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If you’re currently in business, you need a good way to manage costs. While using accounting software is the best method for managing costs, even if you’re still recording transactions in a manual ledger or using a spreadsheet application, you can learn to manage business costs properly.
Managing your costs is doubly important if you own a manufacturing business, since you’ll need to manage both product and period costs. Product costs, also known as direct costs or inventoriable costs, are directly related to production output and are used to calculate the cost of goods sold.
On the other hand, period costs are considered indirect costs or overhead costs, and while they play an important role in your business, they are not directly tied to production levels.
Both product costs and period costs directly affect your balance sheet and income statement, but they are handled in different ways. Product costs are always considered variable costs, as they rise and fall according to production levels.
Product costs are the costs incurred during the manufacturing process. Product costs are always related to production, and typically include the following:
Accurately calculating product costs also assists with more in-depth analysis, such as per-unit cost. Per-unit cost is calculated by dividing your costs by the number of units produced. It is an important metric, particularly when determining product pricing.
Period costs are the costs that your business incurs that are not directly related to production levels. These expenses have no relation to the inventory or production process but are incurred on a regular basis, regardless of the level of production.
Period costs are typically divided into two categories: administrative costs and selling costs. Examples of period costs include:
The one similarity among the period costs listed above is that these costs are incurred whether production has been halted, whether it’s doubled, or whether it’s running at normal speed.
Most period costs are considered periodic fixed expenses, although in some instances, they can be semi-variable expenses. For example, you receive a utility bill each month that is not directly tied to production levels, but the amount can vary from month to month, making it a semi-variable expense.
Regardless, all period costs, whether fixed or semi-variable, are considered expenses and will be reported on your income statement.
Product costs are always related to production, with period costs being considered indirect or overhead costs. Think of it like this: If you stop production for a month, no product costs will be incurred.
However, you’ll still have to pay the rent on the building, pay your insurance and property taxes, and pay salespeople that sell the products currently in inventory.
The table below highlights some of the differences between product costs and period costs:
Product Costs | Period Costs |
---|---|
Always related to the manufacturing process | Not affected by production levels |
Related to volume, such as units produced or labor hours | Related to overhead and indirect costs |
Always variable, depending on production levels | Usually fixed, but can also be semi-variable |
Include labor, materials, supplies, and factory overhead | Includes administrative, sales, and distribution costs |
Are recorded on a balance sheet | Are recorded on an income statement |
Product and period costs are incurred in the production and selling of a product.
By separating these two very different cost types, you can more easily identify potential problem areas in production, such as inefficient labor, inferior machinery, or outdated procedures, while also reviewing production costs, such as raw materials and direct labor.
You’ll also be able to spot trouble spots or overspending in administrative areas or if overhead has ballooned in recent months.
Though it may be tempting to just lump your expenses together, there are three great reasons why you need to separate product and period costs for your business.
Because product and period costs directly impact your financial statements, you need to properly categorize and record these costs in order to ensure accurate financial statements.
Speaking of financial statements, it’s important that you take the time to review your financial statements on a regular basis. As an owner, you rely on their accuracy to make key management decisions. This can be particularly important for small business owners, who have less room for error. If product and period costs are overstated or understated, or not recorded at all, your financial statements will be wrong as well.
Recording product and period costs may also save you some money come tax time, since many of these expenses are fully deductible. But you won’t be able to deduct them if you don’t know what they are.
Finally, managing product and period costs will help you establish more accurate pricing levels for your products. Being aware of the total costs involved in manufacturing an item, including indirect costs, will help to ensure that your products aren’t priced too low or too high, but are priced to earn your business a profit, something every business owner strives to achieve.
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