How do you account for shipping costs in accounting?

Shipping Costs: A Necessary Expense, Not Part of the Goods

In the world of accounting, accurately tracking and categorizing costs is paramount. One area that often causes confusion is the treatment of shipping costs, particularly outbound shipping associated with sales. While seemingly intertwined with the product itself, outbound shipping isn’t included in the cost of goods sold (COGS). Understanding this distinction is key to generating accurate financial statements and making sound business decisions.

The common misconception is that since shipping gets the product to the customer, it’s inherently part of the cost of getting that product ready for sale. However, accounting principles draw a clear line between the cost of producing or acquiring the goods (COGS) and the cost of fulfilling the sale.

COGS encompasses all direct costs associated with creating a product ready for sale. This includes raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. For a retailer, it’s the cost of purchasing the goods from a supplier. Shipping from the supplier to the retailer’s warehouse is considered part of COGS for the retailer.

Outbound shipping, on the other hand, represents the cost of transporting the goods from the retailer’s warehouse to the customer. This is a direct cost associated with the sale itself, but it’s not a cost of the goods. It’s a separate operating expense.

Why the distinction? Consider this scenario: a retailer sells identical products at different price points to different customers, each with varying shipping costs. Including shipping in COGS would distort the actual cost of the product itself, making cost analysis and profitability calculations inaccurate.

By separating outbound shipping costs from COGS, accountants can:

• Accurately calculate gross profit: Gross profit is revenue less COGS. Including shipping in COGS would artificially deflate gross profit, obscuring the true profitability of the product. Instead, shipping is deducted from gross profit as a selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expense.
• Gain better insights into cost structure: Tracking shipping as a separate expense allows businesses to analyze shipping costs independently. This enables identification of opportunities for cost savings, such as negotiating better rates with shipping carriers or optimizing delivery routes.
• Improve pricing strategies: Understanding the true cost of goods allows businesses to set prices more strategically, considering both the product’s cost and the additional expense of shipping.
• Enhance financial reporting transparency: Clearly separating shipping costs from COGS provides a more transparent and accurate picture of the business’s financial performance.

In conclusion, while outbound shipping is a crucial aspect of the sales process, it’s fundamentally different from the cost of the goods themselves. Accounting for it correctly, as a separate operating expense, is crucial for accurate financial reporting, informed decision-making, and a clear understanding of your business’s profitability.