In the world of product sourcing and global trade, especially for small and medium businesses, maintaining precise financial control can be a daunting challenge. Manually calculating item costs, fluctuating freight charges, and various service fees is not only time-consuming but also prone to error. This is where the FishGoo Spreadsheet Method
The FishGoo model operates on a simple principle: all cost components for a product or shipment must be centralized in a single, structured spreadsheet. Instead of manually adding numbers, you leverage spreadsheet formulas to perform automatic calculations. This creates a single source of truth that updates dynamically whenever an input changes. Your primary sheet should have clear columns for: The magic happens with formulas. Here’s how to structure them for bulletproof tracking: For each product, sum the core costs. If your item cost is in cell B2, quantity in C2, and a per-unit freight estimate in D2, your formula in E2 would be: This gives you the total cost for that line item, inclusive of freight. Create a dedicated section or separate sheet for fees that apply to the entire order (e.g., a 2% processing fee). Use the This calculates a 2% fee on the total aggregated cost from rows 2 to 100. This is your most crucial number—the total landed cost of your goods. In a dedicated "Summary" cell, use: Or, if all fees are in a range (e.g., G2:G10): This formula automatically sums all line-item totals and adds all service fees, giving you the precise final cost. Start by structuring your spreadsheet with the columns mentioned above. Begin with basic Remember, the goal of the FishGoo Spreadsheetclarity and control. By automating the tedious math, you free up time to focus on strategic growth while having complete confidence in your financial data.The Core Principle: Centralization and Automation
Essential Formulas for FishGoo Automation
1. The Total Line-Item Cost
= (B2 * C2) + (D2 * C2)2. Aggregating Service Fees and Overheads
SUM
= SUM(E2:E100) * 0.023. The Grand Total: Your Landed Cost
= SUM(E2:E100) + SUM(Fee1, Fee2, Fee3...)= SUM(E2:E100) + SUM(G2:G10)Benefits of the FishGoo Automated Approach
Implementing Your FishGoo System
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FishGoo: Automate Your Cost Tracking with a Simple Spreadsheet
2026-02-12