How to charge for storage in a 3PL warehouse: from pallet-equivalent to closing
Pallet-equivalent with a per-product factor and automatic suggestion, four measurement methods (Peak, Presence, Average and Daily sum) + MIX, billing per m², a simulator and an immutable closing with snapshot and hash.
BrainCargo’s storage billing turns the warehouse’s inventory into an auditable invoice. The unit is the pallet-equivalent: each product has its own factor, with an automatic suggestion calculated from the case dimensions over a configurable standard pallet. Measurement offers four methods — Peak, Presence, Average and Daily sum — combinable in MIX, plus billing per m². Inbound and outbound handling is also billed per pallet-equivalent. Before closing, the simulator shows the result; pending items stay visible, because the system won’t let you silently bill zero. The closing is immutable: it generates a snapshot with a hash and a reproducible CSV; reopening requires a reason and creates version n+1. Export to Excel, PDF and CSV for the depositor. It is the answer for anyone looking for how to charge storage without a fragile spreadsheet and without month-after-month arguments with the customer. Each version preserves the calculation that produced the invoice.
“How do I charge for storage?” is the question every general warehouse (Brazil’s licensed public-warehouse category) ends up answering alone — almost always on a spreadsheet, almost always argued month after month with the depositor. BrainCargo’s storage billing takes that math off the spreadsheet: the WMS’s inventory becomes an auditable invoice, from pallet-equivalent to closing.
The unit is the pallet-equivalent: each product has its own factor, with an automatic suggestion calculated from the case dimensions over the configurable standard pallet. Measurement comes in four methods — Peak, Presence, Average and Daily sum — combinable in MIX, plus per-m² billing for those who charge by area, and inbound/outbound handling per pallet-equivalent.
Before closing, the simulator shows the result and pending items stay in view — the system won’t let you silently bill zero. The closing is immutable, with snapshot and hash, a reproducible CSV and reopening with a reason creating version n+1; exports come in Excel, PDF and CSV. Close the loop with Carrier Financials and the Depositor Portal.
What you can achieve
4
measurement methods + MIX
Peak, Presence, Average and Daily sum, combinable in MIX — plus per-m² billing and inbound/outbound handling per pallet-equivalent.
0
closings that silently bill zero
Pending items stay visible before closing: the system won’t let a blank month pass without you seeing it.
Hash
immutable, reproducible closing
Snapshot with hash and a reproducible CSV for the depositor to verify; reopening requires a reason and creates version n+1.
Auto
pallet-equivalent factor
Case dimensions over the configurable standard pallet become the suggested factor — the calculation comes ready-made and auditable.
Why this module
Pallet-equivalent without guesswork
Each product has its factor, with an automatic suggestion from the case dimensions over the configurable standard pallet. The calculation comes ready-made — and auditable.
The measurement your contract uses
Peak, Presence, Average or Daily sum — combinable in MIX — and per-m² billing for those who charge by area. Inbound and outbound handling enters per pallet-equivalent.
Simulate, verify, close
The simulator shows the result before closing, pending items stay in view, and the system follows the rule of never silently billing zero.
Closing with proof
Snapshot with hash and reproducible CSV; reopening requires a reason and creates version n+1. The invoice comes out in Excel, PDF or CSV — ready for the depositor to verify.
What's included
Third-party warehousing with full control of the depot
- Pallet-equivalent with a per-product factor and automatic suggestion: case dimensions × configurable standard pallet
- Four measurement methods — Peak, Presence, Average and Daily sum — combinable in MIX
- Per-m² billing for operations that charge by area
- Inbound and outbound handling billed per pallet-equivalent
- Closing simulator before issuing
- Pending items in view: never silently bill zero
- Immutable closing with snapshot and hash
- Reproducible CSV for verifying the calculation
- Reopening with a reason — the closing becomes version n+1
- Export to Excel, PDF and CSV
WMS family
Warehouse, cross dock and client in one system
The same WMS stores depositors’ inventory and runs cross-dock cargo — with role-based access; the storage depositor checks their stock and closing in the portal.
- WMS for 3PL warehouses Receiving via the NF-e XML, scan-based addressing, checked FEFO picking and cycle counting, with inventory segregated per depositor.
- new Cross docking system Mixed trailer → blind receiving by volume → one pallet per invoice → load checked by scan, with a PDF load sheet.
- Blind receiving The team counts what arrived without seeing the invoice; the difference appears at closing, and shortage, overage and damage go to the supervisor’s queue — a photo can be attached to damage.
- Depositor portal The warehouse’s client checks balance, movement statement and the month’s closing on its own, under your warehouse’s brand.
- you are here Storage billing The month’s inventory becomes a per-contract closing for each depositor — no parallel spreadsheet.
- WMS for logistics operators Several clients in the same warehouse, role-based access, Zebra labels and reports under the warehouse’s brand.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for storage?
It depends on the unit (pallet position, pallet-equivalent or m²), the measurement method (peak, presence, average or daily sum) and extra services (inbound and outbound handling, ad valorem). The way to do it is to set the contract per depositor and let the system measure every month against real inventory — the simulator shows the value before closing.
How is the cost of storage calculated?
For the warehouse, cost is the warehouse’s overheads (rent, team, equipment, energy) apportioned across pallet-position capacity and average occupancy; for the depositor, it is the rate per pallet-equivalent or per m² multiplied by dwell time, plus handling.
How do I bill storage by pallet-equivalent?
Each product receives a conversion factor to pallet-equivalents. Don’t know the factor? The system suggests one automatically from the case dimensions over the standard pallet, which is configurable — then you adjust each product’s factor to match the contract.
What are the four measurement methods?
Peak (the period’s highest inventory), Presence (there was stock on that day), Average (the period’s average) and Daily sum (summed day by day). They can be combined in MIX — for example, storage by one method and handling by another, per the contract.
Can I bill by square meter instead of pallets?
Yes. Beyond pallet-equivalent, per-m² billing covers operations that charge by occupied area — in the same closing.
How is handling billed?
Inbound and outbound handling is billed per pallet-equivalent, in the same closing as storage — receipts and issues appear separately for verification.
Can I see the value before closing the month?
Yes. The simulator runs the closing before you issue: adjust factors and methods, see the result and only then close. Pending items stay in view — the system won’t let you silently bill zero.
Can the closing be changed later?
The closing is immutable: it generates a snapshot with a hash and a reproducible CSV of the calculation. If you need to correct it, reopening requires a reason and creates version n+1 — the previous version’s history is preserved.
Which formats does the invoice come in?
Excel, PDF and CSV. The reproducible CSV lets the depositor redo the math and verify the closing item by item.
Stop billing storage on a spreadsheet
Talk to us on WhatsApp and see pallet-equivalent closing in practice.
Modular pricing, sized to your operation: you only pay for the modules you use, and the plan scales with your volume. Ask for a quote on WhatsApp.