OASDI
Is Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (US Social Security).

Obligation
In business, is a legal duty to pay or do something.

Occupancy Cost
Is any cost or charge incurred by a tenant pursuant to its lease, such as rent, operating expense increases, parking charges, moving expenses, remodeling costs, etc.

Offset Account
An account that is setup for elimination of a long or short position by making an opposite transaction.

Onerous Contract
One in which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits to be received under the contract.

Online Banking Service
A service offered by a bank that allows you to download bank statements and make electronic fund transfers using a computer and an internet connection.

Online Bill Payment Service
A service offered by a bank or another company that allows you to send electronic payment instructions to a computer. This computer then withdraws the appropriate funds from your account and writes and sends a check to pay the bill.

Operating Lease
A lease covering a time period shorter than the economic life of the asset. Operating leases can be canceled at any time.

Opportunity Cost
Income that could be saved or earned by investing in another, more attractive endeavor. For example, if you had $10,000 in mutual funds paying $500 in dividends annually, and you knew you could earn $750 in dividends from stock, the cost of staying with your original investment—your opportunity cost—would be $250.

Option
A contract giving a dealer or broker the right to buy or sell a security during a certain time period at a certain price.

Ordinary Asset
A non-capital asset used for business purposes. See CAPITAL ASSET.

Organizational Cost
Amounts spent to begin a business entity, e.g., business filing fees, franchise acquisition, and legal fees. In the United States, costs associated with a corporation issuing or selling shares or other securities are capitalized and not tax deductible. Other organization expenses may be capitalized and amortized over a period of sixty (60) months or more; thereby providing possible tax relief through organization cost deductions. See also STARTUP COSTS.

Original Issue Discount (OID)
The difference between what a bond costs when it was issued and what its price is at maturity.

Origination Fee
The fee that lenders charge loan applicants to handle loan applications and to conduct credit investigations.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Health Act)
A federal law in the United States that requires employers to provide employees with a workplace that is relatively free of hazardous conditions.

Outsource 
To obtain goods or services from an outside supplier; i.e., to contract work outside of your budget and control. (An example would be companies outsourcing a percentage of their direct labor in order to maintain a flexible workforce).

Outstanding Shares
The number of shares that are currently owned by all investors. It also includes restricted shares (shares owned by officers and insiders of the company) as well as shares held by the public. Shares that the company has repurchased or retired are not considered outstanding stock.

Outstanding Stock
The shares of a corporation's stock held by stockholders. (See Outstanding Shares)

Overdraft
Is, a) a draft in excess of the credit balance within an account; or b) a facility (usually at a bank or other financial institution) enabling an account holder to borrow up to an agreed amount and often for an agreed time.

Overstated
When something is represented as greater than is true or reasonable.

Owner's Equity
The claims by the owner against the assets of the business : assets - liabilities = owner's equity (also called residual equity).

Own Work Capitalized
Represents the value of work performed for own purposes and capitalized as part of fixed assets.