Expense Categories
Create and manage categories for organizing expenses. Navigate to Payments → Expense Categories to manage categories.

Overview
Expense Categories help organize and track different types of business expenses. Proper categorization enables accurate financial reporting and cost analysis.
Creating an Expense Category
Click Add Expense Category.

Name (Required): Category name (e.g., "Food Supplies", "Utilities", "Marketing")
Description (Optional): Brief description of what belongs in this category
Category List View
Shows all categories with expense count and total spent per category.
Common Categories
- Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Food ingredients, beverage supplies
- Operating Expenses: Rent, utilities, salaries
- Marketing & Advertising: Promotions, ads
- Maintenance: Repairs, equipment servicing
- Administrative: Office supplies, licenses
Best Practices
Specific Categories: Create specific, meaningful categories rather than generic ones
Consistent Use: Use same categories consistently, train staff on proper categorization
Not Too Many: 10-15 categories sufficient for most restaurants, too many categories complicate tracking
Review Periodically: Add/remove categories as business needs change
Standardize
Use industry-standard expense categories when possible. Makes comparing with industry benchmarks easier and financial statements clearer.
