How do I track Cost of Goods Sold by Customer

@gianikasl @Anonymous 

If you've QBO plus plan (or Advanced plan), you can track Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) or Cost of Sales (COS) by CUSTOMER in QuickBooks Online. But you've Essentials or Simple Start, this feature is not available in QBO.

So what's the point of having a P&L report in QBO Simple Start if you cannot enter COGS???  And why in the heck would you leave this out in the first place?  I mean its pretty much part of the basics in any business!!

Hi carbonicboy,

You'll want to enter COGS manually in cash basis when you purchase the item. However, tracking the item when it's sold is unavailable. Let me guide you through the steps.

To track manually, please check this article for the detailed steps: Can I track inventory manually?

You can also read this article about: Impacts of inventory tracking on balance sheet and profit & loss reports.

You might want to visit our page for future reference: Inventory and projects.

Let us know if you have other questions.

I have Quickbooks Enterprise, I need to be able to track the margin per account.  Easiest way to do this would be to have CoGS available in sales summary.  But I'm not finding a way to add that column of information.  Is their a way to add that to the customizing options?  Or is their a better way to retrieve this data?

Thank you for joining this thread, RobBrown. 

I'm here to guide you on how to add the column of COGS in QuickBooks Desktop. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Reports tab, then select Sales. 

2. Look for Sales by item detail. 

3. Click on Customize Reports at the top.

4. Go to the Display tab. Add Account under Columns. 

5. Then go to Filters. Filter the Account to COGS. 

6. Click OK once done. 

That should do it!

Keep your post coming if you need more help. I'll be there!

I cant find Sales by item detailed for one of the options. Could there be a different name for the category?

Hi there, 9130 3565 9599 3436.

Thank you for visiting the QuickBooks Community. I'll share details about the Sales by item detail report in QuickBooks. Also, let's perform alternative steps to ensure you can achieve your goal.

Please keep in mind that the Sales by item detail report is only available in QuickBooks Desktop. With this, it's possible that you're utilizing the Online version, which is why the mentioned report isn't an option in your list.

I recommend running and customizing the Profit and Loss by Customer report in QuickBooks Online. This allows you to personalize the data and track or view the Cost of Goods Sold by the customer.

Here's how:

1. Go to Business overview and select Reports.
2. Choose Profit and Loss by Customer on the search bar.
3. Click the Customize button.
4. Go to the Filter drop-down arrow and tick the Distribution Account box. Then, select Cost of Goods Sold.
5. Checkmark the Customer box and select a specific customer's name.
6. Click Run report.

Once done, the Cost of Goods Sold account will appear in the first column of the report. I've attached a screenshot below for visual reference.

Lastly, I'm adding this article to see details on how memorizing a report authorizes you to save it with its current customization settings: Memorize reports in QuickBooks Online.

You can always add a comment below if you still have further questions about managing your reports in your QuickBooks account. I'm always around to help, 9130 3565 9599 3436. Keep safe and have a good one.

Good day ahead.

I've tried the below procedure and its not working, added the COGS column and does not appear only the Sales amount appear on the sales report.

My concern here I have sales amount on the Profit and Loss report, COGS is understated.  Upon checking only 3 customers are selected to have the COGS.  How shall I modify it? I do not know where to check and update other customers account for COGS.

Thank you so much for the prompt feedback. 

Thank you for joining this conversation and bringing your concern to our attention, chezca58. I appreciate you taking the time to try the suggested procedure and providing detailed feedback about your experience. I understand you're trying to track the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) in QuickBooks Online, which is crucial for assessing your business's profitability. Let me provide some insight on this matter.

COGS is primarily linked to the items you sell, not individual customers. In QBO, there's no direct way to associate COGS with specific customer accounts. This is why COGS doesn't appear in your customer-specific sales reports.

Based on your scenario, the report indicates that only three customers are selected to have COGS because of the items used in the transactions or the reporting date. Please know that COGS can only be determined once you sell an inventory item.

To understand how inventory tracking affects your financial reports, I recommend reviewing our article: Impacts of Inventory Tracking on Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Reports. This resource provides valuable insights into how COGS and inventory are reflected in your financial statements.

Additionally, consider running the Sales by Product/Service Summary report to get a comprehensive overview of your sales and inventory status. This report provides a clear snapshot of your sales performance by item, allowing you to track which products are selling well and which may need attention.

I hope this information helps clarify the situation regarding COGS tracking in QuickBooks Online. If you have further questions or need additional guidance, please don't hesitate to reply below. We're committed to helping you maximize the value of QuickBooks Online for your business. Thank you for your patience and for being a valued QuickBooks customer.