COPAS does not publish overhead rates. In addition, COPAS does not endorse the use of “benchmark” rates for overhead.

The overhead fees are to compensate the Operator for the cost of providing overhead functions. In theory, the parties start from a “neutral” point, i.e., the Operator should neither gain nor lose money on the overhead fees. However, during the course of the negotiation, the parties may decide to increase or decrease the overhead fees in exchange for other commercial terms. Also, one Operator’s practice may be to charge the joint account for something that another Operator includes in its overhead services – e.g., technical labor. All other things being equal, the former Operator should have lower overhead rates than the latter.