Which of the following is an example of a fixed expense?

A fixed expense is a cost that remains constant over a specific period, regardless of the level of goods or services produced or sold. Salaries paid to employees exemplify a fixed expense because they are regular payments made to employees that do not change based on the company's earnings or production levels. This means that whether a company has a high level of activity or encounters a slow period, it must still pay salaries at the agreed-upon rate.

In contrast, utilities that fluctuate monthly can vary significantly depending on usage, making them variable rather than fixed costs. Certain costs of goods sold can also change based on inventory levels and production demands. Sales commissions are typically tied to sales performance, which means they can vary significantly based on the company's sales volume. Thus, these options do not represent fixed expenses in the same way that salaries do.