Why do my numbers differ from Shopify/Meta?

This is normal and in most cases correct. NorthProfit uses different definitions and partly different data sources than the platforms themselves. The most common reasons in detail:

1. Revenue: Shopify often shows gross revenue including shipping and discounts. NorthProfit shows net revenue after discounts by default, excluding shipping.

1. Refunds: NorthProfit books a refund in the month (by Berlin calendar day) in which it was refunded, not in the month of the order. If a September order is refunded in October, that reduces October and September stays unchanged. Shopify reports may classify refunds differently, for example by order date or payout. If an amount, an exchange rate or the tax information is missing for a refund, NorthProfit shows the profit of the period as “not determinable” instead of counting it as 0.

Periods and VAT: Orders count on the order day, refunds on the refund day (each by Berlin calendar day). For VAT, the day of delivery (start of shipping) applies under accrual-based taxation (Sollversteuerung) and the receipt of payment under cash-based taxation (Istversteuerung); for refunds, the correction under § 17 (1) sentence 8 UStG applies in the period of the repayment. The monthly values can therefore differ from the VAT return. NorthProfit figures are not a basis for tax or bookkeeping.

1. Advertising spend: Meta and Google deliver daily values in the time zone of the ad account. If it differs from your shop time zone, individual days can deviate slightly; in a monthly comparison this usually evens out.

1. ROAS and MER: Meta evaluates campaigns through its own pixel. NorthProfit calculates MER over total shop revenue and total advertising spend. Both numbers are useful but answer different questions.

1. Orders: Shopify also counts cancelled or unpaid orders. NorthProfit counts paid orders, even if they were later refunded in full or in part.

1. Currencies: Multi-currency consolidation is included from Scale. For shops with several currencies you check source currencies, available rates and the consolidation status. Shopify partly shows original currencies.

1. Tax amount: Shopify often shows VAT very close to the order. NorthProfit separates by DACH and EU OSS logic so that your firm can review the number.

If your numbers deviate by more than ±2% from Shopify and no explanation fits: write to us at support@northprofit.eu with the date and concrete values. We will reconcile it traceably.