# Managing Expense Categories
> Source: https://development.fuze-store.com/docs/store/expenses/managing-categories

# Managing Expense Categories

Categories are the labels you assign to each expense — Supplies, Rent, Utilities, Salaries, and so on. Setting up a few clear categories up front makes it easy to record expenses consistently and to filter and total your spending later.

## Where to Find Them

Go to **Configurations → Expense Categories**. From here you can see every category, add new ones, edit them, and turn the ones you no longer use on or off.

## Creating a Category

1. Open **Configurations → Expense Categories**.
2. Press **Add** (the **+** button).
3. Fill in the fields:

| Field           | Required | Description                                                             | Example     |
| --------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| **Status**      | —        | Whether the category is **Active** and available when recording expenses | Active      |
| **Name**        | Yes      | What the category is called                                             | Supplies    |
| **Color**       | Yes      | A color swatch so the category is easy to spot in lists and reports     | Blue        |
| **Description** | No       | An optional note explaining what belongs in this category               | Coffee beans, cups, napkins |

4. Press **Save**. The new category is immediately available on the Create Expense form.

Keep your category list short and meaningful — a handful of well-named categories is far easier to work with than dozens of overlapping ones. You can always add more later.

## Editing a Category

1. Open **Configurations → Expense Categories**.
2. Tap the category you want to change.
3. Update the name, color, or description.
4. Press **Save**.

Editing a category updates it everywhere, including on expenses that already use it.

## Active vs. Inactive

Use the **Status** toggle to control whether a category appears when recording a new expense:

- **Active** — shows up in the category picker on the Create Expense form.
- **Inactive** — hidden from the picker, but past expenses keep their label and still appear in reports.

When you stop using a category, **deactivate it instead of deleting it**. Deactivating cleans up the picker while preserving the history and totals of every expense already filed under it.

## Deleting a Category

If you created a category by mistake and nothing is filed under it, you can delete it:

1. Open **Configurations → Expense Categories**.
2. Open the category (or use the delete action in the list).
3. Confirm the deletion.

Deleting is permanent. For any category you have actually used, deactivate it instead — that keeps your past expenses and reports intact.

## Tips

- **Set up categories before you start recording expenses** so every entry lands in the right place from day one.
- **Use distinct colors** for your most common categories to scan lists and summaries faster.
- **Review your categories occasionally** and deactivate the ones you no longer use to keep the picker tidy.

## Related Guides

- [Creating an Expense](/docs/store/expenses/creating-an-expense)
- [Managing Expenses](/docs/store/expenses/managing-expenses)
- [Approving Expenses](/docs/store/expenses/approving-expenses)
- [Expense Tracking Overview](/docs/store/expenses/overview)