How to Configure Your Fixed Costs in AskBiz
Learn what counts as a fixed cost, how to enter each category in the AskBiz Cost Configuration Drawer, and why accurate fixed costs matter for your metrics.
Key Takeaways
- Fixed costs are expenses that recur every month at a predictable amount regardless of your sales volume.
- AskBiz provides nine default fixed cost categories — you can edit amounts, delete unused ones, and add custom rows.
- Accurate fixed costs feed directly into your Daily Burn calculation and Cash Runway figure.
What Counts as a Fixed Cost?
A fixed cost is any expense your business pays every month that does not change based on how much you sell. Your office rent is the same whether you have a great month or a quiet one. Salaries for salaried employees, health insurance premiums, business insurance, software subscriptions like your accounting tool or project management platform, equipment lease payments, loan or debt repayments, phone and internet bills, and ongoing accounting or legal retainers all qualify as fixed costs. The defining characteristic is predictability: you can put a reliable monthly dollar amount against each category. If a cost varies significantly month to month based on usage or sales, it belongs in Variable Costs instead.
How to Enter Your Fixed Costs
Step 1: Open the Cost Configuration Drawer from the CFO dashboard. Step 2: Tap the Fixed Costs tab at the top of the drawer. Step 3: You will see a list of default cost categories: Rent/Lease, Salaries and Wages, Health Insurance, Business Insurance, Software Subscriptions, Equipment Leases, Loan/Debt Payments, Phone and Internet, and Accounting/Legal. Each row has a label on the left and a monthly amount field on the right. Step 4: Tap the amount field next to each category that applies to your business and type in the monthly cost. Leave the amount at zero (or delete the row) for categories that do not apply. Step 5: Work through each row methodically — refer to your bank statements or accounting software to find the correct monthly figures. Step 6: Once all applicable rows are filled in, tap Save.
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Start for free →Using the Default Category Rows
AskBiz ships with nine preset fixed cost categories that cover the most common small business overheads. You do not have to use every row. If your business does not have an equipment lease, simply leave that row at zero or delete it using the remove button (typically a trash icon or minus button) on the right side of the row. The rows you delete do not affect the dashboard — they simply no longer appear in your configuration. If your business has a cost that spans two categories (for example, a combined phone and internet and cloud hosting bill), enter it in whichever row makes most sense to you and note it consistently so future updates are easy.
Adding Custom Fixed Cost Categories
If your business has fixed costs that do not fit the default categories, you can add custom rows. Scroll to the bottom of the Fixed Costs tab and tap the "+ Add row" button. A new row appears with an editable label field and an amount field. Step 1: Tap the label field and type the name of your cost category (for example, "Warehouse Storage" or "Vehicle Lease"). Step 2: Tap the amount field and enter the monthly cost. Step 3: Repeat for as many custom rows as you need. Step 4: Tap Save to apply all changes. Your custom rows will persist between sessions alongside the default categories.
Why Getting Fixed Costs Right Matters
Your total monthly fixed costs feed directly into the Daily Burn calculation (fixed costs plus variable costs divided by 30) which then determines your Cash Runway. An underestimated fixed cost figure produces an overly optimistic runway number. For example, if your real fixed costs are $8,000 per month but you only entered $5,000, your runway looks 60% longer than it actually is. This false comfort can lead you to delay fundraising, skip a cost-cutting conversation, or make a hiring decision that tips the balance. Spend 20 minutes getting the fixed cost tab accurate on your first setup, and you will have a dashboard that gives you genuinely useful guidance.