COGS

=Cost of Goods Sold vs Expense =

simple start does not handle inventory for you, if you use inventory then you will have to do it manually - only QB online plus does inventory (or any desktop version)

book purchases to a current asset account you create

when you sell something, determine the cost then do a journal entry debit COGS Credit the account you post purchases to

cost of good sold is an expense account, it is just called out separately because the IRS requires it be treated differently when filing taxes.

COGS is just what it says, the cost of what was sold.

An expense account is where you record the expense of operating the business, elect, water, rent, paper, etc etc

 QB is an accounting program and has a steep learning curve regardless of what the PR says, and some basic accounting is a requirement.