What is Cost Of Goods Available For Sale?
Definition: Costs of goods available for sale are a financial metric that indicates the total value of goods that a company or business can sell over a given period. Similarly, it is the value of inventory available for sale to consumers but yet to be sold.
In its purest form, the cost of goods available for sale tries to measure the amount of inventory that a retailer has at hand at any given period. Likewise, management can use the metric to see the amount of stock up for sale to consumers.
Costs of goods available for sale differ from the cost of goods sold. The latter measures the value of goods already sold to consumers.
Cost of Goods Available for Sale Formula
While dealing with durable goods, it is highly unlikely that a business would be able to sell all the products in a given period. Any goods left unsold at the end of an accounting period is often carried forward and act as the opening inventory, at the commencement of a new financial period.
The cost of goods available for sale would, therefore, be calculated by simply adding the total value of inventory at the beginning of a financial period to the purchases made along the way. In addition to the purchases made, one must also take into account the shipping costs as well as freight charges incurred in the purchase of a new inventory. Any cost incurred in the purchase of new inventory must also be taken’ into account.
Cost of Goods available for sale = Beginning inventory + Purchases
Likewise, the cost of goods available for sale formula is used to calculate the total value of goods sold in the long run. Similarly, the outcome of the cost of goods available for sale helps in the calculation of profit generated.
If you make a mistake in the calculation of the cost of goods available for sale, the likelihood of the error affecting the cost of goods sold is usually high. Likewise, the error can go on to affect the total amount of profit generated as well as the income tax return.
Cost of Goods Available for Sale Example
Consider a car spare parts company with inventory worth $50,000 at the start of the January to March quarter. Along the way, the company buys an additional $10,000 worth of spare parts and incurs freight charges worth $1000.
The total costs of goods available for sale in this case will be ($50,000+ $10,000+$1000= $61,000).
Cost of goods available for sale: Retailers vs. Manufacturers:
Retailers are not the only ones that keep track of the cost of goods available for sale. Manufacturers also maintain an inventory system that tracks the number of goods produced and ready for sale to retailers or customers in some cases. However, the calculation carried out by manufacturers is slightly different.
Manufacturers, while auditing the cost of goods available for sale, don’t factor in purchases, as they don’t purchase goods to add to existing inventory. In this case, their calculation only takes into account the beginning inventory as well as the number of goods produced along the way.
Also, the calculation must also take into account the cost of manufacturing the new products. Likewise, it is essential that one only considers finished goods and the cost of producing them and not raw materials, let alone their costs.
However, it is essential to note that the cost of goods available for sale does not always reflect the actual amount available for sale. While in storage, goods may be stolen, let alone damaged, consequently reducing goods in good shape for sale. The only way a business or company can be able to ascertain the real value of goods available for sale is by carrying out an actual inventory count. It is because no proper inventory system can take into account damages that may occur along the way.