Overhead costs are the ongoing expenses that keep a business running—separate from the direct costs of creating a product or providing a service.
This guide contains a detailed look at these costs, complete with overhead examples, to help you better understand and manage your business finances.
Table of contents
What are overhead costs?
Overhead costs are ongoingbusiness coststhat aren’t directly linked to producing a product or service. They are expenses a business incurs to stay in business, regardless of its sales volume or activities.
In other words, overhead costs represent all the costs on a company’s income statement, except those that can be traced to a specific business activity, such as manufacturing or executing a service.
For example, the rent for a studio where a potter createsceramicsis an overhead cost, because the potter pays rent regardless of how many products they make or sell.
On the other hand, a potter’s clay and potting wheel are not overhead costs, because they are directly related to the products the business produces.
Businesses account for overhead costs to determinenet income.You need to know your net income toprice productsand generate a profit.
Fixed vs. variable overhead costs
Overhead costs are often categorized by how likely they are to change. This categorization is helpful forbudgeting.
Overhead costs can be classified as:
- Fixed costs
- Variable costs
- Semi-variable costs
Fixed overhead expensesare the same every month, no matter the activity levels of a business. Think rent,licenses, property taxes, and other fees.
Variable overhead expensesincrease or decrease depending on how busy a business is. Variable costs include wages for certain employees, storage space,pay-per-click advertisingfees, or equipment maintenance.
Semi-variable overhead expensesoccur regardless of activity levels but can change as business activities increase. For example, an accountant might spend more on printer ink during tax season.
Types of overhead costs
Another way to break overhead costs down is to categorize them by type. Most businesses will pay three main types of overhead costs:administrativecosts,sellingcosts, andmanufacturingcosts.
Administrative overhead costs
行政费用的成本,使the wheels of a business turning—and keep a business in good standing with external stakeholders. They form a substantial part of a company’s overhead and come from diverse sources.
Examples of administrative overhead costs
- Office supplies:This includes everything from stationery to subscriptions forproject management toolslike Asana or Trello.
- Legal expenses:These are the costs related tocompliance, such as retaining a legal consultant to ensure the company is up to date with all industry-specific regulations.
- Insurance:Businesses maintain variousinsurancepolicies to protect against unforeseen circumstances. This might include professional liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and auto insurance for company vehicles.
- Employee perks:Many companies offer benefits to their employees, such as wellness programs and company-sponsored events. These costs are administrative overheads, as their impact on the production of goods or services is indirect.
Selling overhead costs
Selling overheads are the costs of marketing a company’s products and convincing potential customers to purchase.
Examples of selling overhead costs
- Sales commissions:这些都是基于绩效支付销售staff. The more they sell, the more they earn. Commissions are variable costs because they fluctuate based on the sales team’s success.
- Advertising and marketing:Marketing channelssuch as pay-per-click advertising campaigns are also variable costs, because they change depending on the traffic an ad generates. Businesses may spend on selling overheads such ascontent marketingand attending industry events.
制造费用成本
A manufacturing overhead is an indirect cost incurred during the production process.
Examples of manufacturing overhead costs
- Rent:这成本是一个business pays for the space where it produces its goods. If a business owns property, it will need to account for depreciation.
- Utilities:These are the essential services that keep a business running, including electricity to power machinery, water for restrooms, and internet services for an office.
How to calculate overhead costs
Calculating overhead expenses is a straightforward process. First, you need to analyze yourincome statementto define your overheads. Then, you can divide your overheads by your sales.
Organize monthly expenses
Begin by identifying and categorizing each overhead expense your business incurs over a specific period—usually a month. Take time to ensure that included expenses are genuine overheads and are not directly related to your business’s product or service.
Calculate overhead rate
Add up these expenses to get the total overhead cost for that period. You can then calculate youroverhead rate, which is the percentage of your sales that goes toward overhead costs.
Divide total overhead costs by the total sales for the same period, and multiply the answer by 100 to produce a rate.
For example, if your total monthly overhead costs are $5,000 and your total sales for the same month are $20,000, your overhead rate is:
$5,000 / $20,000 = $0.25
0.25 x 100 = 25%
Based on that month’s income statement, your business spends 25¢ of every dollar made on overhead expenses and has a 25% overhead rate.
10 ways to reduce overhead costs
If you feel that your overhead rate is too high, it’s often possible to find savings within your business operations. Here are 10 overhead-reducing tips:
1. Adopt a hybrid work model
By allowing employees towork from homesometimes, you can reduce the need for large office spaces and reduce rental costs.
2. Negotiate contracts
Regularly renegotiate contracts with your vendors to ensure you get the best possible prices. Consider multi-year contracts for additional savings.
3. Use group purchasing organizations (GPOs)
By joining a GPO, you can leverage collective buying power to secure discounts on supplies and services.
4. Implement lean-startup tactics
By using alean startupapproach to identify and eliminate inefficient activities, you can reduce waste and lower overhead costs.
5. Optimize software subscriptions
Regularly review your software needs and cancel unnecessary subscriptions. Consider using open-source alternatives where possible.
6. Go paperless
Transition to a digital-first approach for administrative tasks. This can reduce costs associated with paper, printing, and storage.
7. Outsource tasks
Consideroutsourcing tasksthat aren’t central to your business, such as accounting or HR, to reduce the need for full-time staff and associated costs.
8. Implement energy-saving measures
Invest in energy-efficient appliances and encourage employees to conserve energy for cumulative savings on utility bills.
9. Encourage virtual client meetings
Cutting travel costs by encouraging teleconferencing for client meetings is one way to reduce variable costs.
10. Invest in training
Investing in training can increase employee efficiency and reduce the need for costly external consultants.
Overheads: The bottom line
Overhead costs are necessary and unavoidable. But if you don’t keep tabs on overheads, they can eat into profits and destabilize your business.
Regular monitoring of indirect operating expenses is crucial, even when starting out as an entrepreneur. A rented office space might make your start-up feel more legitimate, but an assessment of your finances might show that your overhead spending and profit margins just don’t match.
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Overhead costs FAQ
What are overhead costs examples?
- Rent
- Salaries and wages
- Utilities
- Insurance
- Office supplies
- Equipment maintenance
- Advertising and marketing
- Professional services
- Travel costs
- Technology expenses
Which costs are overhead?
What are 4 types of overhead?
- Production Overhead:costs associated with running a production process, such as machinery maintenance, rent, utilities, and depreciation.
- Administrative Overhead:costs associated with running a business such as employee salaries, rent, office supplies, insurance, and professional services.
- Selling Overhead:costs associated with marketing and selling products such as advertising, promotions, and commissions.
- Financial Overhead:costs associated with managing finances such as accounting, auditing, and taxes.