Operating expenses
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended October 31 | | Year ended October 31 |
| | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | Change |
| | $ | | $ | | ∆ | | $ | | $ | | ∆ |
Salaries, wages and benefits | | 14,727 | | 13,122 | | 12% | | 56,798 | | 44,055 | | 29% |
Share-based compensation | | (284) | | 2,092 | | (114%) | | 5,034 | | 8,080 | | (38%) |
General and administration | | 6,748 | | 7,175 | | (6%) | | 26,888 | | 25,973 | | 4% |
Professional fees | | 1,450 | | 1,671 | | (13%) | | 8,350 | | 4,920 | | 70% |
Advertising and promotion | | 596 | | 1,500 | | (60%) | | 4,144 | | 7,868 | | (47%) |
Depreciation and amortization | | 8,582 | | 8,249 | | 4% | | 32,761 | | 30,169 | | 9% |
Interest and bank charges | | 1,104 | | 1,033 | | 7% | | 4,499 | | 3,516 | | 28% |
Impairment loss | | 34,265 | | 48,592 | | (29%) | | 34,265 | | 48,681 | | (30%) |
Total operating expenses | | 67,188 | | 83,434 | | (19%) | | 172,739 | | 173,262 | | (0%) |
Total operating expenses decreased by 19% to $67,188 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $83,434) and remains flat at $172,739 for the year ended October 31, 2023, as compared to the year 2022 ($173,262). The total operating expenses, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 35% compared to 49% for the year 2022 due to the Company’s continued focus on implementing cost saving solutions that focus on efficiency without impacting quality.
Total operating expenses, excluding impairment loss, decreased by 6% to $32,923 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $34,842) and increased by 11% $138,474 for the year ended October 31, 2023, as compared to the year 2022 ($124,581). The total operating expenses, excluding impairment loss, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 28% in the year ended October 31, 2023, compared to 35% for the year 2022 due to the Company’s continued focus on implementing cost saving solutions that focus on efficiency without impacting quality.
Salaries, wages, and benefits expenses increased by 12% to $14,727 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $13,122), and by 29% to $56,798 for the year ended October 31, 2023 (2022: $44,055). In terms of total headcount it has been increased by 16% from 1,287 employees in 2022 to 1,497 employees in 2023. The increase was mainly due to additional staffing related to the growth in the new store openings and acquisitions. During the year 2023, as a percentage of revenue, salaries, wages and benefits expenses stayed flat at 12% as compared to the year 2022 which is a favourably aligns with the management strategy of an effective cost saving solution.
Share-based compensation decreased by 114% to $284 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $2,092) and by 38% to $5,034 for the year ended October 31, 2023 (2022: $8,080). As a percentage of revenue, share based compensation, decreased to 1% for the year ended October 31, 2023, compared to 2% for the year 2022. The decrease in share-based compensation for the fourth quarter 2023 is due to an accounting adjustment related to escrow share valuation under the ‘Black-Scholes model’. The decrease in share-based compensation was mainly due to changes in the assumptions in the Black-Scholes Option model year over year.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses decreased by 6% to $6,748 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $7,175) and increased by 4% to $26,888 for the year of 2023 as compared to the year 2022 ($25,973). As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses, decreased to 6% during the year of 2023 compared to 7% in 2022 primarily because of the effective cost controls established throughout the Company.
Professional fees expense increased by 13% to $1,450 for the fourth quarter of 2023 (2022: $1,671) and increased by 70% to $8,350 for the year ended October 31, 2023 (2022: $4,920). As a percentage of revenue, professional fees have been slightly increased to 2% for the year ended October 31, 2023 as compared to 1% which was realized during the year 2022. The increase is due to additional costs incurred relating to tax and accounting services as the Company continues to integrate previous acquisitions into their operations. In addition, during the current year the Company has engaged professional service organizations to support in planning and implementing various new initiatives across the Company which has been the primary driver behind the large increase in revenue for the year 2023.