Expense items are those costs associated with running a business which cannot be capitalized and must instead be incurred each year. These include the everyday costs of materials, labor and energy needed to keep operations going. They also cover more targeted investments such as marketing spend, fees for professional services and travel expenses. Expense items can vary greatly in size and scope, but they all have one thing in common: their value is consumed as soon as you expend it. As a responsible business owner, it’s important to stay on top of your expense items and use them wisely to get the best return on investment.