Expense Management
September 20, 2024

What is MOC or Manufacturing Overhead Cost? Read the Details Here!

Written by
Content Team
Last Modified on
September 20, 2024

As a business owner, MOC is something you should seriously consider, as it will have a significant impact on the budget you allocate for your company. Well, for those of you who don't know, MOC stands for Manufacturing Overhead Costs. In this article, you will get a comprehensive explanation of what MOC is, examples of MOC that you should be aware of, and how MOC will benefit your company.

MOC is an integral component in business operations, especially in the production sector, whether for manufacturing goods or providing services. MOC includes costs that cannot be directly attributed to specific products but have a significant impact on the sustainability of the production process. In this context, MOC is not limited to visible direct costs such as raw materials and labor but also encompasses often missed elements that support the company's operations.

It is important to note for you, the business owner, that MOC needs to be included in the company's profit and loss statement for each accounting period. By including MOC in this report, the company can monitor and evaluate the extent to which these unseen costs impact overall financial performance. Therefore, a good understanding of MOC is not only key to optimizing efficiency in production but also to making strategic decisions based on accurate and complete financial information.

As an inseparable concept, MOC, which stands for Manufacturing Overhead Costs, is one of the factors that provides a comprehensive overview of a company's financial health. Therefore, a careful analysis of MOC is necessary to identify potential cost savings and improve efficiency. By scrutinizing each element of MOC in detail, a company can develop smarter management strategies that are responsive to changes in the market and customer needs.

It is important to note for you, the business owner, that MOC needs to be included in the company's profit and loss statement for each accounting period. By including MOC in this report, the company can monitor and evaluate the extent to which these unforeseen costs impact overall financial performance. Therefore, a good understanding of MOC is not only key to optimizing efficiency in production but also to making strategic decisions based on accurate and complete financial information.

What is MOC? 

MOC, or Manufacturing Overhead Costs, is a category of expenses related to the operational aspects of a company's manufacturing or production facility. In simple terms, MOC encompasses all indirect costs incurred during the production process that cannot be directly attributed to a specific product. For example, equipment depreciation, utility bills, and production staff salaries are some key components of MOC. As a crucial part of production costs, a thorough understanding of MOC is essential for company management to plan, control, and optimize financial and operational efficiency.

MOC has a direct impact on the selling price of products. If overhead costs are not well managed, it can lead to non-competitive product prices in the market. Therefore, companies need to understand in detail how each element of MOC contributes to the total production cost. With a good understanding, companies can identify potential cost savings, adopt more efficient management strategies, and enhance the competitiveness of their products.

In the accounting context, MOC is also recorded in the company's financial statements. The profit and loss statement includes MOC to provide a comprehensive overview of the company's financial health. Analyzing MOC in financial statements can help stakeholders, including owners, investors, and management, understand the actual contribution of overhead costs to the overall financial performance of the company. With the evolution of business and technology, a deep understanding of MOC has become not only a management tool but also a strategic asset for achieving long-term company goals.

How MOC functions for a business

Playing a highly important role in the continuity of your business operations, Manufacturing Overhead Costs (MOC) form an integral part of a company's cost structure. Don't overlook them, even though they may not be directly related to raw materials or your employees' basic salaries. Let's explore some functions that MOC serves for your business below!

Determines the selling price of your products/services:

By understanding and managing MOC effectively, a company can establish competitive pricing in the market. A good understanding of MOC elements such as utility costs, employee salaries, and equipment depreciation enables the company to make smarter pricing decisions, enhance competitiveness, and create added value for customers.

Measures production efficiency:

By monitoring and controlling MOC, a company can assess how efficiently the production process is running. Identifying areas where MOC can be reduced or optimized helps the company improve operational efficiency. Moreover, understanding MOC allows the company to identify potential inefficiencies in the production cycle and adopt more effective strategies to enhance productivity.

Determines the company's profits:

In this context, MOC helps determine profit margins by taking into account all costs associated with production. Careful MOC analysis enables the company to establish realistic profit levels, create accurate financial projections, and develop sustainable business strategies.

Plays a crucial part in management decision-making:

Through a deep understanding of overhead costs, management can make informed strategic decisions. MOC analysis helps management identify priority areas for cost savings, optimize resource allocation, and design policies that support long-term business growth and sustainability. Thus, MOC is not only a part of the cost structure but also a strategic tool guiding effective business management.

The different types and examples of MOC

Types of MOC based on their nature

Auxiliary Material Costs:

Auxiliary material costs encompass expenses related to materials that are not included in the final product and have a lower value compared to the overall value of the product.

Indirect Labor Costs:

Indirect labor costs pertain to the costs of labor services that cannot be directly attributed to the produced product. This includes the wages of employees not directly involved in the production line, such as administrative staff or production supervisors. These costs encompass allowances, health insurance, and other benefits not directly related to the production of goods or services.

Maintenance Costs:

Maintenance costs include various types of expenses related to the maintenance and upkeep of production equipment, vehicles, and the purchase of spare parts. Maintenance costs are crucial to ensuring the smooth running of the production process and the availability of necessary equipment.

Types of MOC based on their behavior in relation to production volume:

Fixed Manufacturing Overhead Costs:

These are costs that do not change regardless of fluctuations in production volume. Their constant nature makes them stable and unaffected by changes in production capacity. Examples of MOC in this category include labor costs, lease payments, insurance, legal fees, and consulting expenses.

Semi-Variable Overhead Costs:

These are overhead costs that change, but the changes are not significant or proportional to fluctuations in production volume. An example of MOC in this case is the cost of purchasing ink for printers. Although there may be an increase in ink usage with increased production, the cost increase is not proportional.

Variable Overhead Costs:

These are fluctuating costs that align with changes in production volume. As production volume increases, variable overhead costs increase proportionally, and vice versa. Examples of MOC in this category include promotion and marketing expenses, electricity costs, telephone expenses, and office supplies costs.

Types of MOC based on company divisions:

Direct Departmental Costs:

These are costs that are exclusively related to and owned by a specific department. The benefits of using these costs are limited to that department, with no sharing of benefits with other departments. For example, the salary and allowances of employees who specifically work in a particular department or the cost of raw materials exclusively used by that department.

Indirect Departmental Costs:

These costs are managed by a department that provides benefits not only to that department but also to other departments within the company. For instance, general management costs, security costs, or facility maintenance costs that provide shared benefits for several departments. Managing indirect departmental costs requires careful allocation to ensure that the benefits are fairly accounted for by the departments sharing the costs.

The benefits of MOC for your business

MOC assists companies in determining product selling prices more accurately. By understanding and efficiently managing overhead costs, a company can calculate selling prices that encompass all cost elements, including indirect costs related to production. This provides a competitive advantage as the company can offer competitive prices in the market. Additionally, MOC provides in-depth insights into operational efficiency. By analyzing MOC components, a company can identify areas where overhead costs can be reduced or optimized. These improvement measures help enhance productivity, reduce waste, and increase overall company profitability. 

Managing MOC is also a crucial tool in budget planning. By accounting for overhead costs, a company can design realistic and accurate operational budgets. This helps the company manage its financial resources more wisely, avoid budgetary mismanagement, and create a stable financial foundation. Furthermore, MOC provides valuable information for strategic decision-making. By understanding the aspects of overhead costs, management can make the most accurate decisions regarding resource allocation, production expansion, and business policy determination. This helps the company respond better to changes in the market and business environment.

Aspire as the app that can help you run your business

Understanding MOC or Manufacturing Overhead Costs as a whole is part of how you manage your company's finances better. Another way is by using an application that can assist you in organizing your company's finances neatly, allowing you to focus more on developing your business as a whole.

Aspire comes as a comprehensive payment solution to meet the financial needs of your business. So, what can Aspire do to help you manage your company's finances? Aspire provides business account features that include smart invoicing to integrated and seamless recipient accounts. You can easily manage your business finances in one application. Not to forget, Aspire also offers the opportunity for free local transfers and unlimited cashback, which, of course, can reduce your business expenses.

To facilitate your customer transactions, Aspire also provides the best payment gateway services in Indonesia. You can use more than 26 payment options, including bank transfers, credit and debit cards, e-wallets, QRIS, and even retail payments through Indomaret and Alfamart. You will also experience ease of integration and highly efficient usage, along with automatic payment verification features that ensure a faster and easier payment process.

Run into any confusing features? Don't worry, Aspire offers assistance services ready to help you 24/7 to overcome any challenges or answer any questions you may have regarding the use of Aspire. To learn more about running a business and everything related to financial management in your company, just check out the Aspire blog!

For more episodes of CFO Talks, check us out on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or add our RSS feed to your favorite podcast player!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can Aspire support the unique financial needs and challenges of mid-sized businesses?

Aspire offers a comprehensive suite of expense management solutions tailored for mid-market companies. This includes sophisticated corporate cards, advanced budget controls, and streamlined claims and approval policies, all designed to enhance financial efficiency.

How quickly can a mid-market company integrate Aspire's solutions into existing systems and workflows?

Integration with Aspire's expense management solutions is swift and seamless. Mid-market companies can swiftly implement corporate cards with tailored features, set up nuanced budgets, and establish streamlined claims and approval processes, ensuring minimal disruption to existing workflows.

How does Aspire compare to competitors for international money transfers?

Aspire excels in international expense management with FX fees up to 2x cheaper than traditional banks.

Global payments are offered by various providers through business accounts. Read our article to know more about types of business accounts and how to choose the best one for your business. There are many banks and fintech companies offering business accounts to businesses in Singapore. We have covered them all in our blog, you can click the links to view accounts offered by various banks such as DBS, OCBC, Maybank etc.

However, if you are a start-up or a growing business, chances are you may not meet the eligibility criteria for most of these banks or find their charges to be expensive for your liking. You can consider opting for Aspire multi-currency account for global payments which offers you all the benefits, with eligibility criteria which are less stringent. Read our article on bank charges in Singapore for a quick and easy comparison.

What level of customization does Aspire offer to meet the specific financial requirements of mid-market clients?

Aspire understands the diverse financial needs of mid-market clients and provides a high level of customization to tailor solutions accordingly. This includes the ability to customize corporate cards with specific spending limits, rewards, and benefits that align with the unique requirements of each client.

Additionally, Aspire's budgeting features are adaptable to accommodate the distinct financial structures of mid-market enterprises. The platform also allows for fine-tuning approval policies, ensuring they align with the specific workflows and compliance standards of individual mid-market businesses. This commitment to customization empowers mid-market clients to optimize their expense management in a way that best suits their financial goals and operational preferences.

Is there a minimum balance required for Aspire Business Accounts?

No minimum balance is required to keep your SGD, USD, EUR, GBP and IDR Accounts activated.

Can Aspire's corporate cards be customized to cater to the specific needs of consulting teams on the go?

Yes, Aspire's corporate cards are highly customizable. Consulting teams can benefit from tailored spending limits, travel-centric perks, and real-time transaction tracking, ensuring that the cards meet the unique requirements of professionals on the move.

How does Aspire support budget management for consulting projects and travel expenses?

Aspire's platform offers sophisticated budget controls that consulting companies can adapt to project-specific needs. This includes setting project budgets, tracking expenditures, and receiving real-time insights to ensure that expenses align with project goals.

What are Aspire Corporate Card FX rates?

At Aspire, we want you to pay the lowest rates in the market.
- Zero card activation fees
- Zero card transaction fees
- Best FX rates, up to 2x cheaper than banks

How does Aspire help consulting companies enforce expense policies and approvals for travel expenses?

Aspire streamlines the claims and approval process, allowing consulting companies to establish and enforce expense policies seamlessly. Customizable approval workflows ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations.

Is Aspire's platform scalable for consulting companies of varying sizes?

Yes, Aspire's platform is scalable and caters to consulting companies of all sizes. Whether you're a boutique consultancy or a larger firm, the platform's features can be adapted to meet your specific travel and expense management needs.

How can I open a business account in Singapore?

For a business account in Singapore, Aspire is an excellent choice. With a focus on startup and SME needs, Aspire offers a seamless and transparent banking experience.

Benefit from their user-friendly online platform, no minimum balance or account opening fees, and dedicated support for businesses of all sizes.

Aspire is designed to streamline your financial management, making it an ideal partner for entrepreneurs in Singapore.

How long does it take to open an Aspire business account?

Registration with Aspire takes less than 10 minutes which you can do via our website or mobile app.

Once registered, we will get back to you within 5 business days on whether your account has been activated or if we need further documents from you.

Our account verification process varies according to the nature of your business. In exceptional cases, it can take up to 7 days to process your documents.

How can Aspire's corporate cards benefit my startup?

Aspire's corporate cards offer a range of benefits for your startup. Earn 1% unlimited cashback on qualified spends, simplify expense management, enjoy streamlined transactions, and gain real-time insights into spending. With customizable limits, integration with accounting software, and enhanced security features, Aspire's corporate cards are designed to empower your startup's financial efficiency and provide added convenience for your team.

Is Aspire suitable for both early-stage and established startups?

Absolutely, Aspire caters to the needs of both early-stage and established startups. Whether you're just beginning your entrepreneurial journey or have an established business, Aspire offers tailored financial solutions to help streamline your operations.

From managing expenses and optimizing workflows to providing valuable financial insights, Aspire's platform is designed to adapt and scale with your business as it grows. The flexibility and scalability of Aspire make it a suitable choice for startups at various stages of development.

Is there a minimum balance required for Aspire Business Accounts?

No minimum balance is required to keep your SGD, USD and IDR* Accounts activated.

However, we recommend keeping your subscription plan amount available on your balance to ensure you're up to date with your payment every month.*

To create a recipient or make any transaction on your IDR Account, you'll need to have a minimum balance of IDR 10,000 on your account.

Share this post
Content Team
at Aspire is a society of seasoned writers & experts specialising in finance, technology and SaaS space. With 50+ years of collective experience, they help make business finance more profitable for readers. They write about finance tools, finance insights, industry trends, tactical guides to grow your business & also all things Aspire.
Supercharge your finance operations with Aspire
Find out how Aspire can help you speed up your end-to-end finance processes from payments to expense management.
Talk to Sales