In financial terms, what do overhead costs typically include?

Overhead costs refer to the indirect expenses incurred in the operation of a business that are not directly tied to the production of goods or services. This category typically encompasses a variety of costs essential for running a business but not attributable directly to the manufacturing process. Examples include utilities, rent, property taxes, and administrative salaries.

By focusing on indirect costs, one can see that options like raw materials, which are directly linked to production, or employee salaries for production staff, which are also direct costs, do not fit the definition of overhead. Similarly, commission payments to sales staff are direct expenses tied to sales activities, not general operational costs. Therefore, the correct answer that identifies overhead costs accurately is the option that includes indirect costs such as utilities and rent, highlighting the nature of these expenses in the financial framework of a business.