Fixed Costs, Variable Costs, and Break-Even Point
Farah Nail
Exercise 10.1
Month Meals Served Total Costs
July 3,500 $20,500 Low
August 4,000 22,600
September 4,200 23,350
October 4,600 24,500
November 4,700 25,000
December 4,900 26,000 High
Step 1. The difference in service volume between high-low periods is (4,900-3,500) 1,400 meals.
Step 2. The difference in costs between the high-low period is ($26,000-20,500) $5,500.
Step 3. The variable cost is now computed. The cost difference $5,500 is divided by the service volume of 1,400. The variable cost per unit of service is $3.93.
Step 4. Total variable costs are now computed. In the low time period the number of meals provided is 3,500. The service volume is then multiplied by the cost per unit of $3.93. The total variable cost for the low month is $13,755. The same is done to figure the total variable costs for the high month 4,900 × $3.93 = $19,257.
Step 5. Total fixed costs for the low period are now computed. The total program cost for the low month is $20,500. If the variable costs ($13,755) are subtracted from the total costs ($20,500) the remaining amount is the fixed cost at $6,745. If the same is done for the high month ($26,000 – 19,257) the fixed cost is $6,743.
Step 6. The break-even point is now ready to be computed using the BEP formula and steps 1-5. The contracted service price with the City of Westchester for 45,000 meals is $5.77. The variable costs per meal is $3.93 per meal, but will earn $5.77.The difference between the variable cost per meal and the revenue per meal is 5.77X = 6745 + 3.93X is $1.84 per meal. This leaves 3,666 as the monthly BEP. Then 3,666 × 12 = 43,992 is the fiscal year BEP. The WHDM needs to provide 43,992 meals during the fiscal year to reach the BEP. The difference between the contracted meals 45,000 and the BEP 43,992 is 1,008. The potential profit is 1,008 meals × $1.84 a total profit of $1,855.