Which of the following is considered an operating expense?

Operating expenses refer to the costs that a business incurs through its normal operations, excluding the costs directly tied to the production of goods or services. These expenses are essential for running day-to-day activities and are typically accounted for in the income statement.

Salaries paid to employees fall under operating expenses because they are necessary for the functioning of the business. They encompass the regular remuneration given to employees who contribute to the operations, from administrative staff to those in various departments working to support the core business activities.

Cost of goods sold, on the other hand, is specifically related to the direct costs of producing the products sold by the company, making it a separate category from operating expenses. Marketing expenses, while also part of operating costs, generally refer to promotional activities rather than the broader workforce costs. Interest on loans relates to financial expenses rather than operational expenses since it pertains to the cost of borrowing money rather than the costs associated with running the business on a day-to-day basis.