Head office overheads
According to The Code of Estimating Practice, seventh edition, published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in 2009, head office overheads are:
| The incidental costs of running a business as a whole. They are ‘indirect costs’ that cannot be directly allocated to production, as opposed to ‘direct costs’ which are the costs of production. Among other things, overheads may include rent, rates, director’s salaries, pension fund contributions and auditor’s fees. In accountancy, head office overheads are generally referred to as ‘administrative expenses’ whereas the direct costs of production are referred to as ‘cost of sales’. The apportionment of head office overheads to individual projects or as a percentage of company turnover is decided by management as part of a management policy. |
--CIOB
NB The Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol, 2nd edition, February 2017, published by the Society of Construction Law (UK) defines head office overheads in very similar terms as:
| ...the incidental costs of running the Contractor’s business as a whole and include indirect costs which cannot be directly allocated to production, as opposed to direct costs which are the costs of production. Amongst other things, these overheads may include such things as rent, rates, directors’ salaries, pension fund contributions and auditors’ fees. In accountancy terms, head office overheads are generally referred to as administrative expenses, whereas the direct costs of production are referred to as costs of sales. |
See also: How to calculate head office overheads and profit.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Mixed reactions to apprenticeship and skills reform 2025
A 'welcome shift' for some and a 'backwards step' for others.
Licensing construction in the UK
As the latest report and proposal to licence builders reaches Parliament.
Building Safety Alliance golden thread guidance
Extensive excel checklist of information with guidance document freely accessible.
Fair Payment Code and other payment initiatives
For fair and late payments, need to work together to add value.
Pre-planning delivery programmes and delay penalties
Proposed for housebuilders in government reform: Speeding Up Build Out.
High street health: converting a building for healthcare uses
The benefits of health centres acting as new anchor sites in the high street.
The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters: from ‘lady woodcarvers’ to professionals. Book review.
Skills gap and investment returns on apprenticeships
ECA welcomes new reports from JTL Training and The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership.
Committee report criticises UK retrofit schemes
CIOB responds to UK’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee report.
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.