Reselling Bookkeeping: What You Need to Record
Once your reselling activity is commercial, you need records. Here's exactly what to track — and how to keep it simple without drowning in paperwork.
Good news: as a small reseller in Germany, your bookkeeping doesn't need to be complicated. As a Kleinunternehmer (small business), you do a simple income-surplus calculation (Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung, or EÜR) — not full double-entry accounting.
Bad news: you still need to record everything. Here's exactly what that means.
What You Must Record
Every purchase:
- Date of purchase
- What you bought (description)
- Purchase price (full amount paid, including fees and shipping)
- Where you bought it (Vinted, flea market, thrift store, etc.)
- Receipt or screenshot if available
Every sale:
- Date of sale
- What you sold
- Sale price (what the buyer paid)
- Platform (Vinted, Kleinanzeigen, direct)
- Shipping cost paid by you, if any
Business costs:
- Packaging materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
- Shipping labels (if you pay for shipping)
- Any tools or software you use for your business
- Travel costs to markets or thrift stores (documented)
The EÜR Principle
The Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung is simple: total income minus total costs equals profit. That profit is what gets taxed.
You don't need complex accounting software. You need consistent records. A spreadsheet works. Purpose-built tracking tools work better because they're harder to forget.
How Long to Keep Records
In Germany, business records must be kept for 10 years. That includes invoices, purchase receipts, bank statements, and anything related to business transactions.
For Vinted and Kleinanzeigen transactions, screenshot your order confirmations and payment records. Platforms don't guarantee access to old transaction data indefinitely.
What Happens Without Records
If the Finanzamt audits you and you can't prove your costs, they may assess your income based on revenue alone — without deducting costs. That means paying tax on the full selling price, not just your profit. A €500 sale that cost you €380 gets taxed as €500.
Keep It Simple With the Right Tool
ResellScope was built for exactly this. Log items when you buy them, mark them sold when they sell. Every purchase cost, every sale price, every platform. Your EÜR data is always current and ready — no scrambling at tax time.