Companies often charge additional fees that increase the final cost of a product or service. In some industries, such as telecommunications and airlines, fees imposed by the government may be passed on to consumers.

In other cases, added fees are not the result of government action. Rather, they represent a price for additional services not included in the base charge. Breaking out separate fees for additional services or products will make the base price less expensive, and has the potential of making the product or service appear more competitive for comparison shopping purposes.