Overview

Overview

The preferred way to connect your Shopify data is through the Bench app's built-in API integration — your bookkeeper can help set that up if it isn't in place already. In most cases, that's all you'll need.

However, we may ask you to add us as a staff member on your Shopify account if any of the following apply:

We need access to report history beyond the last 2 years
You're require cash reconciliation/tracking or segment-level bookkeeping

Your bookkeeper will let you know if this step is needed.

What You'll Need

Access to your Shopify admin with permissions to add staff members

Confirmation from your bookkeeper on whether any additional permissions are required (see Step 5)

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Setup Instructions

1. Log in to your Shopify account

2. From your Shopify admin, navigate from ’Settings’ to ‘Users and permissions’

3. Click ’Add staff’

4. Enter the following information:

First Name: Bench

Last Name: Accounting

Email Address: thirdpartylogins+business.name@bench.co

5. For the permissions, expand the box labelled ‘Finance’ - there will be multiple permissions selected underneath it. Please deselect each of them EXCEPT FOR ‘View Shopify Payments payouts’ as this will give us the sales summaries we require to complete your books.

6. Click ’Send invite’

What To Expect After Setup

Our team will receive the invitation and accept it on our end, typically within one business day. You'll see Bench Accounting listed under your staff once we've finalized access. If we haven't accepted within a few days, reach out to your bookkeeper so we can check on it before the invite expires.

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Troubleshooting

I'm not sure what to use for the email address.
Replace your.business.name with your actual business name, no spaces. For example, if your business is Maple Goods, the email would be thirdpartylogins+maple.goods@bench.co. Your bookkeeper can confirm the exact format.

I don't see "Users and Permissions" in Settings.
‍ You may not have the account owner or admin role. Check with whoever originally set up your Shopify store.

I'm not sure which permissions to select.
At a minimum, only View Shopify Payments payouts under Finance needs to be enabled. If your bookkeeper has requested additional access, they'll specify which ones.

The invitation expired before it was accepted.
No problem — just go back to Settings → Users and Permissions, remove the expired invite, and send a new one.

I accidentally left extra Finance permissions enabled.
Go back to Settings → Users and Permissions, click on the Bench Accounting user, and deselect everything under Finance except View Shopify Payments payouts (and any additional permissions your bookkeeper has requested).

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