A computer implemented actual costing method for collecting and presenting an actual cost of performing a business activity includes the steps of carrying a first and/or a second step, the first step including collecting the actual cost of at least one job performed in furtherance of the business activity, the second step including collecting the actual cost of at least one item manufactured in furtherance of the business activity. A unique cost source identifier is created for each collected actual cost and the collected actual cost is stored therein. Each unique cost source identifier is then associated with its corresponding item or job within the business activity. A selected accounting costing method for actual cost collection and a selected accounting costing method for actual cost presentation based upon the stored cost source identifiers may then be implemented. As the actual discrete costs for each item or selected items manufactured and for each job or selected jobs performed in furtherance of the business activity have been collected and stored in respective unique cost source identifiers, the selected accounting costing method for actual cost collection may be different than the selected accounting costing method for cost presentation.