{"id":37940,"date":"2022-12-15T22:24:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T22:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=37940"},"modified":"2022-12-16T09:24:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T09:24:23","slug":"operating-expense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/accounting\/operating-expense\/","title":{"rendered":"OPERATING EXPENSE: Definition & How To Calculate It","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

My business operating expenses are way too high, and this is greatly reducing my overall profit! Come on, is it possible to do away with this expense or reduce it to the lowest minimum possible in my business? Can I also offset my operating expenses with my production unit annually? Well, you just have to wait a little longer to find out. This guide answers the above questions as well as other queries you may have about the operating expenses. Additionally, we included depreciation operating expense, its formula, what it’s about, and some examples.<\/p>

What Is Operating Expense? <\/span><\/h2>

Operating expenses refer to all the costs a business incurs in the course of its operation, but these costs are not traced to its production process. In other words, operating expense is the sum of all the costs of a company’s operations that are not directly related to the production of its goods or services. Operating expenses are also known as OPEX. These costs include selling, general and administrative costs, and so on. When they are uncategorized, they include rent, inventory costs, equipment, marketing, payroll, insurance, research and development funds, fueling, lightning, and so on.<\/p>

Additionally, if a firm operates to make a profit, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enables it to deduct operational expenses.<\/p>

Operating Expense In Practice<\/span><\/h3>

Every business incurs costs of operation at some point or another. Even if your business is not into the production of products, you will still incur operating costs. For instance, a freelancer who works online will have to pay his subscription fee, light bill, and other expenses.<\/p>

So it is part of every business expenditure. Generally, operating expenses are necessary and inevitable in every business.<\/p>

One of the most common challenges that management has is identifying how to cut operating costs without compromising a company’s ability to compete. <\/p>

Some businesses have been successful in lowering operating costs to obtain a competitive advantage and improve profits. Even though there are businesses that effectively cut down on their OPEX, there is a need to be careful when doing this. Why? because cutting operating costs might put the integrity and quality of operations at risk. Finally, there are operating and non-operating expenses.<\/p>

Operating Expenses vs Non-operating Expenses<\/span><\/h3>

To better under this, let\u2019s see what each of these is; A non-operating expense refers to expenses incurred by a company that are not related to its primary operations. These are expenses that are neither traced to production nor business operations. Highlighting them as what they are in your financial record makes it easy for key people to understand your business performance.<\/p>

Differences Between Operating Expenses & Non-Operating Expenses<\/span><\/h3>
OPERATING EXPENSES<\/strong><\/td>NON-OPERATING EXPENSES<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
These are expenses incurred from the day-to-day running of the business.<\/td>Non-operating expenses refer to expenses that are not traceable to the production process or the day-to-day running of the business.<\/td><\/tr>
When it comes to where OPEX is found in an income statement, it is located above the non-operating expenses.<\/td>Generally, you find the non-operating expense located below the operating expenses in the income statement. <\/td><\/tr>
Operating expense examples include rent, wages, salaries, travel, sales and marketing expenses, and so on.<\/td>Examples of these include interest, disposal of assets, and so on.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Capital Expense VS Operating Expense<\/span><\/h3>

Capital expenses are costs that can be capitalized for tax purposes. They are generally the costs of upgrading assets or purchasing new capital assets. Examples include plants and machinery, property, equipment, and so on. While operating expenses are the costs of running a business on day to day basis.<\/p>

CAPITAL EXPENSES<\/strong><\/td> OPERATING EXPENSES<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Capital expense refers to the cost of purchasing new assets. It also refers to the cost of upgrading an existing asset.<\/td>Operating expenses, on the other hand, refer to the expense that arises from running a business daily.<\/td><\/tr>
Generally, capital expenses are capitalized for tax purposes.<\/td>Once a business exists to make a profit, IRS permits it to subtract its Operating expenses. <\/td><\/tr>
Capital expenses can either be capitalized or written off over time. It cannot be written off as a one-time record.<\/td>Operating expense is written off every year.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Depreciation Operating Expense<\/span><\/h2>

In bringing up the subject of depreciation, people wonder if it is an operating expense. Why is this so? Because we already know operating expenses are costs arising from the day-to-day running of a business, depreciation seems far from this explanation. However, let\u2019s briefly explain what depreciation is to fully grasp why it is an operating expense. <\/p>

What is Depreciation?<\/span><\/h3>

Depreciation means loss of value. Companies buy assets for the production of their goods as well as services. Generally, as these assets are used daily, they lose their value. Owners of these assets, therefore, capitalize on them and depreciate their value over time. This will go on till they are sold at scrap value. To further simplify this a bit, when you buy a vending machine, it doesn\u2019t last forever, right? Each year, as the machine is used, it losses its value. <\/p>

This is what depreciation is all about, using accounting methods to locate, or ascertain, a place for the expense of a tangible asset over its useful life. It also focuses on keeping track of the asset’s loss of value. Moreover, every tangible asset wears out over time. To ascertain the useful life span of your assets, check out the IRS Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System. It also includes guidelines on what exactly passes for an asset you can depreciate.<\/p>

IRS Guideline On Depreciation Of Assets<\/span><\/h4>