Why Most Businesses Never Audit Their CAM (And Why That’s a Problem)

Let’s get right to it — most businesses never actually audit their CAM (Common Area Maintenance), Insurance, or Real Estate Tax charges. And that’s a shame… because buried in those reconciliations are often thousands of dollars that might not even belong there.

It’s not because tenants don’t care. It’s because there are some real barriers in the way. If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone.

1. You Don’t Know You Can — Or Even Where to Start

Most business owners, office managers, or even finance teams don’t realize they have the right to ask questions, challenge CAM charges, or even request supporting documents.

The lease language is usually full of confusing terms like “expense pools,” “gross-up adjustments,” and “non-reimbursable capital,” and unless you live in this world, it’s hard to know what’s normal and what’s not.

What to ask for? What’s worth pushing back on? It all feels too complicated — so it gets ignored.

2. It’s an Afterthought — And You’re Already Drowning in To-Dos

I get it. Maybe you’ve got one person managing five locations. Maybe it’s an office manager juggling HR, payroll, admin, and everything in between.

Auditing CAM was on the to-do list. Then it fell off.

It’s not that you didn’t care. It’s just that between real work and real deadlines, there wasn’t time (or energy) left to go chasing spreadsheets from landlords or parsing 50 pages of legalese.

3. “Well, It Looks Close Enough…”

A lot of businesses assume that if there wasn’t a huge surprise bill at year-end, everything must be fine.

Maybe the actuals were close to the estimate. Maybe it looks about the same as last year. So you just pay it and move on.

But here’s the issue: what if you were overcharged every year — just a little — and never noticed?
If you never look at the details, how do you know what’s buried in there? CAM charges are built off hundreds of little moving pieces, and just because it’s “close” doesn’t mean it’s right.

4. You Think “Finance Is Probably Looking at This”

This one happens all the time.

The operations team thinks accounting is reviewing it. The accounting team thinks it’s ops. And in that gray area between real estate, finance, and facilities — CAM audits often slide through the cracks.

I’ve worked as a CFO for years. I’ve been inside the process. I can tell you: unless someone specifically owns CAM review, it usually doesn’t happen.

5. It Feels Intimidating (But It Doesn’t Have to Be)

Here’s the thing: auditing CAM isn’t scary. Landlords expect it. In fact, your lease almost certainly gives you the right to ask questions and request a breakdown of costs.

It’s their job to be transparent.
It’s your job to protect your business.
It doesn’t have to be a confrontation — and it doesn’t have to be something you figure out on your own.

Let Me Help You Get Through It

This is what I love to do. I’ve reviewed thousands of CAM reconciliations — and I’ve been on both sides of the table. I know what to look for, what’s fair, and what questions are worth asking.

If CAM audits have felt like a black hole or just one more thing on your plate… let me take that off your hands.

📩 Reach out: CamAuditServices@gmail.com

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just has to be done right.

About CAM Audit Services
CAM Audit Services is a passion project founded by a seasoned real estate CFO who also holds CPA and CFA credentials. After reviewing hundreds — if not thousands — of CAM reconciliations over the years, it became clear just how often these calculations are done incorrectly, overlooked, or misapplied. What started as a niche expertise has grown into a mission: to bring order to the chaos, clarity to the numbers, and fairness to tenants and landlords alike.

We specialize in reviewing Common Area Maintenance (CAM), Insurance, and Real Estate Tax pass-throughs — line by line, lease by lease. Whether you’re a tenant looking for transparency or a landlord wanting to ensure accuracy, we’re here to help make sense of it all.