Cost of Goods (COGS)

Overview

Accurate profitability requires knowing what your inventory costs. Verbstack lets you set cost of goods (COGS) on each listing, with default rules, or by import, and every cost feeds your P&L.

Costs have dates. A cost applies from the date you give it. Each order uses the cost in force on its order date, so earlier orders keep the cost they had.

Which Plans Include It

You can enter a cost on any listing on every plan. The P&L that uses it, the default rules' Apply to Past Orders and the cost import are on Pro and Max, and in your 14-day trial.

Setting costs

Per listing

  1. On the Listings page, click a listing to open it beside the list
  2. Under Cost History, click Add Cost
  3. Enter the cost and the date it starts. For a listing's first cost, you can choose From the Start
  4. Click Save Cost

Cost History lists each cost, the date it started and where it came from. A cost on the listing always comes first.

By default rule

Under Settings > P&L Defaults, or Profit > Configure > Defaults, add Cost of Goods Defaults as a fixed amount or a percent. Each rule applies from its own date. A listing with no cost of its own takes the first rule that matches, in this order:

  1. Product
  2. Brand
  3. Category, then its category group
  4. Global default

A percent applies to the sale price for sold orders and the list price for unsold listings. A figure from a default rule is marked with a dot. Hover it to see the rule.

Apply to Past Orders

When you save a rule that starts today or earlier, Verbstack offers Apply to Past Orders. It shows how many orders would change before you apply it.

Via import

For bulk updates, go to Settings > Imports and choose Cost of Goods Sold. Upload a CSV or Excel file with these columns:

  • Listing ID or Title
  • Cost of Goods Amount ($)
  • Effective Date (optional): The date each cost starts. Leave it out and a listing with no cost gets the cost from the start. A listing that already has a cost gets the new cost from today

Re-importing the same cost changes nothing. You can undo an import from the Imports page.

Which method to use?

Start with default rules for a quick overview, then add costs to your highest-value listings. Import is best for backfilling large inventories.

Missing costs

A missing cost counts as $0. Where some orders have no cost, the P&L shows Cost of Goods Coverage: the share of orders with a cost of goods, entered or from a default rule.

Add an Expense

Expenses count in the P&L and in Cashflow. They are on Pro and Max, and in your 14-day trial. Free does not show them.

  1. On any Profit page, click Configure. It opens on the Expenses tab
  2. Click Add Expense
  3. Enter a Name and choose the Type: Indirect for overhead such as rent, or Variable for a cost per sale
  4. Choose the Cost Basis, then enter the amount or rate and the date
  5. Click Add Expense

Each expense in the list has buttons to edit or delete it. Changes save as you make them.

Admins and editors add, edit and delete expenses. Viewers read them, with the buttons turned off.