Every business has operating expenses – the costs of running the business – and they usually take two forms: fixed expenses and variable expenses. Understanding the difference between the two gives you a clearer picture of not just where your money is going, but also how each expense impacts your business.
\r\n\r\n
Editor's note: Need accounting software for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.
\r\n\r\nA fixed expense basically just means one that doesn't change – it is a set amount that you pay on a recurring basis. A variable expense, on the other hand, may change due to various factors – which means you can't always predict exactly what it will cost. Both types of expenses can be direct or indirect costs.
\r\nThese terms exist to differentiate between the different types of costs businesses are expected to pay. As a business owner, you will have both types of expenses, so it's important to distinguish between the two and create a budget accordingly. [Looking for accounting software? Check out our recommendations.]
\r\nHere are some key differences between fixed costs and variable costs:
\r\nBy definition, a variable expense is a cost that changes depending on your production level. In other words, your sales volume directly impacts your variable expenses.
\r\nFor example, let's say you sell phone cases. Here's a chart explaining how those variable expenses would work.
\r\n| Cases produced | \r\nPackaging costs | \r\nTotal cost | \r\n
| 1 | \r\n$0.25 | \r\n$0.25 | \r\n
| 100 | \r\n$0.25 | \r\n$25 | \r\n
| 500 | \r\n$0.25 | \r\n$125 | \r\n
| 1,000 | \r\n$0.25 | \r\n$250 | \r\n
The packaging cost per case remains the same, but the total cost of packaging rises when production is higher. This is a textbook variable expense. You can see a more detailed example of variable costs in this part-by-part pricing breakdown of an iPhone.
Obviously, it's a good thing when business is booming and you have decent cash flow, as more products or services sold means more revenue. You want to develop a deep understanding of your total variable expenses from the start in order to see where you could save money. Shaving the costs that go into each product makes a huge difference in your bottom line.
\r\nHere are some common examples of variable expenses to account for in your monthly budget:
\r\nFixed costs are what most people refer to as \"overhead.\" These are the expenses that don't really change regardless of how much business you're doing.
\r\nOf course, your fixed costs can increase over time. Rents go up, salaries increase, and insurance premiums tend to rise. However, these costs are fixed in the sense that they don't change based on your production volume. Whether you sold one phone case or 1 million, the total fixed cost is the same.
\r\nHere are some common examples of fixed expenses:
\r\nA third category of expenses is a mixture of fixed and variable. Let's say you're paying $100 for web hosting each month, but one month you go over your bandwidth limit and are hit with an extra $20 fee. You'll pay the $100 no matter what, but the extra $20 is variable.
\r\nAnother example would be if you have a salesperson working on commission. The base salary for this employee is fixed, but the commission they earn on each sale is variable, as the total cost changes depending on the number of sales made.
\r\nIf you have high variable costs, here are some ways to decrease your spending:
\r\nIf you have high fixed costs, here are some ways to better distribute your budget:
\r\nDon't leave the understanding of fixed and variable expenses to the accountants. Getting a handle on business expenses is critical for any company serious about its future, as it allows you to develop long-term financial plans that account for variables and hypothetical situations.
\r\nThere may also be times when you have to decide between paying fixed or variable costs, and there are benefits and risks associated with each. For example, if you're an online retailer, you might choose to outsource each sale to a third party so you don't need to handle shipping. It could work in your favor to pay the third party with variable expenses – meaning they get a cut of each sale – as you won't need to pay anyone if you don't sell anything.
\r\nHowever, there could come a time when your sales are so high that these variable costs total a significant amount of money. At that point, you'll need to consider whether it would save you money to invest in the fixed expense of hiring staff to handle the shipping in-house.
\r\nThe need for decisions like these is why it pays to keep an eye on your fixed and variable expenses, as it might lead to fruitful negotiations. You should continuously review your balance sheets, income statements and other financial statements to make any necessary adjustments. Understanding how these costs work will help you figure out what's best for your company at all times.
\r\nSarah Landrum contributed to the writing in this article.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_b72ef022b7518a1d44e188ad03f9e349","lastModified":"2020-09-29T14:06:00.000Z","published":"2015-11-02T17:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"To create a proper budget, you'll want to consider both your fixed and variable expenses. Here are some examples of each.","template":"v1","title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: What Do These Terms Mean?","type":"article","author":{"avatar":"https://staging.business.com/images/author/5a7/b279951ee47b8678b4574/100-100","bio":"Sammi Caramela has always loved words. When she isn't writing for business.com and Business News Daily, she's writing (and furiously editing) her first novel, reading a YA book with a third cup of coffee, or attending local pop-punk concerts. She is also the content manager for Lightning Media Partners. Check out her short stories in \"Night Light: Haunted Tales of Terror,\" which is sold on Amazon.","name":"Sammi Caramela","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammi-caramela-141526b2/","twitter":"https://twitter.com/sammicaramela","website":"http://sammisays.org"},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"Contributing Writer","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/undefined","profile":{"company":"Creative Catalyst","jobTitle":"Catalyst","website":"http://www.MyCreativeCatalyst.com/"}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Finance","slug":"finance"},"sub":{"name":"Accounting","slug":"accounting"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"All businesses have both fixed and variable expenses. Here are the differences between the two.","title":"What Are Fixed and Variable Expenses? - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"fixed-vs-variable-expenses","title":"Fixed vs. variable expenses"},{"id":"variable-expenses","title":"Variable expenses"},{"id":"fixed-expenses","title":"Fixed expenses"},{"id":"mixed-semi-variable-expenses","title":"Mixed (semi-variable) expenses"},{"id":"how-to-save-on-variable-and-fixed-costs","title":"How to save on variable and fixed costs"},{"id":"weighing-your-options","title":"Weighing your options"}],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["Every business has operating expenses – the costs of running the business – and they usually take two forms: fixed expenses and variable expenses. Understanding the difference between the two gives you a clearer picture of not just where your money is going, but also how each expense impacts your business."]},{"component":"p","children":[" "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Editor's note: Need accounting software for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information."]}]},{"component":"RfqWidget","props":{"className":"bz-form-widget","widgetCategoryId":"10695"},"children":[" "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"fixed-vs-variable-expenses"},"children":["Fixed vs. variable expenses"]},{"component":"p","children":["A fixed expense basically just means one that doesn't change – it is a set amount that you pay on a recurring basis. A variable expense, on the other hand, may change due to various factors – which means you can't always predict exactly what it will cost. Both types of expenses can be direct or indirect costs."]},{"component":"p","children":["These terms exist to differentiate between the different types of costs businesses are expected to pay. As a business owner, you will have both types of expenses, so it's important to distinguish between the two and ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-budget-templates/"},"children":["create a budget"]}," accordingly. ",{"component":"strong","children":["[Looking for accounting software? "]},{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/categories/accounting-software/"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Check out our recommendations."]}]},{"component":"strong","children":["]"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Here are some key differences between fixed costs and variable costs:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Fixed expenses remain static over a set period of time; variable expenses fluctuate depending on external factors.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":["Fixed expenses are not impacted by production output. For example, you're going to make the same office lease payment every month regardless of how much work you do in that office. Variable expenses, however, may increase or decrease based on your output, because you'll need to buy more raw goods and spend more on hourly labor in order to produce more output.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":["Fixed expenses are often time-related, such your monthly office lease payment. Variable expenses are more often volume-related, such as the amount of time your hourly employees work each week."]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"variable-expenses"},"children":["Variable expenses"]},{"component":"p","children":["By definition, a variable expense is a cost that changes depending on your production level. In other words, your sales volume directly impacts your variable expenses."]},{"component":"p","children":["For example, let's say you sell phone cases. Here's a chart explaining how those variable expenses would work."]},{"component":"table","props":{"style":{"borderCollapse":"collapse","width":"100%"},"border":"1"},"children":[{"component":"tbody","children":[{"component":"tr","children":[{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Cases produced"]}]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Packaging costs"]}]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Total cost"]}]}]},{"component":"tr","children":[{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["1"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$0.25"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$0.25"]}]},{"component":"tr","children":[{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["100"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$0.25"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$25"]}]},{"component":"tr","children":[{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["500"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$0.25"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$125"]}]},{"component":"tr","children":[{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["1,000"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$0.25"]},{"component":"td","props":{"style":{"width":"33.3333%"}},"children":["$250"]}]}]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"br"},"The packaging cost per case remains the same, but the total cost of packaging rises when production is higher. This is a textbook variable expense. You can see a more detailed example of variable costs in this ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-cost-what-apple-is-paying/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["part-by-part pricing breakdown of an iPhone"]},". "]},{"component":"p","children":["Obviously, it's a good thing when business is booming and you have decent cash flow, as more products or services sold means more revenue. You want to develop a deep understanding of your total variable expenses from the start in order to see where you could save money. Shaving the costs that go into each product makes a huge difference in your bottom line."]},{"component":"h3","children":["Examples of variable costs"]},{"component":"p","children":["Here are some common examples of variable expenses to account for in your monthly budget:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Packaging costs"]},{"component":"li","children":["Utilities, like electricity and water"]},{"component":"li","children":["Credit card and bank fees"]},{"component":"li","children":["Hourly wages and direct labor"]},{"component":"li","children":["Shipping costs"]},{"component":"li","children":["Raw materials"]},{"component":"li","children":["Sales commissions"]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"fixed-expenses"},"children":["Fixed expenses"]},{"component":"p","children":["Fixed costs are what most people refer to as \"overhead.\" These are the expenses that don't really change regardless of how much business you're doing."]},{"component":"p","children":["Of course, your fixed costs can increase over time. Rents go up, salaries increase, and insurance premiums tend to rise. However, these costs are fixed in the sense that they don't change based on your production volume. Whether you sold one phone case or 1 million, the total fixed cost is the same."]},{"component":"h3","children":["Examples of fixed costs"]},{"component":"p","children":["Here are some common examples of fixed expenses:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Rent"]},{"component":"li","children":["Car payments"]},{"component":"li","children":["Insurance"]},{"component":"li","children":["Salaries"]},{"component":"li","children":["Interest expenses"]},{"component":"li","children":["Property taxes"]},{"component":"li","children":["Leased equipment"]},{"component":"li","children":["Loans"]},{"component":"li","children":["Depreciation"]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"mixed-semi-variable-expenses"},"children":["Mixed (semi-variable) expenses"]},{"component":"p","children":["A third category of expenses is a mixture of fixed and variable. Let's say you're paying $100 for web hosting each month, but one month you go over your bandwidth limit and are hit with an extra $20 fee. You'll pay the $100 no matter what, but the extra $20 is variable."]},{"component":"p","children":["Another example would be if you have a salesperson working on commission. The base salary for this employee is fixed, but the commission they earn on each sale is variable, as the total cost changes depending on the number of sales made."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"how-to-save-on-variable-and-fixed-costs"},"children":["How to save on variable and fixed costs"]},{"component":"h3","children":["Saving on variable costs"]},{"component":"p","children":["If you have high variable costs, here are some ways to decrease your spending:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Search for ways to lower your utility bills."]}," Use less electricity and water wherever possible, and opt for a cheaper internet or phone plan that still meets your business's needs as a business. Monitor how much money you spend on utilities each month, which will reveal areas of waste and motivate your company to be more energy efficient.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Maintain the minimum balance in your bank accounts."]}," Many banks require a minimum amount of money to be kept in specific accounts each month. If this is the case, make sure you always have this amount in your account to avoid unnecessary fees.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Pay your credit card bills on time and in full."]}," Late fees and interest charges can quickly become expensive – and they're avoidable if you keep an organized payment schedule and budget for them.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Streamline packaging and shipping. "]},"By optimizing your packaging and shipping processes, you can reduce the costs of each. Find ways to use less equipment, tailor the sizes of packages to the product, and consolidate shipments as much as possible."]}]},{"component":"h3","children":["Saving on fixed costs"]},{"component":"p","children":["If you have high fixed costs, here are some ways to better distribute your budget:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Renegotiate your rent or find a more affordable place."]}," If you want to lower your monthly cost for rent, reach out to your landlord to negotiate a lower cost in exchange for a longer lease or a lease extension. If you find your current location is larger than you need or is breaking the bank, look to downsize or move to a more affordable location.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Reduce insurance premiums."]}," You may be able to do this by installing features that eliminate or lower certain risks. For instance, if you pay for theft protection, you could ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9067-choosing-a-surveillance-system.html","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["install a security system"]}," rather than paying that ongoing cost. You could also negotiate lower premiums if you have a good customer history with the insurance company.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"},{"component":"strong"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Lower your monthly lease or loan payments."]}," It doesn't hurt to ask for lower monthly payments on your leases or loans. Leasing companies and banks are often willing to extend your payments over a longer period of time to decrease the amount you must pay each month. While this might increase the interest rate, it can lower your costs until you are in a more financially comfortable place.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}]},{"component":"li","children":[{"component":"strong","children":["Only have a few managerial positions."]}," Rather than hiring several managers and paying all of them a high salary, have a few quality ones you can appropriately compensate. You may be able to do this by merging similar departments under one manager. ",{"component":"strong","children":["[Read related article: "]},{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/articles/5-ways-to-drastically-cut-business-costs/"},"children":[{"component":"strong","children":["10 Ways to Drastically Cut Business Costs"]}]},{"component":"strong","children":["]"]}]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"weighing-your-options"},"children":["Weighing your options"]},{"component":"p","children":["Don't leave the understanding of ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.investorguide.com/article/15717/fixed-cost-vs-variable-cost-d1412/","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"},"children":["fixed and variable expenses"]}," to the accountants. Getting a handle on business expenses is critical for any company serious about its future, as it allows you to develop long-term financial plans that account for variables and hypothetical situations."]},{"component":"p","children":["There may also be times when you have to decide between paying fixed or variable costs, and there are benefits and risks associated with each. For example, if you're an online retailer, you might choose to outsource each sale to a third party so you don't need to handle shipping. It could work in your favor to pay the third party with variable expenses – meaning they get a cut of each sale – as you won't need to pay anyone if you don't sell anything."]},{"component":"p","children":["However, there could come a time when your sales are so high that these variable costs total a significant amount of money. At that point, you'll need to consider whether it would save you money to invest in the fixed expense of hiring staff to handle the shipping in-house."]},{"component":"p","children":["The need for decisions like these is why it pays to keep an eye on your fixed and variable expenses, as it might lead to fruitful negotiations. You should continuously review your ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/articles/business-balance-sheet/"},"children":["balance sheets"]},", ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/articles/business-income-statement/"},"children":["income statements"]}," and other financial statements to make any necessary adjustments. Understanding how these costs work will help you figure out what's best for your company at all times."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"i","children":["Sarah Landrum contributed to the writing in this article."]}]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":{"sponsorType":"no-sponsor","name":null,"thumbnail":null,"bio":null,"slug":null,"status":null,"social":{"website":null,"linkedin":null,"twitter":null,"facebook":null}},"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/5f7/212fb7b43742a648b4567/1500-0-","caption":"Philip Steury / Getty Images","isBlurred":false},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: What Do They Mean?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/meaning-of-fixed-and-variable-expenses/","slug":"meaning-of-fixed-and-variable-expenses","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/finance.jpg","dek":"Knowing fixed and variable expenses are crucial to understanding a business’s sustainability and determining where the money is going.","lastModified":"2015-11-02T17:00:00Z","published":"2015-11-02T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Key to Revenue Management: Avoid These 4 Costly Mistakes","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/the-key-to-revenue-management-avoiding-these-4-costly-mistakes/","slug":"the-key-to-revenue-management-avoiding-these-4-costly-mistakes","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/56b/551923287b1417cfb01af/1500-0-","dek":"Learn from these mistakes now, so your company doesn't have to pay later.","lastModified":"2016-02-12T15:00:00Z","published":"2016-02-12T15:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: What Do They Mean for Production?","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/fixed-and-variable-expenses-what-do-they-mean/","slug":"fixed-and-variable-expenses-what-do-they-mean","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/561/ed7c83187b17d358b4574/1500-0-","dek":"Merely increasing production levels isn't the answer to more or higher revenue. You need to understand fixed and variable expenses—read on.","lastModified":"2015-10-15T16:00:00Z","published":"2015-10-15T16:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: How Cost Structure Determines Your Profitability","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/fixed-and-variable-expenses-how-cost-structure-determines-your-profitability/","slug":"fixed-and-variable-expenses-how-cost-structure-determines-your-profitability","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d1/a0df99c658ad80a8b456b/1500-0-","dek":"Knowing the relationship between revenue and expenses is the key to understanding your business's profitability.","lastModified":"2020-04-17T16:11:00Z","published":"2015-07-28T19:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: How Cost Structure Determines Your Profitability","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/fixed-and-variable-expenses-how-cost-structure-determines-your-profitability/","slug":"fixed-and-variable-expenses-how-cost-structure-determines-your-profitability","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/55b/7d2d82f87b1bc348b460c/1500-0-","dek":"Knowing the relationship between revenue and expenses is the key to understanding your business's profitability.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:55:33Z","published":"2015-07-28T19:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Before You Swipe: 10 Important Things to Know About Business Credit Cards","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/10-important-things-to-know-about-business-credit-cards/","slug":"10-important-things-to-know-about-business-credit-cards","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/56b/8cf323087b1b70267079e/1500-0-","dek":"As a business looking to improve your credit score, there are a few things that you should know about opening a business line of credit.","lastModified":"2016-02-10T16:00:00Z","published":"2016-02-10T16:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Accountant or Do It Yourself: How Should Entrepreneurs File Taxes?","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/accountant-or-do-it-yourself-how-should-entrepreneurs-file-taxes/","slug":"accountant-or-do-it-yourself-how-should-entrepreneurs-file-taxes","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/56e/b36f33087b1ac0bd5a451/1500-0-","dek":"April is tax season. Should you DIY or hire a professional? What every business owner should consider first.","lastModified":"2016-03-18T21:00:00Z","published":"2016-03-18T21:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"SBA Loan Default: A Complete Guide for 2020 and Beyond","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/sba-loan-default-guide/","slug":"sba-loan-default-guide","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5dc/047af7b437483068b4572/1500-0-","dek":"Here's comprehensive guide to all your questions about SBA loan default, forgiveness and the SBA Offer In Compromise.","lastModified":"2019-11-04T15:00:00Z","published":"2019-11-04T15:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Accounting Software Features and Benefits: A Guide for SMBs","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/features-of-accounting-software/","slug":"features-of-accounting-software","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d0/b9ac35a215efe5d8b456b/1500-0-","dek":"Accounting software helps you record the flow of your company's money and examine your financial condition.","lastModified":"2020-02-19T13:20:00Z","published":"2014-06-13T21:46:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Do Payroll","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-do-payroll/","slug":"how-to-do-payroll","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d9/366c07b4374c76a8b4572/1500-0-","dek":"Our step-by-step guide will teach you how to process payroll yourself.","lastModified":"2020-08-17T20:17:00Z","published":"2019-10-02T12:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"What Is the Triple Bottom Line?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/triple-bottom-line-defined/","slug":"triple-bottom-line-defined","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e8/c6d029c658a03718b456a/1500-0-","dek":"The triple bottom line is a sustainability-based accounting method that focuses on people, profit and planet. Here's how it works for businesses.","lastModified":"2020-04-10T12:17:00Z","published":"2018-07-26T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"SBA Loan Default? 5 Ways to Turn Your Business Around","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/sba-loan-default-solutions/","slug":"sba-loan-default-solutions","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d4/ef6457b43749c4a8b456a/1500-0-","dek":"Check out these ideas to turn around your business if it's struggling with your SBA loan payments and facing default.","lastModified":"2019-08-11T16:00:00Z","published":"2019-08-11T16:00:00Z","sponsored":false}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e46e2fc5a215eab4d8b457c/taxes_pano_Prostock-Studio_getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-tax-debt-relief-services/","title":"The Best Tax Debt Relief Services of 2021","dek":"Looking for the best tax debt relief service? We have easy-to-read, unbiased expert reviews and feature comparisons of the best and cheapest services.","slug":"best-tax-debt-relief-services","lastModified":"2021-03-23T20:42:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5dfbca819c658adc118b4568/Payroll_AndreyPopov_Getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/online-payroll-services/","title":"The Best Online Payroll Services of 2021","dek":"Our team has compared the best online payroll services for 2021. See up-to-date reviews and costs for the top services.","slug":"online-payroll-services","lastModified":"2021-03-19T20:05:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5df3d8695a215e58428b4570/POS_GETTY_DERO2084.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-pos-systems/","title":"The Best POS Systems of 2021","dek":"Before you choose a POS system, check out our reviews of the best picks for 2021. ","slug":"best-pos-systems","lastModified":"2021-03-17T17:33:00Z"}],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2020-09-29T14:06:00.000Z","template":"v1","title":"Fixed and Variable Expenses: What Do These Terms Mean?","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"meaning-of-fixed-and-variable-expenses","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/meaning-of-fixed-and-variable-expenses/","skipTOC":false}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}