommerce Financial Maturity
Stephen Brown from LedgerGurus sits down with Geoff Gualano from A2X to break down the four levels of ecommerce accounting maturity and the metrics that actually matter at each stage. Many founders think they understand their numbers because they can see revenue in Shopify or Amazon. But once...
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E25: Data rich. Decision poor. What’s missing?
Stephen Brown from LedgerGurus talks with Nate Littlewood, founder of Future Ready CFO, about why ecommerce founders struggle to turn financial data into real decisions. Even with dashboards and reports, many operators feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure what actually matters. This episode breaks...
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E24: How the Four Margins Explain Where Profit Disappears
Summary Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus and host of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, sits down with Stacy Walker, Director of Growth at LedgerGurus. They break down the four margins every ecommerce brand should be tracking and why most 7- and 8-figure sellers only understand one of them. The...
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E23: 2026 Ecommerce Finance Predictions
Summary: In this episode, Stephen Brown and Preston Alder discuss their predictions for the e-commerce landscape in 2026. They cover a range of topics including tariffs, interest rates, inflation, the rise of AI, the value economy, and the implications of a K-shaped economy. The conversation…
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E22: Grading Our 2025 Ecommerce Financial Forecast
Summary Stephen Brown, Founder of LedgerGurus, and Kelley Birrell, Marketing Manager at LedgerGurus, look back at the ecommerce predictions they made at the start of 2025. They review what actually happened across ecommerce growth, marketing costs, interest rates, inflation, and AI adoption. Each...
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E21: VAT vs Sales Tax Explained for US Sellers
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown speaks with Oliver Blackmore from Elver Ecommerce Accountants about the complexities of VAT (Value Added Tax) for ecommerce businesses, particularly those looking to expand into the UK and EU markets. They discuss the...
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E20: How to Spot (and Stop) Fraudulent Ad Traffic Before It Drains Your Budget
Summary In this conversation, Kurt Bell from Dash.fi discusses the innovative corporate credit card solutions offered by the company, focusing on their unique value propositions such as cash back incentives and ad pay protection services. The discussion highlights how these offerings can...
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E19: Why Most Founders Operate Blind (and How to Fix It with Strategic Finance)
Summary In this episode of The Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Mark Lupton discuss the intricacies of strategic finance in the eCommerce sector. They explore the importance of understanding exit strategies, aligning founder goals with business strategies, and the significance of...
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E18 : Financial Lessons from a Decade of Building Ecommerce Software
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Chris Hondl from Finale Inventory discuss insights gained from a decade of building ecommerce software, focusing on inventory management, the evolution of ecommerce, and the challenges faced by businesses today. They...
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E17: Real-Time Inventory, Real Results: Katana's Take on Smarter Supply Chains
Summary In this episode of The Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown interviews Ben Hussey, co-CEO of Katana, discussing the complexities of manufacturing and inventory management in the current ecommerce landscape. They explore the challenges posed by rising costs, supply chain disruptions…
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E16: The CFO of Thread’s Guide to Navigating Tariff Impacts
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown interviews Ryan King, CFO of Thread, discussing the evolution of the company from handcrafted wallets to a diversified manufacturing model. They delve into the complexities of navigating tariffs, the impact on pricing...
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E15: Debt Decisions: Smart Financing for Ecommerce Founders
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown interviews Alec Koenig, CEO of Settle, discussing the complexities of lending in the ecommerce space. They explore Alec's background in lending, the challenges ecommerce businesses face, and how Settle aims to provide...
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E14: We Tried Profit First. Here’s What ACTUALLY Happened
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Preston Alder discuss the implementation of the Profit First methodology in their business, Sole Toscana. They reflect on their initial challenges, the importance of understanding cash flow, and the mindset shift required...
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E13: Equity Crowdfunding for Ecommerce
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast Stephen Brown from LedgerGurus and Joseph May from May Law discuss the challenges eCommerce businesses face in securing funding, particularly through traditional means. They explore the concept of equity crowdfunding as an alternative…
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E12: Ecommerce in 2025: Mid-Year Lessons, Surprises, and Smart Moves
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Lauren Maillard catch up on what’s really going on in ecommerce right now. They look back at Stephen’s predictions for 2025 - what he got right (and wrong) - and dig into big changes like new tariffs, the end of the de...
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E11: The State of Ecommerce M&A in 2025
In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, host Stephen Brown interviews Josh Robbins from the Premara Group to discuss the current state of ecommerce mergers and acquisitions. They explore Josh's unique background in ecommerce, the evolution of M&A in the sector, and the factors that make...
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E10: How to Choose the Right IMS for Your Ecommerce Business
In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Scott Scharf discuss the critical aspects of selecting and implementing an inventory management system for ecommerce businesses. They explore the importance of inventory management as a key asset, the methodology for selecting…
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E9: Why Inventory Accounting is So Hard (but SO IMPORTANT) for Ecommerce Brands
In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Brittany Brown delve into the complexities of inventory accounting and its critical role in financial management for ecommerce businesses. They discuss the challenges of accurately tracking inventory, the importance of accrual...
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E8: How to Calculate the Impact of Tariffs on Your Profitability
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Kelley Birrell discuss the financial implications of tariffs on businesses, particularly in the ecommerce sector. They explore how tariffs affect cost structures, profitability, and pricing strategies, emphasizing the...
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E7: Tariffs 101
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Bryce Judy discuss the complexities of tariffs, particularly focusing on the de minimis rule and its implications for e-commerce businesses. They explore recent changes in tariff policies, the impact on dropshipping, and...
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E6: The Cost of Selling on Amazon in 2025
In this episode of The Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Liz Adamson discuss the evolving landscape of Amazon fees and the challenges sellers face in 2025. They explore the rising costs of advertising, the complexities of Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), and the impact of Chinese sellers…
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E5: Shopify Plus Sales Tax Changes & Deep Dive into Sales Tax Complexity
In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Mac Wright from Avalara discuss the upcoming changes to sales tax for Shopify Plus users. They delve into the complexities of sales tax calculation, the importance of understanding nexus, and the registration process for...
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E4: TikTok Shop and Social Commerce Financial Insights
In this episode of the eCommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Michelle Barnum-Smith delve into the world of TikTok Shop and its implications for social commerce. They discuss the unique aspects of TikTok as a shopping platform, the frictionless experience it offers, and the significant...
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E3: How Accounting Can Make or Break Your Brand
Summary In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Geoff Gualano discuss the critical role of accounting in ecommerce businesses. They explore the different phases of accounting maturity, from initial awareness to strategic forecasting and planning, emphasizing the...
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E2: Ecommerce Budgeting & Forecasting: What, Why, How, When, and Who
In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Preston Alder discuss the critical aspects of budgeting and forecasting in ecommerce. They explore the importance of understanding cash flow, the phases of financial management, and the strategies for building effective budgets…
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E1: 2025 Ecommerce Trends & Financial Implications
In this episode of The Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown and Kelley Birrell discuss the key ecommerce trends for 2025, focusing on market growth, digital marketing challenges, the impact of interest rates and tariffs, the potential of TikTok Shop, the role of AI, supply chain issues, and…
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Ecommerce Finance Podcast Trailer
Welcome to the eCommerce Finance Podcast. This podcast is here so that owners, operators, and others in ecommerce can have a better understanding of the financial implications of what they're doing. The reality is everything in a business has a financial impact and therefore every topic is on the...
About this show
Hosted by Stephen Brown, COO of LedgerGurus and co-owner of DTC brand Sole Toscana, this podcast is your go-to resource for mastering the financial side of ecommerce.
Stephen and his team have worked with hundreds of brands through LedgerGurus which specializes in ecommerce accounting. Add to that his hands-on experience with Sole Toscana, gives him unique insights into the challenges and opportunities ecommerce businesses face.
On The eCommerce Finance Podcast, we dive deep into the financial side of ecommerce. Any topic is open for discussion as everything you do in business has a financial impact. Be prepared to go deep with experts and brand leaders on a variety of topics with an understanding of their financial impacts.
Join us as we bring you practical tips, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help you thrive with ecommerce.
Tune in and transform your ecommerce business today!
Hosted by
Stephen Brown | LedgerGurus
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