COS Percentage Formula:
From: | To: |
The Cost Of Sales (COS) percentage, also known as Cost of Goods Sold percentage, measures the proportion of revenue that is consumed by the direct costs associated with producing goods or services sold by a company.
The calculator uses the COS percentage formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of each dollar of revenue is spent on the direct costs of producing goods or services.
Details: This metric is crucial for understanding a company's profitability, pricing strategy effectiveness, and operational efficiency. A lower percentage generally indicates higher profitability from core operations.
Tips: Enter COGS and Revenue in USD. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the percentage automatically.
Q1: What's a good COS percentage?
A: This varies by industry, but generally a lower percentage is better. Retail typically ranges 60-80%, while software might be under 20%.
Q2: How is COGS different from operating expenses?
A: COGS includes only direct costs tied to production, while operating expenses include indirect costs like rent, marketing, and salaries.
Q3: Can COS percentage be over 100%?
A: Yes, this indicates the company is spending more to produce goods than it earns from selling them - an unsustainable situation.
Q4: How often should I calculate COS percentage?
A: Businesses should track this regularly (monthly or quarterly) to monitor cost efficiency trends.
Q5: Does this apply to service businesses?
A: Yes, though service businesses may use "Cost of Services" instead of "Cost of Goods Sold" with the same calculation method.