What does FIFO – First-In-First-Out / LIFO – Last-In-First-Out mean in Shopify?

If you are running an e-commerce business on Shopify, you might have heard the terms FIFO and LIFO in relation to inventory management. In short, they are two different methods of tracking inventory, and they impact how you value and sell your products. In this article, we will explore what FIFO and LIFO mean in Shopify, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to choose the best method for your business.

Understanding Inventory Management in Shopify

Before diving into the specifics of FIFO and LIFO, it’s important to have a basic understanding of inventory management in Shopify. Simply put, inventory management refers to the process of keeping track of your products, their quantity, and their value. It helps you know when to reorder products, avoid stockouts, and make informed pricing decisions. Shopify offers various tools to manage your inventory, such as product variants, barcode scanning, stock counts, and alerts.

The Importance of Inventory Management

Inventory management is crucial for the success of any e-commerce business, especially if you sell physical products. Without proper inventory management, you risk overselling products, underselling others, losing money due to spoilage or obsolescence, and damaging your reputation with customers. On the other hand, effective inventory management can lead to higher profits, improved cash flow, increased customer satisfaction, and better insights into your business performance.

One of the key benefits of inventory management is the ability to avoid stockouts. When you run out of stock, you can’t fulfill orders, which can lead to dissatisfied customers and lost sales. By keeping track of your inventory levels and setting up automatic reorder points, you can ensure that you always have enough stock on hand to meet demand.

Another benefit of inventory management is the ability to make informed pricing decisions. By knowing the cost of your products and how much inventory you have, you can set prices that are competitive and profitable. You can also use discounts and promotions to move slow-moving products and free up space in your warehouse.

Effective inventory management can also help you reduce waste and improve sustainability. By tracking expiration dates and monitoring product demand, you can avoid ordering too much of a product that may spoil or become obsolete. This can save you money and reduce your environmental impact.

How Shopify Helps with Inventory Management

Shopify’s inventory management features are designed to help you streamline and optimize your operations. For instance, you can set up automatic reorder points to avoid stockouts, track product quantities across multiple sales channels, use discounts and promotions to move slow-moving products, and view detailed reports on your inventory turnover, margins, and profitability.

Shopify also offers integrations with third-party apps and services that enhance your inventory management capabilities. For example, Fulfillment by Amazon allows you to store your products in Amazon’s warehouses and have them shipped to customers on your behalf, while Oberlo lets you import products from AliExpress and other dropshipping suppliers.

Another way that Shopify helps with inventory management is through its mobile app. With the app, you can scan barcodes to update your inventory levels, receive alerts when stock is running low, and fulfill orders on the go.

Overall, Shopify’s inventory management tools and integrations make it easier for e-commerce businesses to manage their inventory, reduce waste, and increase profitability.

FIFO – First-In-First-Out Explained

FIFO is a popular inventory accounting method that assumes that the first products you receive are the first ones you sell or use. In other words, you treat your inventory like a queue, where the oldest items are consumed first. This means that your cost of goods sold (COGS) reflects the actual cost of the products at the time you received them, rather than the current cost. FIFO is often used for perishable or time-sensitive products, where freshness or expiration date matters.

However, FIFO is not just limited to perishable items. It can also be used for non-perishable items, such as electronics or clothing, where the oldest items may become outdated or out of fashion. By using FIFO, you can ensure that you are selling your products in a timely manner and avoiding any potential losses due to obsolescence.

The Concept of First-In-First-Out

To understand FIFO, imagine you run a bakery that sells cupcakes. You receive a shipment of 100 cupcakes on Monday, and another shipment of 100 cupcakes on Tuesday. You sell 50 cupcakes on Wednesday, 75 cupcakes on Thursday, and 25 cupcakes on Friday. Under FIFO, you would assume that the cupcakes you sold on Wednesday were from the first shipment, and the ones you sold on Thursday and Friday were from the second shipment. Therefore, your COGS for Wednesday would be based on the cost of the cupcakes from Monday, and your COGS for Thursday and Friday would be based on the cost of the cupcakes from Tuesday.

This method ensures that you are not overvaluing or undervaluing your inventory, which can impact your financial statements and tax calculations. By accurately reflecting the cost of your products, you can make informed decisions about pricing, promotions, and profitability.

Benefits of Using FIFO in Shopify

Using FIFO in Shopify has several advantages for your business. First, it ensures that your COGS reflects the true cost of your products, which can help you calculate accurate profit margins and avoid overvaluing or undervaluing your inventory. Second, it allows you to prioritize your oldest products and avoid spoilage or obsolescence. Third, it simplifies record-keeping and makes it easier to calculate your taxes and comply with accounting regulations.

Furthermore, using FIFO in Shopify can help you optimize your inventory levels and reduce carrying costs. By selling your oldest products first, you can avoid excess inventory and free up space for new products. This can help you reduce storage and handling costs, as well as minimize the risk of inventory shrinkage or theft.

Implementing FIFO in Your Shopify Store

To implement FIFO in your Shopify store, you need to ensure that your inventory management system tracks the dates of your product arrivals and sales. This can be done through various methods, such as first-in-first-out tagging, SKU numbering, or using a dedicated inventory management app. You should also regularly perform inventory audits to check for discrepancies or errors, and adjust your reorder points accordingly.

Additionally, you can use data analytics and forecasting tools to predict demand and plan your inventory levels accordingly. By analyzing your sales history and seasonal trends, you can anticipate when you will need to reorder products and avoid stockouts or overstocking.

LIFO – Last-In-First-Out Explained

LIFO is an inventory accounting method that assumes that the last products you receive are the first ones you sell or use. In other words, you prioritize your newest inventory over your older inventory. This means that your COGS reflects the current cost of the products, rather than the historical cost. LIFO is often used for products that are subject to inflation or price volatility, where the newest items have a higher value.

The Concept of Last-In-First-Out

To understand LIFO, let’s use the same bakery example. You receive a shipment of 100 cupcakes on Monday, and another shipment of 100 cupcakes on Tuesday. You sell 50 cupcakes on Wednesday, 75 cupcakes on Thursday, and 25 cupcakes on Friday. Under LIFO, you would assume that the cupcakes you sold on Wednesday were from the second shipment, and the ones you sold on Thursday and Friday were from the first shipment. Therefore, your COGS for Wednesday would be based on the cost of the cupcakes from Tuesday, and your COGS for Thursday and Friday would be based on the cost of the cupcakes from Monday.

Benefits of Using LIFO in Shopify

Using LIFO in Shopify also has its benefits for certain types of businesses. First, it can help you reduce tax liability by inflating your COGS and decreasing your taxable income. Second, it can align your costs with your revenues, especially if you frequently raise or lower your prices. Third, it can prevent hoarding and incentivize you to sell more products faster. However, it’s worth noting that LIFO can distort your inventory value and create difficulties in tracking your actual inventory levels.

Implementing LIFO in Your Shopify Store

To implement LIFO in your Shopify store, you need to ensure that your inventory management system tracks the cost changes of your products and uses the most recent cost for calculating COGS. This can be challenging if you have a large inventory with frequent price changes, as it requires constant updates and monitoring. It’s also important to consult with your accountant or tax advisor to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations.

Comparing FIFO and LIFO in Shopify

Now that you have a better understanding of FIFO and LIFO, let’s compare them in terms of their key differences, advantages, and disadvantages.

Key Differences Between FIFO and LIFO

The main difference between FIFO and LIFO is the order in which you value and sell your products. FIFO assumes that the oldest products have the highest value, while LIFO assumes that the newest products have the highest value. This leads to different COGS and profits, and may affect your tax liability, financial statements, and inventory turnover. Additionally, FIFO is more suitable for businesses with perishable or seasonal products, while LIFO is more suitable for businesses with volatile prices or inflation.

Choosing the Right Method for Your Business

Choosing between FIFO and LIFO depends on several factors, such as your business model, industry, product lifecycle, pricing strategy, accounting method, and tax regulations. You should evaluate the pros and cons of each method based on your specific situation and consult with your accountant or financial advisor. Keep in mind that switching between FIFO and LIFO can have a significant impact on your financials, and should be done carefully and strategically.

How to Switch Between FIFO and LIFO in Shopify

If you decide to switch between FIFO and LIFO in Shopify, you need to make sure that your inventory management system reflects the new method. This may involve updating your pricing, cost, and SKU lists, as well as your automated reorder points, notifications, and reports. You should also test the new method on a small scale before applying it to your entire inventory. And don’t forget to keep accurate records of your transactions and adjustments.

Conclusion

FIFO and LIFO are important concepts in inventory management that affect how you value and sell your products in Shopify. By understanding the differences between the two methods, their pros and cons, and how to implement them, you can improve your inventory accuracy, profitability, and compliance. Whether you choose FIFO or LIFO, or a combination of both, make sure to regularly review and optimize your inventory management practices to stay competitive and profitable.