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
Celebrating architecture's eloquent champions.
Unusual perspectives on 1960s’ thinking.
AI and the challenges to intellectual property
The legal landscape of adopting AI now and in the future.
Worrying landscape for Welsh construction SMEs revealed.
In recent risk factor analysis report completed by CIOB.
Construction Sport survey highlights risks of dehydration
Supporting construction workers to avoid dangers.
Can your business afford to ignore mental well-being?
£70 - 100 billion annually in UK construction sector.
Mental health in the construction industry
World Mental Health Day 10 October.
Construction awards provide relief in wake of ISG collapse
Spike in major infrastructure awards, housing up but short of targets, are ISG collapse impacts yet to come.
Biodiversity net gain with related updates and terms
Only 0.5% of applications subject to BNG in the context significant proposed changes to planning.
As political power has shifted from blue to red
Has planning now moved from brown to green?
The role of construction in tackling the biodiversity crisis
New CIOB Nature of Building digital series available now.
The Nature Towns and Cities initiative
Grants of up to 1 million for local councils and partners.
The continued ISG fall out October updates
Where to look for answers to frequently asked questions.
Building safety remediation programme for Wales
With 2024 October progress updates.
In major support package for small businesses.
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.