charge at cost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "charge at cost" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to pricing goods or services without adding a profit margin. For example, "We will charge at cost for the materials used in the project." Alternative expressions include "cost price" and "at cost price."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They plan to charge "at cost" for additional storage.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Farley called the issue "ancient history," saying the fees were charged "at cost".

The New York Times

Municipalities would build this housing, with rents charged at cost and some units subsidized.

Huffington Post

Such mechanisms are being put in place in rural China and indeed the county in which this study was based is now part of an experiment instituted by Anhui in which all drugs may only be charged at cost price.

BMC Public Health

Facebook just notified TechCrunch that Exchange is currently in testing with eight advertising demand-side platforms, and it will become more widely available in the next few weeks for traditional Facebook sidebar ads charged at cost-per-thousand-impressions, but not Sponsored Stories or mobile.

TechCrunch

General Motors and Segway have teamed up on Project PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), a two-wheeled city vehicle capable of reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour, and going 35 miles on a single charge at a cost of 35 cents per charge.

TechCrunch

Few infrastructure projects can charge at full cost.

Huffington Post

If prosecutors stop twisting and turning the law to charge at any cost, then yes a wrongdoer will go free, but public pressure will shift to legislators and league owners to devise laws that fit the circumstances.

Huffington Post

In Chile they are given special water stamps to help them pay their utility bills; in South Africa the first 25 litres a day are delivered free, but the rest is charged at full cost.

The Economist

It is likely that he could have settled the case for a relatively modest sum, but instead he has chosen to fight the civil charges at a cost that far exceeds his potential liability.

The New York Times

"For United States government patronage, our hotels charge room rates only at cost and we do not profit from these stays," the company said. .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "charge at cost", clarify all included expenses to avoid ambiguity about the final price.

Common error

Avoid using "charge at cost" when there are hidden fees or handling charges involved, as this misrepresents the actual expense to the client.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "charge at cost" functions as a verb phrase that describes a pricing strategy. It indicates that the price is set to cover only the expenses, without adding any profit margin. This is supported by Ludwig, showing that it's used to explain pricing policies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "charge at cost" is a useful term indicating a pricing strategy that only covers expenses without profit. While grammatically correct and fairly common, it's important to be clear about which costs are included. Ludwig confirms its usage in conveying transparency and fairness in pricing across various contexts, including news, business, and science. Remember to clarify all expenses to avoid misinterpretations. Consider alternative phrasing such as "offer at cost price" or "provide at cost" to add emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer at cost price

Replaces "charge" with "offer" and specifies "cost price" for emphasis on pricing.

provide at cost

Substitutes "charge" with "provide", highlighting the act of supplying something at its expense.

price at cost

Uses "price" instead of "charge", focusing directly on the pricing strategy.

bill at cost

Replaces "charge" with "bill", suitable when referring to invoices or financial statements.

recover expenses only

Focuses on recouping expenses without profit, differing slightly from the directness of "charge at cost".

cover expenses

Describes the act of charging enough to cover costs, omitting the explicit mention of pricing.

non-profit pricing

Highlights the absence of profit in pricing strategy.

without markup

Indicates pricing at cost by stating the absence of additional markup.

supply at breakeven

Emphasizes the point where costs equal revenue, with no profit or loss.

at manufacturer's price

Specifies pricing at the original production cost.

FAQs

How can I use "charge at cost" in a sentence?

You can use "charge at cost" to indicate that you are only charging enough to cover expenses, without making a profit. For instance, "We "charge at cost" for the materials used in the workshop".

What does "charge at cost" mean in a business context?

In a business context, "charge at cost" signifies that a product or service is being offered at the price it takes to produce or provide it, without any additional markup for profit. It's often used to attract customers or for internal transactions.

What's the difference between "charge at cost" and "break-even pricing"?

"Charge at cost" implies pricing a product or service to only cover the direct expenses involved. "Break-even pricing" /s/break-even+pricing takes a broader view, aiming to cover all costs, including overhead and indirect expenses, to ensure the business neither profits nor loses money.

Are there situations where it's not advisable to "charge at cost"?

Charging consistently "charge at cost" may not be advisable if it undermines the perceived value of your product or service, or if it prevents you from covering essential operational costs and reinvesting in your business. It should be a strategic decision, not a default practice.