COST CONCEPTS &
CLASSIFICATION
AMAR RAVEENDRAN
DEBASIS BEHERA
What is Cost Accounting?
Method of accounting in which
all elements of cost incurred in carrying out
an activity or accomplishing a purpose are
collected, classified, and recorded.
Classification of Cost
1.Fixed, Variable and Semi-Variable Costs
The cost which does not vary but remains
constant within a given period of time is
known as fixed cost. Some of its examples are
as follows:
Rent or rates
Insurance charges
Management salary
The cost which varies directly in proportion
with every increase or decrease in the volume
of output or production is known as variable
cost. Some of its examples are as follows:
Wages of laborers
Cost of direct material
Power
The cost which does not vary proportionately
but simultaneously does not remain
stationary at all times is known as semi-
variable cost. It can also be named as semi-
fixed cost. Some of its examples are as
follows:
Depreciation
Repairs
2.Product Costs and Period Costs
The costs which are a part of the cost of a
product rather than an expense of the period
in which they are incurred are called as
“product costs.”
E.g: cost of raw materials and direct wages,
depreciation on plant and equipment etc.
The costs which are not associated with
production are called period costs.
E.g: general administration costs, salaries
salesmen and commission, depreciation on
office facilities etc.
3. Direct and Indirect Costs
The expenses incurred on material and labor
which are economically and easily traceable
for a product, service or job are considered as
direct costs. In the process of manufacturing
of production of articles, materials are
purchased, laborers are employed and the
wages are paid to them.
The expenses incurred on those items which
are not directly chargeable to production are
known as indirect costs. For example, salaries
of timekeepers, storekeepers and foremen.
4. Opportunity Cost
The cost of an alternative that must be forgone
in order to pursue a certain action. Put another
way, the benefits you could have received by
taking an alternative action.
E.g: Say you invest in a stock and it returns a
paltry 2% over the year. In placing your money
in the stock, you gave up the opportunity of
another investment - say, a risk-free
government bond yielding 6%. In this situation,
your opportunity costs are 4% (6% - 2%).
5. Shutdown and Sunk Costs
A manufacturer or an organization may have
to suspend its operations for a period on
account of some temporary difficulties, e.g.,
shortage of raw material, non-availability of
requisite labor etc. During this period, though
no work is done yet certain fixed costs, such
as rent and insurance of buildings etc.
Sunk costs are historical or past costs. These
are the costs which have been created by a
decision that was made in the past and
cannot be changed by any decision that will
be made in the future. Investments in plant
and machinery, buildings etc. are prime
examples of such costs.
6. Controllable and Uncontrollable Costs
Controllable costs are those costs which can
be influenced by the ratio or a specified
member of the undertaking. The costs that
cannot be influenced like this are termed as
uncontrollable costs.
7. Avoidable and Unavoidable
Avoidable costs are those which will be
eliminated if a segment of a business (e.g., a
product or department) with which they are
directly related is discontinued.
Unavoidable costs are those which will not be
eliminated with the segment. Such costs are
merely reallocated if the segment is
discontinued. For example, in case a product
is discontinued, the salary of a factory
manager or factory rent cannot be
eliminated.
8. Traceable, Untraceable or Common Costs
The costs that can be easily identified with a
department, process or product are termed
as traceable costs. For example, the cost of
direct material, direct labor etc.
The costs that cannot be identified so are
termed as untraceable or common costs.
E.g: overheads incurred for a factory as a
whole, combined purchase cost for
purchasing several materials in one
consignment etc.
9. Conversion Cost
The cost of transforming direct materials into
finished products excluding direct material
cost is known as conversion cost. It is usually
taken as an aggregate of total cost of direct
labor, direct expenses and factory overheads.
10.Production Cost
The cost of sequence of operations which
begins with supplying materials, labor and
services and ends with the primary packing of
the product. Thus, it includes the cost of
direct material, direct labor, direct expenses
and factory overheads.
11.Administration Cost
The cost of formulating the policy, directing
the organization and controlling the
operations of an undertaking which is not
related directly to a production, selling,
distribution, research or development activity
or function.
12.Selling Cost
It is the cost of selling to create and stimulate
demand (sometimes termed as marketing)
and of securing orders.
13.Development Cost
The cost of process which begins with the
implementation of the decision to produce a
new or improved product or employ a new or
improved method and ends with the
commencement of formal production of that
product or by the method.
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