---
sourceDocument: Australia Strategic Portfolio Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-business-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Strategic Portfolio Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itbm

bundleId :

    - itbm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Use business services with expenses

# Use business services with expenses {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Manage the relationships between business services and their expenses with allocation units and cost centers.
* **[Define a cost center](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/8xvwBBUdFWb15CnIRRxyQQ)**   
  Cost centers are a commonly used reference between financial systems and IT. Cost center records represent business entities, and have a related list of CI Cost Center Relationships that measure the cost center's consumption of business services.
* **[Default allocation rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/i6V_MxHgmuodPNqE6R~~Uw)**   
  For every expense line generated for a business service, the default allocation rule Process Svc-CC Relationships will attempt to process the expense and create allocations for each cost center that is consuming the service.
* **[Define an allocation unit](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/oV67wwUVu6jBOar7mE9W_A)**   
  Allocation unit records define the capacity and usage of a business service.