Which of the following would be included in operating expenses?

Operating expenses refer to the costs that are necessary for a business to run its day-to-day operations but are not directly tied to the production of goods or services. This includes expenses such as salaries for staff involved in administration, marketing, and other support functions that help maintain the business but do not contribute directly to producing the products sold.

The salary of administrative staff is a prime example of an operating expense. These are regular costs incurred to keep the business operational, including payroll for those who handle the company's administration, finance, HR, and other support roles.

In contrast, costs related to raw materials, depreciation on manufacturing equipment, and the cost of goods sold (COGS) are associated directly with the production of goods. Raw materials and COGS are specifically tied to the manufacturing process, while depreciation on manufacturing equipment reflects the allocation of equipment costs over time rather than operating expenditures. Thus, they do not fall under operating expenses, which focus on non-production related expenditures.