CapEx vs. OpEx: the difference between these types of expenditures

What is a capital expenditure? 

A capital expenditure is a payment made to acquire a good or service expected to have a lasting benefit. CapEx purchases are typically big-ticket items with high initial costs. However, they improve the functioning of a business in the long run. 

CapEx is all about investment and return—putting money into the future growth of a business to generate value over time.

What types of expenses are classed as capital expenditures? 

Typical capital expenditures include:

• Tangible or fixed assets like machinery, vehicles, or equipment
• Building construction or renovation 
• Intangible assets like patents or trademarks
• Upgrades to existing technology and software
• Research and development

What is an operating expense? 

Operating expenditures cover the ordinary and customary costs that keep the business running smoothly. They’re necessary for a business to operate but don't create value or generate revenue for the business in the long term.

Operating expenses are an essential part of the immediate strategy of a company. CapEx and OpEx work together to stabilize the business as it grows.

What expense categories are classed as operating expenses?

Much like a budget that runs a personal household, operating expenses provide the means to run your physical business location and maintain its processes. Examples of operating costs include:

• Property costs (rent, payments, etc). 
• Property taxes
• Salaries
• Utilities
• Administrative costs
• Insurance

What are the main differences between CapEx vs. OpEx costs?

In short, capital expenses are the heavy hitters of your budget, whereas capital expenditures are the regular, predictable expenses that keep the lights on. Here are the main differences between the two: 

• Capital expenditures include large purchases, such as new equipment or facility building. This type of expenditure is usually done once, and the cost affects the company's bottom line over a long period of time.

• Operating expenses are costs that are incurred on a regular basis. These include things like salaries and office supplies, which are necessary for the ordinary operations of the business. Operating expenses can be more easily controlled and managed than capital expenditures.

• Capital expenditures involve significant investments that require a company to commit resources to something that will generate revenue in the future. Operating expenses involve smaller costs to support existing activities and don’t create value or generate revenue for the business in the long term.

How are CapEx and OpEx recorded on financial statements?

Both capital expenditures and operating expenses appear in different lines of your financial reporting. 

As a quick overview, this is where you’ll find capital expenditures on your financial statements: 

• Capital expenditures are recorded under the property, plant, and equipment (PP&E) line on the balance sheet as long-term assets, and the purchase amount is spread out over the useful life of an existing asset. 
• On the company’s income statement, CapEx is usually depreciated or amortized over its useful life. This is done so that expenses in one year aren't misrepresented as all coming from one purchase. 
• CapEx appears on the cash flow statement under investing activities when funds are spent on long-term assets.

Operating expenses appear as follows on your financial statements: 

• On the balance sheet, operating expenses can also be listed as prepaid expenses or accounts payable in some instances.
• Operating expenses are recorded on the income statement as part of the cost of goods sold (COGS).  
• On the cash flow statement, operating expenses are listed under operating activities as they are paid out.

Tax differences between capital expenditures versus operating expenses

Because CapEx and OpEx involve different kinds of spending, the way they depreciate varies. 

Capital expenditures are depreciated over time to spread out the tax deduction you can claim for an asset's useful life. Instead of claiming the entire cost of a large purchase in the year it is made, companies can spread the cost out into smaller amounts over several years to reduce your taxable income in any given year.

Operating expenses are usually deductible in the year they're incurred. So, for instance, if you buy office supplies, hire an employee, or pay rent in any given year, those expenses can be deducted from that year’s taxable income. This means that you may be able to deduct all of the cost of the expense in one go and receive the future benefits immediately, as opposed to having to spread it over multiple years with capital expenditures. 

(We know you know this, but the information above is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered tax advice. For qualified tax advice, see your Finance department, CPA, or another qualified tax advisor for information on your tax situation.) 

Standard depreciation methods for capital expenditures

Companies may use several widely accepted depreciation methods to calculate the declining value of their CapEx assets over time. The most common ones include Straight Line, Double Declining Balance Method, and Units of Production. 

Companies decide which method best suits their needs for tax purposes while considering the asset's useful life and the business cycle. Choosing one over the other affects how quickly deductions can be taken for taxes, so it’s essential to remember how your selection affects cash flow in the future.

Straight-Line Depreciation: The simplest method of depreciation, spreads out the cost evenly over the asset's useful life. Businesses like straight-Line because it’s simple to calculate and easy to understand. It requires no calculations beyond the cost of the asset and its useful life span. It simplifies filing taxes as deductions can be taken steadily over time, allowing for smoother cash flow throughout the asset's lifespan. The straight-line method allows businesses to better predict future tax savings and budget accordingly.

Double Declining Balance: This method accelerates depreciation by taking a larger deduction in earlier years and gradually more minor deductions each year thereafter. This method is also helpful for businesses that rely heavily on more significant cash inflows from investments and prefer to defer taxes to a later accounting period. It works best for companies that need to quickly depreciate their assets and can take advantage of larger deductions in the short term. 

Units of Production Method: The units of production method takes into account how often an asset is used or its production output to calculate its depreciation. This method works best for assets used frequently or at regular intervals. 

This method lets you base depreciation on the number of times an asset is used or the volume it produces rather than a set timeline for depreciation. This allows companies to accurately know what percentage of value to reduce from an asset and better plan for tax deductions. By using the units of production method, businesses can accurately calculate depreciation expenses and save money in taxes.

It’s important to note that if you sell an asset before its total depreciation, you may have to recapture some depreciation as taxable income.

How do capital expenditures affect cash flow?

Monitoring cash flow and cash ratios is an important component of balancing spending against return.

CapEx projects can be costly, but those investments often significantly improve a company's business operations and productivity. This can result in an increase in cash flow by reducing costs and boosting production and revenue. 

For example, if a business invests in new technology that automates specific processes, it could reduce labor costs and increase operational efficiency over time. However, there may be a period when these investments impact cash flow due to the cost associated with them.

(To calculate your capital expense numbers, check out our full article on CapEx and download our free Excel template.) 

How do operating expenses affect cash flow?  

Operational expenditures, such as rent, payroll, inventory, and other overhead costs significantly impact a company's cash flow.

These costs may be necessary for maintaining and operating the business but can also limit cash resources.

An effective cash flow management strategy should balance keeping things running and growth on the front burner.

Operational expenses should be closely monitored to ensure you’re not blowing the budget in the short term. This is especially true when using credit lines or outside capital is in the mix. 

(For a simple way to check the strength of your liquidity, learn how to use the quick ratio with our step-by-step guide.) 

Conclusion

Now you know all about the difference between CapEx vs. OpEx.

What they stand for, what they are, and where to find each.

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