Definition of SG&A
SG&A is the acronym for selling, general and administrative. SG&A are the operating expenses incurred to 1) promote, sell, and deliver a company's products and services, and 2) manage the overall company.
SG&A will be reported on the income statement in the period in which the expenses occur. Hence, SG&A expenses are said to be period costs as opposed to being part of a product's cost. Since SG&A expenses are not a product cost, they are not assigned to the cost of goods sold or to the goods that are in inventory.
Examples of SG&A
SG&A expenses include sales commissions, advertising, promotional materials, compensation of the company's officers as well as the marketing, sales, finance and office staffs, rent, utilities, supplies, computers, etc. provided they are outside of the manufacturing operations.
SG&A will not include interest expense since interest expense is reported as a nonoperating expense.
