Hi, today we talk about the cost classification by behavior in accounting. Budgets and variance reports are more effective when they reflect cost behavior patterns. Cost Classification by behavior in accounting is the way in which cost is affected by changes in the level of activity.
Activity may be measured in terms of units of production of sales, hour worked, miles traveled, patients saw, students enrolled, or any other appropriate measure of activity of an organization.
Here are different Cost Classification by behavior
- Fixed cost
These are costs which remain constant over a wide range of activity for a specific time, e.g. costs of depreciation of factory building, rent, supervisor salary etc.
Diagram
Cost Classification by Behavior in Accounting 2018
Fixed cost per unit increases with the decrease in the level of activity and decreases when level of activity increase
Diagram
- Variable cost
Total variable cost changes in direct proportion to the level of activity. That is doubling the level of activity will double the total variable costs. Consequently, variable costs are linear. Example of variable manufacturing costs include piecework labor, direct material, and energy to operate the machine
Diagram
Variable cost per unit or unit variable cost is constant as the level of activity increases.
- Semi-variable cost/mixed cost
Semi-variable cost/ mixed cost has both a fixed element and a variable. E.g. cost of maintenance is a semi-variable cost consisting of planned maintenance that is undertaken whatever the level of activity whereas variable element that is directly related to the level of activity.
A furthermore example is where sale representatives are paid a fixed salary plus a commission on sales.
Diagram
Cost Behaviour of the total cost
The total cost of a product is the combination of fixed cost and variable cost.
Total costs= fixed costs + variable cost
The total cost increase as the level of activity increases.
diagram
Cost Classification in Accounting
In the above situation, the total cost per unit decreases as the level of activity increase since the fixed cost per units falls and the variable cost per unit is constant as the level of activity increase.
- Stepped cost
Stepped costs remain within specified activity levels, but it eventually increases or decreases by a constant amount at the various critical activity level.
Diagram
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