Step 2 of The Path

Calculate your
True Cost

Costing Courses

Know what your wine actually costs — so you can price it, evaluate profitability, and make better decisions.

Why costing matters more than most wineries realize

Most wineries have some kind of cost number. But many don’t realize there are two different versions of that number:

Tax Cost and True Cost

Tax Cost is used for reporting on the tax return. True Cost is the number you need to run the business — for pricing, profitability, and decision-making.

If you use Tax Cost to make decisions, you risk getting those decisions wrong.

See how True Cost works

If you’ve ever wondered why your costing still feels unclear, this short video explains what’s really going on — and why True Cost matters.

This is the core idea behind Step 2 — the next step is choosing the version that fits your role and situation.

Why this often doesn’t get done correctly

Even when wineries know this matters, the process often gets delayed or outsourced.

Because:

  • it feels technical and hard to follow

  • it’s rarely explained clearly for small wineries

  • spreadsheets get started but never finished

  • and it’s hard to know whether the number is right

That’s why many wineries end up with a number — but don’t fully trust it.

What this step helps you do

Step 2 gives you a clear way to calculate the True Cost of your wine — and understand how that number is built.

Depending on the version you choose, this step helps you:

  • identify the costs that should be included

  • understand how those costs flow into inventory

  • calculate cost in a way that fits a small winery

  • and end up with numbers you can actually use

This is where your numbers become usable — not just something you report.

Choose the version that fits your winery

  • True Cost Overview

    Best for: Understanding the concept of True Cost without doing the calculations.

    $297 | Take the course

  • True Cost (Full Course)

    Best for: Wineries that want to calculate True Cost in-house and complete the process step by step.

    $497 | Take the course

  • True Cost with InnoVint

    Best for: Wineries using InnoVint that want to make sure they’re entering the right costs so the final COGS is accurate.

    $697 | Take the course

Not sure where to start?

If you’re new to costing, start with the Overview.

If you’re ready to calculate your numbers, start with the Full Course.

If you’re already using InnoVint, choose the InnoVint version.

Ready to understand your costs?

If you want clarity on what your wine actually costs — and how to use that number — this is your next step.

Explore the Costing Courses