Final answer:
The correct answer to which option is an example of a retail operating expense is E) All of these, as commissions, office supplies, and staff salaries are all operating expenses. Sales, however, represent the revenue and not an expense.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked which of the following is an example of a retail operating expense. Retail operating expenses are the costs a business incurs through its operations to sell products. These expenses are necessary for the day-to-day functioning of the business and are not related to the costs of the goods sold themselves but to the operations.
The options given include:
- Commissions
- Sales
- Office supplies
- Staff salaries
- All of these
The correct answer is E) All of these. Commissions, office supplies, and staff salaries are all part of the operating expenses a retail business may incur. Sales are not an expense but are the revenue the business earns from selling goods or services.