How to Add Custom Cost Categories in AskBiz
Step-by-step instructions for adding your own cost category rows to the Fixed Costs and Variable Costs tabs in the AskBiz Cost Configuration Drawer.
Key Takeaways
- Both the Fixed Costs and Variable Costs tabs have an "+ Add row" button for creating custom expense categories.
- Custom rows accept any label you choose and a monthly amount, giving full flexibility to match your specific business.
- Custom rows persist in localStorage alongside default rows and appear every time you reopen the drawer.
When to Add a Custom Cost Category
The default categories in the Cost Configuration Drawer cover the most common small business expenses, but every business is different. A restaurant needs a Food and Beverage Supplies row. A photography studio might need a Studio Rental row. A software company might want separate rows for AWS infrastructure, Stripe fees, and Intercom subscriptions rather than grouping them all under Software Subscriptions. Whenever a significant cost in your business does not map cleanly to an existing default row, adding a custom row is the right approach. Custom rows let you keep your cost breakdown specific enough to be useful without losing accuracy by forcing everything into broad buckets.
How to Add a Custom Row to Fixed Costs
Step 1: Open the Cost Configuration Drawer from the CFO dashboard. Step 2: Tap the Fixed Costs tab. Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the fixed cost list. Step 4: Tap the "+ Add row" button. A new blank row appears below the existing categories with an empty label field on the left and an empty amount field on the right. Step 5: Tap the label field and type a name for your cost category. Keep it short and descriptive, for example "Warehouse Storage" or "Annual License Fee (monthly)". Step 6: Tap the amount field and type the monthly cost as a number. Step 7: Repeat steps 4 through 6 for any additional custom categories. Step 8: Tap Save when done.
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The process is identical in the Variable Costs tab. Step 1: While still in the Cost Configuration Drawer, tap the Variable Costs tab. Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the variable cost list. Step 3: Tap "+ Add row". A new blank row appears. Step 4: Enter a descriptive label for your cost, such as "Influencer Partnerships" or "Event Materials". Step 5: Enter the typical monthly amount. For variable costs, use a recent three-month average as your input. Step 6: Tap Save. Your custom variable cost rows are now included in the total variable cost figure and feed into the daily burn rate calculation.
Naming and Organising Your Custom Rows
Good row naming makes it easier to update costs in future sessions. Use names that are immediately recognisable when you open the drawer weeks later. Avoid overly generic names like "Other" — instead name the specific cost. If you have several small miscellaneous costs that are not worth tracking individually, you can combine them into a single row called "Miscellaneous Overheads" with a combined monthly total. The order of rows does not affect calculations, so arrange them in whatever order makes sense for your mental model of the business — perhaps largest cost at the top, or grouped by department.