Revenue, costs & profit · Core
Operating expense
Also called: Opex
ELI5
Cost of running the business not classified as cost of revenue or another non-operating item.
Used in conversation
“Compare operating expense with the same cohort and period before drawing a conclusion.”
Pitch context
You will see “Operating expense” in financial models, budgets, board packs and investor materials when the discussion reaches revenue, costs & profit.
Why it matters: In revenue, costs & profit, different calculation boundaries, periods or accounting treatments can change the number and the decision.
Caution
Calculation, recognition and disclosure can vary by accounting framework, company policy and reporting context.
Connected terms
- Operating expenditureThe search label “opex” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 4
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- IFRS Foundation — IFRS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Financial Accounting Standards Board — FASB Accounting Standards CodificationDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Compliance and Disclosure InterpretationsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Break-even pointSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16