225. Accounting for CPG Food and Beverage Brands

Accounting for beverage brands isn’t just about balancing the books — it’s about understanding the unique financial challenges that come with scaling a physical product business. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Howes, founder of Wizard Accounting, to unpack the essentials of CPG accounting tailored specifically for beverage brands.

Jessica shares her insights on how to properly account for co-manufacturer fees like tolling and setup charges, how to calculate true gross margin across channels like retail, DTC, and Amazon, and how to manage inventory — including what to do about spoilage and outdated products. She also breaks down common accounting mistakes she sees early-stage beverage brands make, and offers one simple but powerful change founders can make today to boost their financial health.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to tighten up your financial operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you run a smarter, more sustainable beverage business.

Looking for a new accountant? e-mail [e-mail] for an introduction to Jessica.

Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy, an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner today.