--- title: "My system for tracking inventory costs - Amazon FBA Hub | SideHustlr" description: "After years of messy spreadsheets, I finally built a system that works. Sharing here in case it helps anyone. The Problem: I kept losing track of my tru..." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "DiscussionForumPosting", "@id": "https://sidehustlr.ai/forum/amazon-fba/my-system-for-tracking-inventory-costs-86aabd71", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai/forum/amazon-fba/my-system-for-tracking-inventory-costs-86aabd71", "headline": "My system for tracking inventory costs", "text": "After years of messy spreadsheets, I finally built a system that works. Sharing here in case it helps anyone. The Problem: I kept losing track of my true COGS because I was buying the same product at different prices from different suppliers. My Solution: 1. Created a master inventory spreadsheet...", "datePublished": "2026-01-01T22:32:50.844083+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-01-05T22:44:19.802484+00:00", "inLanguage": "en", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "FBAWarehouseKev", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai/u/FBAWarehouseKev" }, "interactionStatistic": [ { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/LikeAction", "userInteractionCount": 18 }, { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/CommentAction", "userInteractionCount": 2 } ], "isPartOf": { "@type": "DiscussionForum", "name": "Amazon FBA Community Hub", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai/hub/amazon-fba" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://sidehustlr.ai/forum/amazon-fba/my-system-for-tracking-inventory-costs-86aabd71" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "SideHustlr", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai" }, "image": "https://auwlwdihpyweqjalfitu.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/side-hustle-logos/hdghr5hhep-1765237091999.jpg", "commentCount": 2, "comment": [ { "@type": "Comment", "@id": "https://sidehustlr.ai/forum/amazon-fba/my-system-for-tracking-inventory-costs-86aabd71#comment-d090856f-ae5e-46dc-adaa-a224affa5d66", "text": "This is gold! I made the same mistake early on - thought I was profitable until I actually tracked everything. One thing Id add: dont forget to factor in returns. My return rate is about 3% and that definitely impacts real margins. Also storage fees if products sit longer than expected.", "datePublished": "2026-01-02T22:43:28.621587+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "PrivateLabelSara", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai/u/PrivateLabelSara" }, "interactionStatistic": [ { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/LikeAction", "userInteractionCount": 7 } ] }, { "@type": "Comment", "@id": "https://sidehustlr.ai/forum/amazon-fba/my-system-for-tracking-inventory-costs-86aabd71#comment-7ed24036-c93a-48c5-b008-2b3ce91aaeaf", "text": "Great system! Would you consider sharing a template? Even a basic structure would help. I use Inventory Lab for this now but always looking to improve my tracking. The $25/hour time valuation is smart - too many people forget their time has value.", "datePublished": "2026-01-03T22:43:28.621587+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "FBAMarcus", "url": "https://sidehustlr.ai/u/FBAMarcus" }, "interactionStatistic": [ { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/LikeAction", "userInteractionCount": 4 } ] } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sidehustlr.ai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Hustle Hubs", "item": "https://sidehustlr.ai/hustle-hubs" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amazon FBA Community", "item": "https://sidehustlr.ai/hub/amazon-fba" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My system for tracking inventory costs" } ] } ] --- [$ Earn as a mentor](/become-a-mentor)[How it works](/how-it-works) [![SideHustlr - Earn more. Stress less.](/SideHustlr-Logo.png)](/) [Take the Quiz](/quiz)[Sign In](/auth) Toggle menu [![SideHustlr - Earn more. Stress less.](/SideHustlr-Logo.png)](/)[Sign In](/auth) 1. [Home ](/) 2. [Hustle Hubs](/hustle-hubs) 3. [Amazon FBA](/hub/amazon-fba) 4. My system for tracking inventory costs Amazon FBA · tips # My system for tracking inventory costs [FB ](/u/FBAWarehouseKev) [FBAWarehouseKev](/u/FBAWarehouseKev) 8 months ago After years of messy spreadsheets, I finally built a system that works. Sharing here in case it helps anyone. The Problem: I kept losing track of my true COGS because I was buying the same product at different prices from different suppliers. My Solution: 1\. Created a master inventory spreadsheet with columns for: SKU, supplier, order date, quantity, unit cost, shipping cost, prep cost 2\. Use weighted average cost for each product 3\. Update my "true cost" monthly 4\. Compare against Amazon's estimated fees to calculate real margins Key insight: Don't forget to include: \- Shipping TO Amazon \- Prep materials (polybags, bubble wrap, etc.) \- Your time (I value mine at $25/hour) This helped me identify 3 products that were actually losing money once I factored in everything! 2 replies 18 ## Replies (2) PR PrivateLabelSara · 8 months ago This is gold! I made the same mistake early on - thought I was profitable until I actually tracked everything. One thing Id add: dont forget to factor in returns. My return rate is about 3% and that definitely impacts real margins. Also storage fees if products sit longer than expected. 7 FB FBAMarcus · 8 months ago Great system! Would you consider sharing a template? Even a basic structure would help. I use Inventory Lab for this now but always looking to improve my tracking. 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