what is cost accounting? Explicit cost, also called accounting cost, is actual, recorded costs that the business incurs during the process of operations. The costs covered include payments for wages, rent, utilities, raw materials and other daily expenses. Net Income is determined through a company’s accounting cost by subtracting Total Expenses to Revenue. It is entirely based on historical data and is as a function of cash outflows, not opportunity costs. Unlike the economic cost, which includes intangible factors, this cost is unaffected by the same. Financial statements as well as regulatory compliance can be better prepared with accounting cost.