The fireworks are for Victoria Day, but we like to think they’re celebrating the end of Tax Season! 🎊

Here’s what most business owners don’t realize: with the April 30 deadline behind us, the pressure lifts. But there’s a hidden window of opportunity that closes fast. Now is the perfect time to stop looking backward at 2025 and start engineering 2026 profitability.

Here’s your May briefing — three secrets that separate thriving eCommerce businesses from struggling ones.

Secret #1: Your Refund Reveals Everything

Did you get a massive refund? Or did you owe a scary amount? Neither is ideal.

Big Refund? You gave the government an interest-free loan all year. We should adjust your salary and dividends to keep that cash flowing through your business month-to-month.

Big Bill? We need to set up an installment plan for 2026 so you aren’t blindsided with a lump sum next April.

Secret #2: The Metric That ROAS Hides

Most founders obsess over ROAS (Return on Ad Spend). But ROAS lies.

You can have a high ROAS and still lose money if your shipping and COGS are eating your margins alive.

New Metric: Contribution Margin

(Revenue – COGS – Shipping – Transaction Fees – Ad Spend) = Contribution $

This is the actual cash left over to pay your overhead and yourself. If this number is shrinking, we need to look at your pricing strategy immediately.

Secret #3: The Victoria Day Inventory Trap

Summer is coming. Is your warehouse full of winter stock that didn’t sell?

Tax Trap Alert: Holding onto dead stock costs you money in storage fees AND inflates your taxable income through phantom profit.

Strategy: Run a “Victoria Day Flash Sale” to clear old inventory. Turning dead stock into cash — even at break-even — is better than paying tax on it while it collects dust.

Nadine’s Corner

The sun is out! ☀️ I’m officially entering “Recovery Mode.”

For those of you who filed on time — thank you! For my self-employed friends: you still have until June 15 to file your final return. Don’t use this extra time to procrastinate. Let’s get it off your desk so you can enjoy the summer.

Have a great long weekend!

Ready to Turn Tax Insights Into Profit?

Let’s book a 15-minute “Post-Mortem” call to adjust your payroll and profit strategy for the rest of the year. Book your strategy session at netaccounting.ca

The Net Accounting Team

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice. A qualified professional should review your specific situation.