Business
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Carrying Cost?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Carrying cost is a measure of the cost associated with holding inventory for a specified period of time. The cost takes into consideration a number of factors, including the expenses of housing the inventory in a storage facility, any utilities employed in maintaining that storage facility, and salary and wages paid for personnel to monitor and maintain that inventory over the long term. A carrying cost is usually presented as a percentage, and can provide a company with a good idea of how long the inventory can be held before it is no longer profitable to do so.

When calculating carrying cost, manufacturers look at several additional issues that contribute to the overall cost of maintaining the inventory. If the goods held as part of the inventory have a limited shelf life, the factor of perishability becomes very important. For products that are likely to be replaced by other products over a period of time, considering the potential for obsolescence also becomes very important. The potential for theft of property contained in the inventory must also be considered as part of the calculation, as well as the potential for accidental damage to one or more components of the inventory.

Comanies incur carrying costs when merchandise is stored in a warehouse.
Comanies incur carrying costs when merchandise is stored in a warehouse.

In general, the goal of any business is to keep the carrying cost as low as possible. This means finding ways to move existing inventory, so that the total value of the inventory remains under a certain figure. Doing so automatically helps to reduce the possibility of spoilage, as well as minimize the chances that the components in the inventory will become obsolete and have to be discarded. A steady turnover in the inventory also helps with expenses like insurance costs and taxes, thus reducing the overall expense that the company incurs as part of the operational process.

One approach that helps to reduce the carrying cost of an inventory is to implement what is known as just in time production. With this model, the manufacturer produces goods at a rate that stays only slightly above the demand. This means that the finished goods do not remain in the inventory for extended periods of time, as they are shipped out quickly to fill existing orders. This results in a much smaller inventory at any given point in time, which in turn makes it possible to enjoy fewer warehousing costs, reduce the tax debt on the inventory, and in general keep the carrying cost to a minimum.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

lluviaporos

Inventory carrying cost is one of the reasons fruits and vegetables are so expensive in the supermarket. They end up buying more than they need just in case, and then you have to pay for the extra with increased prices.

The worst thing, in my mind is that usually the excess stock which has gone bad (and by bad, I mean it just doesn't look nice enough to be in stock anymore) just gets thrown out!

They should compost it or have worm farms, or bake it into pies and give them to the homeless or something.

If they sold the pies or the compost, it would bring down the costs for the shopper as well.

umbra21

Carrying cost is a big deal in the publishing industry. I've been researching because I want to be an author one day, and it seems like this is one of the big advantages that large publishers have over small ones. They can absorb the inventory costs with more ease.

Because bookstores don't have the room to carry huge amounts of extra books, they only order a few copies of each one (except for obvious big sellers like Harry Potter, or the Da Vinci Code).

They also have the right to return the stock if it doesn't sell. So publishers can end up with a lot of extra stock and no way to get rid of it.

So, often if you get published, you will only have a short run, with a few hundred or few thousand copies created, and if they don't do well, that's it for that book.

It won't get another chance unless you write a subsequent bestseller.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Comanies incur carrying costs when merchandise is stored in a warehouse.
      By: endostock
      Comanies incur carrying costs when merchandise is stored in a warehouse.