Ending inventory is like a treasure trove of products waiting to leave the shelves and go to customers. The product costs, including direct materials, labor, and overhead, are like the guardians of this treasure. They determine the value assigned to these unsold goods on the balance sheet. People often confuse product and period costs due to the complexity of accounting terminology and the different ways these costs are treated in financial reporting. They’re often broken down into subcategories of fixed and variable costs, which can be used for calculating things like the break-even point. When a company sells its products, the product costs form part of the cost of goods sold (COGS) on the income statement. Both product costs and period costs greatly impact the business profitability. While their bifurcation is important to reveal gross and net margins, it also assists in cost analysis and control. Management can identify cost overrun areas by periodically analyzing both product costs and period costs. It’s like finding the right balance to make good products and keep the entire business in good shape. Period costs are based on time and mainly includes selling and administration costs like salary, rent etc. In summary, proper classification […]