The problem
A single mutable 'quantity on hand' number, updated by hand or by a loosely built system, drifts from reality over time - and a single blended average cost per item can mask real cost changes, distorting margin calculations without anyone noticing.
How AccountDesq solves it
Every stock change - receipt, sale, transfer, adjustment - is its own insert-only movement record, with the current balance always derived from that ledger rather than a number anyone could silently edit. Costing is chosen per item: FIFO consumes specific cost layers in the order they were received, Standard uses a fixed cost with variance tracked separately, and Weighted-Average blends cost across the item. For items with expiry dates, FEFO logic (unit-tested) determines which lot gets consumed first.
How it works, step by step
Choose costing per item
FIFO, Standard, or Weighted-Average, based on how the item is actually bought and sold.
Record movements, not overwrites
Every stock change is its own auditable record.
Track lots and expiry
FEFO consumption keeps older or expiring stock moving first.
Trust the balance
Stock levels are derived from real movement history, not a single editable field.
Connected to the rest of AccountDesq
Nothing here works in isolation - it posts through the same ledger as everything else.
In practice
A specialty importer's cost per unit rises across three shipments in one quarter. With FIFO costing, each sale's cost of goods sold reflects the specific batch it actually came from, so margin reporting shows the real trend instead of a blended average that hides it.
What this means for your business
- Margin numbers that reflect what stock actually cost, not a rough average.
- A real audit trail for every stock movement, not a number anyone could edit directly.
- Expiring stock moves in the right order automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What costing methods are available?
FIFO, Standard, and Weighted-Average, selectable per item rather than fixed for the whole business.
Does AccountDesq handle expiring stock correctly?
Yes - FEFO (first-expired, first-out) logic determines lot consumption order for items with expiry tracking.