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Homogeneous cost pool

A homogeneous cost pool groups overheads sharing a single causal link with one cost driver; pooling only costs driven by the same activity prevents the distortion that occurs when unrelated overheads are blended into one broad pool.

ByHoang TruongUpdated

FrameworkActivity-based costing

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A factory keeps two homogeneous pools. Pool one holds machine depreciation, electricity and maintenance, all driven by machine hours. Pool two holds procurement staff salaries, invoice processing and purchase-order administration, all driven by the number of purchase orders. Mixing the two into one broad pool spread on direct-labour hours would sever the causal link each cost actually has to its driver.

Where it fits
SubjectCost AccountingAdvancedTopicOverhead Allocation & ABCAdvanced

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PracticeCORE

A factory's ABC design team proposes keeping machine maintenance costs and procurement staff salaries in separate activity pools. Which statement best justifies maintaining these as two distinct pools?

Select an answer to check your understanding.