COGS Formula:
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The Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) formula calculates the direct costs attributable to the production of goods sold by a company. This includes the cost of materials and direct labor used in creating the product.
The calculator uses the standard COGS formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula tracks the flow of inventory through the accounting period to determine the actual cost of goods that were sold.
Details: Accurate COGS calculation is essential for determining gross profit, calculating taxable income, managing inventory levels, and making informed business decisions about pricing and production.
Tips: Enter beginning inventory, purchases, and ending inventory amounts in your local currency. All values must be non-negative numbers representing monetary amounts.
Q1: What is included in COGS?
A: COGS includes direct material costs, direct labor costs, and manufacturing overhead directly tied to production. It excludes indirect expenses like marketing and administrative costs.
Q2: How does COGS affect gross profit?
A: Gross profit is calculated as Revenue minus COGS. Lower COGS results in higher gross profit margins, indicating better cost control and pricing strategies.
Q3: What's the difference between COGS and operating expenses?
A: COGS represents direct production costs, while operating expenses include indirect costs like salaries, rent, utilities, and marketing that are not directly tied to production.
Q4: Can COGS be negative?
A: No, COGS should not be negative. A negative result indicates an error in inventory tracking or calculation, typically when ending inventory exceeds beginning inventory plus purchases.
Q5: How often should COGS be calculated?
A: COGS should be calculated at least quarterly for financial reporting, but many businesses calculate it monthly for better inventory management and financial control.