The following table sets forth the operating expenses for the six months ended June 30:
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | Change |
Marketing | | $ | 4,886 | | $ | 25,875 | | $ | (20,989) |
Commissions | | | 32,800 | | | 83,100 | | | (50,300) |
Payroll related | | | 424,938 | | | 908,988 | | | (484,050) |
Consulting and professional fees | | | 176,747 | | | 572,396 | | | (395,649) |
Research and development | | | — | | | 289,934 | | | (289,934) |
Other operating expenses | | | 157,992 | | | 246,033 | | | (88,041) |
| | $ | 797,363 | | $ | 2,126,326 | | $ | (1,328,963) |
The following table sets forth the stock- based compensation expense included in the above operating expenses for six months ended June 30:
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | Change |
Payroll related | | | — | | | 400,000 | | | (400,000) |
Consulting and professional fees | | | — | | | 315,000 | | | (315,000) |
| | $ | — | | $ | 715,000 | | $ | (715,000) |
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll related expenses, commissions, consulting and professional fees, sales and marketing, research and development and other operating expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $797,363 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and $2,126,326 for the six months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $1,328,963 or about 63%.
The change is primarily due to a $484,050 decrease in payroll related costs of, which $400,000 is stock-based compensation, a $395,649 decrease in consulting and professional fees, of which $315,000 is stock-based compensation, decreased research and development costs of $289,934, decreased commissions of $50,300 and decreased other operating costs of $88,041.
Stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2023, includes $315,000 related to a consulting agreement with an advisor and director and $400,000 related to the issuance of a share of Series B Preferred stock to the Company’s CEO.
The non -stock based compensation decrease in payroll related costs consists primarily of reduced employee headcount and no CEO bonus earned in the 2024 period.
The non-stock based compensation decrease in consulting and professional fees includes, $30,000 related to the resignation of one of the Company’s directors as of July 1, 2023, as well as reduced legal, accounting and other public company related expenses.
The decrease in research and development costs relates to payments made under its product development agreement as new milestones were met in the 2023 period and not in the 2024 period. The decrease in other operating expenses consists primarily of $48,000 in reduced travel, $18,000 related to outside services, $8,000 in fees related to convertible note payable conversions and $12,000 related to property taxes and depreciation following the 2023 sale of the building. The decrease in commissions reflects the reduction in sales including a larger percentage sold to distributors.
Other expense decreased by $114,611 primarily due to a change in accrued penalties of $673,430 for convertible notes payable in default, a decrease in interest expense of $555,067 and a decrease in the losses associated with derivative liabilities of about $80,000, partially offset by the $1,193,676 gain from the 2023 sale of the building. Accrued penalties were removed in conjunction with the settlement of certain convertible notes payable. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to $370,000 of additional amortized debt discount and $160,000 related to the valuation of certain trigger warrants for matured convertible notes payable in the 2023 period. All debt discount for notes issued prior to Jan 1,2024 has been fully amortized in 2023.
As a result of the foregoing, we recorded a net loss of $605,038 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $1,915,869 for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributed to a decreased loss from operations.