Help Center/Bookkeeping Basics/COGS, materials, tools & assets

COGS, materials, tools & assets

How we tell the difference between the cost of goods sold, supplies, and a purchase that gets capitalized and depreciated.

COGS, materials, tools & assets

Not every purchase is treated the same way. Cost of goods sold (COGS) is the direct cost of items you resell; materials are raw inputs used to make your product; tools and supplies are consumables. A larger, longer-lived purchase becomes a fixed asset that's capitalized and depreciated over time rather than expensed all at once.

Uplinq generally capitalizes individual purchases above $2,500.

We're expanding this guide
A fuller explainer is on the way.

What this article will cover

  • COGS vs. materials vs. tools vs. assets, with examples
  • The capitalization threshold and what depreciation means
  • Capitalizing repairs that restore equipment to service
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