Cost Accounting 101 Practice Test: Basic Cost Terms and Purposes — Flashcards

Cost accounting is one of the main accounting methods. It captures the various costs of the company's production by evaluating the cost like input cost, fixed cost, etc.

Here are some basic cost terms and purposes:
Cost: The amount of expenses incurred on a specific activity or thing. It can also be defined as the monetary measurement of the resources used to produce goods or services.
Variable costs: Expenses that change with the level of production or sales. Examples include labor, raw materials, and other fees related to the acquisition or show of a product or service.
Fixed costs: One of the two major components of the total cost of production. Examples include monthly rental paid for accommodation and salary paid to an employee. However, fixed costs are not permanently fixed but change over time.
Indirect costs: Costs that are not directly related to a specific cost object like a function, product, or department. Examples include overhead, security costs, and administration costs.
Direct costs: The basic monetary requirements for the project and are directly related to the work breakdown structure. Examples include material costs, labor costs, equipment costs, and rents.
Operating costs: An expense from the daily operations, materials, and other necessary components an organization uses regularly.
Differential cost: Important in both personal and business purchases. In personal purchases, understanding the differential cost can save someone money. In business purchases, it can help in making safe business decisions.
Manufacturing costs: The core cost categorization for a manufacturing entity. It encompasses the costs that must be incurred so as to produce marketable inventory.