In real estate, capital expenditures refer to anything of significant value that improves or extends the life of the property. On the other hand, replacing a gravel driveway with a paved driveway is a capital expenditure. Other common capital expenditures for real estate include replacing an old roof, adding or replacing the HVAC system, and adding other improvements to the property such as a deck or pool. While often used interchangeably, operating expenses (OpEx) and capital expenditures (CapEx) are not exactly the same.

Capital expenditures help companies and investors understand the quantum of funds the company has invested in growing the business. Capital expenditures are often difficult to reverse without the company incurring losses. Most forms of capital equipment are customized to meet specific company requirements and needs. For example, the purchase of office supplies like printer ink and paper would not be capitalized but would instead be expensed. OpEx are generally deducted from revenue as an expense and the profits that are left over are invested in CapEx, to create future growth and opportunity. In this brief guide, we’ll cover what capital expenditure is, as well as why understanding it is critical, regardless of the industry your business is in.

A comprehensive guide to assets and asset management

Sally expects that the playground equipment will last 7 years before it needs to be replaced. Sally’s balance sheet would show the $43,500 cost of the playground equipment depreciated over 7 years. These small costs will be listed as expenses in the current accounting period and will be offset against revenue immediately. This means if a company regularly has more CapEx than depreciation, its asset base is growing. For investors to better understand the financial health and prospects of a business, they should thoroughly understand the capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are related to growing and improving the assets of a business.

If the benefit is less than one year, it will be expensed directly on the income statement. If the benefit is greater than one year, it must be capitalized as an asset on the balance sheet. OpEx (operating expenses) refer to the everyday expenses a business incurs throughout standard operation.

What is capital expenditure?

Any expense that recurs consistently over a given time is a revenue expense. For example, any maintenance costs to a building owned by your company are revenue expenditures. Everything your company buys that is not a fixed asset falls under revenue expenditure, from new desk stationery to building expense form template maintenance. Revenue expenditures like those below are reported on the monthly revenue bill against that expense period’s (week/month/quarter) revenue. The difference between revenue expenditures and capital expenditures is another example of two similar terms that are easily mixed up.

Furthermore, the full price of both examples ($12,000 and $4,800, respectively) can be deducted from each company’s taxes the year they pay for the goods in question. We will cover different aspects of capital expenditure using the following template. Capital expenditures are found to be difficult to reverse without causing a loss to the organisation as the market for the old capital equipment is generally bad.

Maintenance vs. Growth Capex Analysis

When companies invest in capital expenditures there is usually a positive return on investment over time. Some businesses, like an oil refinery, would require large capital expenditures for things such as a plant and equipment. Depending on the type and price of machinery in question, the cost of buying those machines would be either revenue or capital expenditures. Long-term-use machines, or machines that are much more expensive, would come under the capital bracket; anything else would settle as revenue expenditures.

Once a company’s growth begins to stagnate noticeably, a higher proportion of its total capex should shift towards maintenance. For example, the act of repairing a roof, building a new factory, or purchasing a piece of equipment would each be categorized as a capital expenditure. Businesses need to decide what model each expense would fall into, fully knowing the trade-offs.

How Are Capital Expenditures Reported?

Again, capital expenditures refer to long-term investments related to your business over a multi-year timeline. Any investment with a useful life expectancy of under a year would not qualify. Examples of revenue expenditures include the amounts spent on repairs and maintenance, selling, general and administrative expenses. While capital expenditures are among the most critical decisions organizations face, many struggle in accurately managing a CapEx plan. While ongoing investments tend to make companies more efficient, there’s always the risk that the purchase might not pay off, especially when dealing with a sluggish economy.

The amount of each period’s depreciation expense is also credited to the contra-asset account Accumulated Depreciation. CapEx can tell you how much a company invests in existing and new fixed assets to maintain or grow its business. Put differently, CapEx is any type of expense that a company capitalizes or shows on its balance sheet as an investment rather than on its income statement as an expenditure. Capitalizing an asset requires the company to spread the cost of the expenditure over the useful life of the asset. Companies often incur capital expenditures to invest in their long-term capabilities.