The Cost Calculation Method determines how profit is calculated after you complete a sale. In Shopfront, there are three ways to do this - Last Cost, Average Cost, and Mixed Mode.

How to Change Profit Calculation Method

You can easily modify which method your Shopfront store is using. This will be set for all outlets and registers within your store.

Navigate to Menu > Setup > General
Change the tab to Company
Change the Cost Calculation Method to the method you wish to use
Press Save Settings

Last Cost

Last Cost overrides your cost with the last purchase cost that was received on your latest invoice for that product.

Benefits

Easy to understand
Simple to work out how Cost is calculated

Drawbacks

If your cost changes, old stock is now at the wrong profit (some stock might have cost more than other stock)

Average Cost

Average Cost is the most accurate method of keeping track of profit, however, if your stock falls into a negative amount the system has to compensate the amount of profit you should be receiving which may result in a negative cost or a cost several hundred dollars out (depending upon how inaccurate your inventory is).

Benefits

Highly accurate

Drawbacks

Complex to calculate
Can create giant or negative costs

How Average cost is calculated

Get the current stock on hand (current_stock)
Get the current cost (current_cost)
Get the newly received stock (new_stock)
Get the new cost (new_cost)
Enter the numbers into the following formula:
- (current_stock * current_cost + new_stock * new_cost) / (current_stock + new_stock)

Note; There are several edge cases with this formula that are handled outside this formula.

Mixed Mode

Mixed Mode is our new cost calculation method which uses Average Cost while your inventory is a positive amount and then goes back to using Last Cost when your inventory hits a negative amount.

Benefits

Profit is accurate while stock remains positive
No huge or negative costs

Drawbacks

Profit is inaccurate when the stock goes into negative