title: Cost accounting comes to service industries.
abstract: With rising prices and increased competition, service companies are finding that knowing the costs of their products and services is vital to their health, if not to their existence. However, many of these companies have found their cost accounting systems less than satisfactory. This author points out that many service companies use traditional product cost techniques, which are inappropriate for them. He explains why these techniques fail and describes a system of unique costs that should be successful.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dearden
mesh_terms: D000066:Accounting / Q000379:methods*; D003132:Commerce; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D009934:Organization and Administration