Shopify has changed their Finance Summary Report! No longer a report!

[mscmith11]

Sometimes I wonder if @Shopify has anyone with an accounting background working for them.

They took the one and only somewhat helpful Analytics report, titled "Finance Summary" report and now is a series of colorful charts and graphs that are absolutely USELESS on an accounting and book-keeping level.

How is it that Shopify is continually making figures less transparent on their platform rather than the other way around. 

The "finance report" now shows a "Payments over time" line chart, visually showing the days in which sales rose or declined and a "Payments received" bar graph that visually shows which payments methods were used more or less.

NO. These are not necessary or helpful when entering numbers into an accounting program.  I know have to try and again pull numbers out of this ridiculous page that shows half as much information as previous.

There is no longer any gift card sales data or "Liabilities" section, and the "Total Payments" figure is also gone.

We need more practical, straight forward data, we don't need charts and graphs, however pretty they look.

Bring back the straight forward Finance Summary. Call this something else.

[CloudlabSam]

Totally understand the frustration. If you are up for using an app, there are a number of great apps that can help. If you search for "report" in the App Store, the top 6 should all do the trick. One of which I own 🙂

I also run a 7 figure shop and there is no way I could run that store with Shopify's default reporting. 

[mscmith11]

Can I ask which one you use? I assume it is not free. Just another app to do what the platform should be providing on their own!

[CloudlabSam]

I use Report Toaster because that's the one we own and I am clearly biased :).

[MAD2017]

I REFUSE to pay for an app to access my own financial reporting!  Isn't that what I'm paying for already!

[mscmith11]

Do you manually enter all data into an accounting program manually? I have attempted several like Quickbooks Online and they only lead to more headaches than solutions.

[CloudlabSam]

I send all of the necessary reports to someone that does the accounting, which is what most of our reporting app customers do. Some of them do some manual entry and others do imports from data exported from the app. All depends on your comfort level with accounting, size of your team, etc.

[mscmith11]

I will check out the app, I am just looking for the simplest of Sales reports.

Total sales = Total Payments 

Shopify does not seem to grasp these simple ecommerce backend essentials.

*Also, I am a one man team finance wise. LOL. Like I said I thought these accounting apps would be a great workaround but even the accounting giants cannot fully make sense of the mess of numbers that is Shopify. 

[MagP]

Yes- I am a bookkeeper, and do a manual entry into QBO for a client.. based on the finance summary, which is now gone. This is no longer a report , as you stated. And when talking to customer support the answer is always 'add an additional app'.  Same for inventory tracking. 

[MAD2017]

Adding another "PAID" app is unacceptable. Sounds like Shopify is turning into Clover that gouges its customers.

[MAD2017]

The new reports are HORRIFIC!!! A total waste of time and money printing this BS! The "Financial Summary" was what was critical for my tax reporting and now has turned into a NIGHTMARE! Shopify claims that they will be changing the report back to old report we are use to; however, how long does this really take??? It's been weeks!!!!! Whoever is making these changes obviously doesn't know anything about retail or owning a small business.

[petgrocer]

Why should we have to pay for an app for a report that was taken away? More bait and switch by shopify? New business model - lure them in with things that work, take it away, make them pay for an app where Shopify takes a piece of the pie from the user and the app developer. Disgusting.

[mscmith11]

Bring back old report.

[mscmith11]

*Although to be 100% accurate, the Gift Card sales should be a part of the "Total Sales".

The total sales and the total Payments should show as the same figure. That is how accounting works. Debits and credits that match @Shopify 

[Yazski]

I agree! 

[pennybird]

Yes, please bring back this report. I use this report every week and this new version is very hard to read and now has so much extraneous information. I do not need charts for this summary. Please just give us an option to have this report in this format as a simple summary that is close together and easily printable! 

[pennybird]

I already use external apps to get more in depth data, please just let me have this simple summary page! 

[Ange_Walker]

I was using this report and mid may it just disappeared!  I thought I'd just lost access to it but so angry to discover it just doesn't exist anymore.

[MAD2017]

Shopify has DESTROYED all the reports for their customers. When I try to print, I need a magnifying glass to read! I don’t need graphs that utilize costly ink. I need clear and accurate figures that are not skewed! I’m trying to sell my retail store and this change by Shopify has literally paralyzed my efforts in pulling detailed accurate reporting of my OWN FINANCIAL INFORMATION!!!

[LeslieMathews]

The Finance Summary that just got eliminated saved me so much time from the previous option - exporting to a CVS and manipulating it to fit a page for printing and then handwriting the sales channel (location) on it. I am a one person department for two locations and every day had 3 of those to get through and on Monday mornings I had 12 reports to generate. It took up so much time. Then came the magical Finance Summary and I could print reports in under 3 minutes! NOW, I am back to square one, but WORSE. Now I will be printing off 9 reports everyday and 27 on Monday mornings. PLUS, I am back to having to write the location on it manually. UGH! I feel like we took a giant leap forward and an even greater one backward. I am begging the developers to make one little change for the admin staff who are required to print off these reports for our accountants! 

[CMojo]

Exactly, thank you for showing this image as it was driving me mad trying to work out where it had gone.  Shopify - PLEASE don't 'fix' something which isn't broken. Not Happy Jan.

[HSACT]

I noticed this yesterday when I tried to pull my report!   After looking at the dashboard I found that the same info is there and I am able to do my accounting as before, there just isn't a way to print or download a report.

[DonnaCT]

I was able to print it.  Right-click on the report and select print. However, gift cards are not included in the print area.  Also, the data reported for payments received is for all channels even though an individual channel may be selected.  There is no way to change it.  

[twoplusone]

Yes, very frustrating! Got the call from the store at closing yesterday wondering where the Finance Summary went! I chatted with support. They told me the original report was replaced with the newer version (which I already realized). Unfortunately, there is no easy way to print it and the original report was fine as is. I was told I could print each category separately to get the information. So instead of just printing one clean report at the end of the day I could print five different ones. Every single day! Obviously, I told them this was not acceptable and that we wanted a simple printable report back. I hope to hear something soon and will post here if I do. I wish they left the original version and made the newer version a separate report. 

[Jayda]

Our store also uses this report at closing. The only way I found to print this new finance summary was by using a computer and clicking on the three dots at the top right (I used Chrome). I think you can also use the shortcut keys (ctrl+p). Not very convenient when we use ipads however we do have a computer at work and will use this workaround for now. Hopefully Shopify brings back the old report or at the very least makes this new one printable from an iPad. 

[twoplusone]

Here is the reply I received from Shopify. Please reach out to them and add your voice!

”I wanted to check in regarding the print option for the Finance Summary Report, I know how important this feature would be for you! While printing directly isn't available at the moment due to the recent update with Analytics, our Analytics team suggests searching for the keyword "payments" under Analytics > Reports, where you’ll find other relevant reports that can be exported.
 
This can serve as a helpful workaround for now, but I completely understand that the Finance Summary already has everything you need in one place.
 
That being said, I would be happy to launch a feature request with our developers to see if this functionality can be added in the future. While I can’t guarantee it’ll be implemented, I’ll make sure your suggestion is passed along so it gets the attention it deserves. And if this request is already on their radar, I’ll add your vote to the existing ballot, showing even more interest in bringing this functionality to life. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping future improvements! 
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional assistance. I'm here to help!”

[petgrocer]

This is a BS lip service answer that is the first thing every single 'customer service' agent at Shopify is trained to say. Don't hold your breath.

[Campuscolors]

I agree! If they want to add more graphs and other info that can be a whole other report. The Finances Summary as was had everything in one place. And I DO NOT want to keep adding apps to do work-too much extra nonsense and the costs add up

[MAD2017]

And to add to that, you have to print all these graphs that eat up your printer ink that I could care less about!!!!

[CherryBombToys]

Just got off with Shopify Support for the last two hours trying to find a work around as I have no way to print the Finance Summary anymore. This is a report we use daily for our accountant and it's easy for our employees to print. They recommended third-party apps, which is not something I want. Shopify should have a proper report. I have no option to print and they told me to use my browser. The browser print out is so small that you would need a magnifying glass to see it. So upsetting!

[mscmith11]

@Shopify should not be allowed to promote 3rd party apps anymore. This is about providing basic services to paying customers.

SERIOUSLY. You take away what is maybe the most basic and necessary report WITHOUT any warning and now say oh go find it on your own elsewhere??! Not okay. BRING BACK THE F'N REPORT.

[petgrocer]

Bait and Switch. https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/deceptive-marketing-practices/types-deceptive-marketing-prac...

[GrahamatTara]

Totally agree - as an accountant this report was my go to.  The new one is awful and does not allow you to disect data in the same way - talking to "help" it has been improved to the new version.  I managed to get it back using the AI help desk a couple of times but now cannot get it back.   How do we lobby to get the old version back?

[mscmith11]

Great question that only someone from @Shopify  can answer!

If they want to provide their fancy graphs for their own pleasure, great, but make the OG report available for those who need something called FUNCTIONALITY. I realize this old format is probably just a tiny little click away is the most aggravating part.

[mscmith11]

We need to do something. Shopify doesn't even have a Google business review page in order for us merchants LOL

Online petition of sorts is our only option really unless anyone has ideas.

[CMojo]

If Shopify was truly vested in our interests and not their own, they'd pay
attention to this discussion thread and restore the Finance Summary Report.
Unlikely, but keep it up comrades.

[Report-Pundit]

A complete summary covering all four categories isn’t typically available in a single consolidated report even when using third-party tools. However, if you're open to using reporting apps like Report Pundit, you can access pre-built reports that provide detailed insights for each category individually, without the need for complex setup.

Sales: Finance Summary Report

Gift Cards: Gift Card Transactions Report

Payments: Transactions by Gateway Report

Gross Profit: COGS Report

These reports are widely used by accounting firms for their clarity and simplicity. They’re easy to interpret, quick to access, and can be fully automated.

[MAD2017]

You fail to mention that there is a FEE for Report Pundit.  Why should Shopify customers have to PAY to access their own financial information that they were already had access to?  I will NOT pay for a 3rd party app!  I do not want fancy graphs nor do I want to have to pull 5 reports that once were 1 report. This is absolutely insane.  Why is Shopify making these changes without even giving notice to its customers so we can, at the minimum, pull whatever reports we need, BEFORE Shopify eliminates them.  Shopify is definitely going in the wrong direction!

[CMojo]

MAD2017 - You echo my sentiments exactly.

[mscmith11]

THANK YOU. WELL SAID.

Hey @Shopify care to answer at all???????????????????

[petgrocer]

https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/deceptive-marketing-practices/types-deceptive-marketing-prac...

[mscmith11]

We should not have to go this route. Not even a little bit.

Shopify removed the most useful and basic of the finance reports without warning and now we have to go and search elsewhere for our Shopify data???? This is almost as bad as not proviiding merchants with their own inventory history adjustments!

[NSF]

Glad to see I'm not the only one. Shopify is insistent on making their product worse every year! I would love to shake their leadership and ask them what the hell is wrong with them. 

[mscmith11]

The answer must lie in the apps. They make zero add-on money from providing the merchant with their own information right? So, make it more difficult or remove the information from the front-end altogether from the people that own that data; and voila, this means more $$$ for Shopify on the back-end through the apps.

[CTS2018]

Has anyone noticed any incorrect info on the new Finance Summary?  On my end, it's saying I had a large number of sales where the cost was not recorded but when I look at each individual product, the cost of the product is clearly entered (and has been entered for years).  Still waiting to hear back 48 hours later from Shopify regarding this issue.

[IonaOpalAu]

We noticed this too and were worried it was going to throw out our whole reconciliation process. We use A2X though, and they jumped on it quickly. We didn’t have to mess around trying to find or rebuild the finance summary manually.

[CTS2018]

Thanks for the reply.  While I don't want to pay for another service to supplement Shopify's lack of service, I guess I might have to.  Are you happy with A2X?  

I still haven't heard anything back from Shopify and I contacted them about this issue on Monday.  

[IonaOpalAu]

Yes, very happy. Even without them being so quick on this issue, it just saves me a lot of time with the monthly accounting. 

[CTS2018]

Here is the incorrect answer I received from Shopify regarding this issue.  The products in question have been entered into my system for years and there has never been an issue with "cost not recorded" when I run the Finance Summary report at the end of each month.  Their customer service is absolutely terrible.

After a detailed review with our technical team, we found that the orders in question were processed using custom products—in other words, products created directly through a third-party app or sales channel (such as Facebook, Instagram, or subscription-based apps), rather than from your existing product catalog. When this happens, Shopify is unable to associate the cost that was originally recorded for the product, since the item is treated as new or separate at the time of the order.

[klosolutions]

Yes I love A2X -  and highly recommend them.

Just FYI on the shopify finance report issue - they were able to narrow down the problem for us.   We have collloborator access and for some reason a lot of our clients we didn't have the "dashboards" permission under analytics checked on and only had reports.   It didn't matter before the new updated report format and we could see all the reports - but with the new format - you have to have dashboard permission turned on to see it.   So we had to request from our clients for them to edit our permissions and make sure "dashboards" under analytics was checked on.    That solved the problem and now we can see the report and it isn't blank for us.    It is tedious as we had to go thru almost our entire client list and request they all do this for us - but it works now