What costs are considered part of an asset’s initial investment?

The initial investment for a capital project includes all costs required to acquire and prepare an asset for use. These costs typically include purchase price, delivery, installation, testing, and any necessary setup expenses. Financial management texts clearly distinguish these capitalized costs from expenses such as depreciation, which is an accounting allocation over time, and salvage value, which is considered at the end of a project’s life. Market research is usually treated as a separate operating or planning expense unless directly attributable to asset acquisition. Option B correctly identifies delivery and installation as part of the initial investment.