The income statement is a financial statement that reports the revenue, expenses and profit or loss of a business. It’s the profitability measure for a company, and it can tell you how well it’s doing.
There are two types of costs: fixed costs or variable costs. Fixed costs do not change with the number of sales transactions made by the company, such as rent on the office building. Variable costs vary with changes in sales volume because they are incurred to produce goods or provide services to customers. For example, if your company sells books, then its printing cost will be a variable cost because it varies with changes in sales volume. On the other hand, if your company operates an online store and pays for electricity regardless of how many items are sold, then electric expense would be considered a fixed cost.
When looking at the income statement, variable costs are expenses that change with the level of production. They fluctuate depending on volume or to the number of units made. Examples of variable costs include direct labor and materials. Fixed costs, on the other hand, are expenses that do not change with volume or number of units produced. Examples of fixed costs include rent and utilities. Below you will find a table illustrating each type of cost.
Options:
A) Promotion Expense B) Depreciation Expense C) R&D Expense D) Direct Labor Expense
Correct Answer of
On the income statement which of the following would be classified as a variable cost?
D) Direct Labor Expense
What are variable costs?
Variable costs are expenses that change with the level of production. They fluctuate depending on volume or to the number of units made. Examples of variable costs include direct labor and materials.
What are fixed costs?
Fixed costs are expenses that do not change with volume or the number of units produced. Fixed costs typically include rent, utilities, and insurance. Fixed costs are usually considered to be less risky than variable costs because they typically only increase when a company acquires more space for their business.
Fixed and variable cost examples
Fixed Cost: Rent
Variable Cost: Direct labor, materials

Formula of Variable Cost
Total Variable Cost = Total Quantity of Output * Variable Cost Per Unit of Output
Difference between Fixed and variable cost
Depending on how much output is produced, variable costs change.
Regardless of production output, fixed costs remain the same.
Fixed Cost changes in unit
Variable cost remains same per unit.
Fixed Costs:
-rent
-utilities
-insurance
Variable Costs:
-direct labor
-materials
Ways to reduce variable cost in business
There are many ways to reduce variable cost in a business, but one of the simplest is by reducing the number of products made. By having less products on hand, you can reduce the material costs that go into production because you’re not making as much product. This will lower your total cost of goods sold and will ultimately save you money.
Importance of Determining Variable Cost
Variable costs are important because they can make or break a budget. If you are working with a small profit margin and your variable costs are high, it may not be possible to turn any profits. The goal of any business is to produce goods while still turning a profit. To do this, you need to know the cost of producing one unit of your product or service. You also need to know what the price will be for that unit.
If the production cost per unit is higher than the price you can charge for that item, then you will lose money on each sale (unless you have fixed costs in place). This means that if your variable costs are more than your price for one unit, then it’s not worth pursuing. In order to figure out if your project is profitable or not, subtract the variable cost from the price for each unit sold and see if there is a positive number left over. If there isn’t, then this project isn’t worth pursuing because it would result in losing money at every sale.
Next Read: Top Reasons To Study Operations Management
Frequently Asked Questions on Variable Costs in the Income Statement
1. What is a variable cost? A variable cost is an expense that changes in proportion to the production output or sales of a company. Unlike fixed costs, which remain constant regardless of the level of production or sales, variable costs fluctuate with the level of business activity.
2. On the income statement, which of the following would be classified as a variable cost? Examples of variable costs that appear on the income statement include:
- Cost of goods sold (COGS), which includes direct materials and direct labor costs.
- Sales commissions that are tied directly to the volume of sales.
- Credit card processing fees that vary with the amount of sales transactions.
- Shipping and packaging costs incurred for delivering goods to customers.
3. How are variable costs represented on the income statement? Variable costs are typically listed under the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) or operating expenses sections on the income statement. They are subtracted from the total revenue to calculate the gross profit and, subsequently, the operating profit or net profit.
4. Why is it important to distinguish between variable and fixed costs? Distinguishing between variable and fixed costs is crucial for pricing, budgeting, and financial analysis. Understanding the nature of these costs helps businesses set prices that cover all expenses and yield a profit, make informed decisions about scaling production, and analyze the impact of volume changes on profitability.
5. Can a cost be both fixed and variable? Yes, some costs have both fixed and variable components, known as mixed or semi-variable costs. For example, utility bills may have a fixed service charge (fixed component) plus charges for actual usage (variable component). These costs require careful analysis to determine their impact on overall expenses.
6. How do variable costs affect the break-even point? Variable costs directly affect the break-even point, which is the level of production or sales at which total revenues equal total costs, resulting in no profit or loss. A lower variable cost per unit lowers the break-even point, meaning the company needs to sell fewer units to cover its costs.
7. What role do variable costs play in managerial decision-making? Variable costs play a significant role in managerial decision-making, especially in decisions related to pricing, budgeting, cost control, and scaling production. Managers use information about variable costs to optimize operations, improve profitability, and make strategic decisions about product lines and market expansion.
8. How can a business reduce its variable costs? A business can reduce its variable costs by negotiating better prices for raw materials, improving operational efficiency to reduce waste, outsourcing certain production processes, or adopting technology that enhances productivity and reduces labor costs.
9. Are variable costs the same across different industries? No, the nature and extent of variable costs can vary significantly across different industries due to differences in production processes, cost structures, and business models. For example, a manufacturing company may have high variable costs related to materials and labor, while a service company may have lower variable costs and higher fixed costs.
10. How do changes in production volume affect variable costs? Changes in production volume directly affect variable costs; as production increases, variable costs increase proportionally, and vice versa. This relationship is due to the nature of variable costs, which are incurred for each unit of production or service delivered.