General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative (G&A) expenses are expenses that support the overall operations of a business and cannot be directly traced to the production of goods or services. These expenses are necessary for the company’s operations but are not linked to any specific department or project.
G&A expenses are considered indirect costs and can include:
- Salaries and benefits for executive staff and corporate office employees
- Office supplies
- Rent for the corporate office
- Legal and consulting fees
- Depreciation on office equipment and buildings
- Insurance premiums
- Utilities for the office building
G&A expenses are separate from other categories of expenses such as cost of goods sold (COGS) and selling expenses. COGS includes the direct costs of producing goods or services that a company sells, while selling expenses are associated with the selling of the company’s product or services (like advertising and marketing costs).
It’s important for companies to monitor and control G&A expenses, as they can have a significant impact on profitability. However, it’s also important to recognize that these expenses are necessary for maintaining the business operations. G&A expenses are typically reported on the income statement.
Example of General and Administrative Expense
Let’s imagine a scenario with a hypothetical tech company, TechStartup Inc., to illustrate what might be considered general and administrative expenses.
- Executive Salaries: TechStartup Inc. pays its CEO and other top executives a combined total of $500,000 per year.
- Office Rent: TechStartup Inc. leases an office in a major city for its corporate staff. The annual rent is $200,000.
- Office Supplies: The company spends approximately $50,000 annually on office supplies like paper, pens, and staplers.
- Legal and Consulting Fees: TechStartup Inc. retains a law firm and a business consulting firm to provide ongoing advice. The combined annual fees for these services are $120,000.
- Insurance: The company’s liability insurance premiums total $30,000 per year.
- Utilities: The cost of electricity, water, and other utilities for the office is $40,000 per year.
Adding these costs together, TechStartup Inc.’s annual general and administrative expenses total $940,000.
Remember that G&A expenses are typically classified as operating expenses and are recorded on the income statement. They are a key part of understanding the cost structure of a business, and managing them effectively is important for a company’s profitability. However, they are also essential for supporting the business’s operations and enabling it to function effectively.
