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    fustrated's Avatar
    fustrated Posts: 18, Reputation: 2
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    #1

    Mar 19, 2007, 09:04 AM
    High-low method, contribution margin per case, fixed costs, break-even
    Hi everyone,

    Royal Essentials, Inc. begin operations on January 1, 2008. The company produces a hand and body lotion in an eight-ounce bottle called Eternal Beauty. The lotion is sold wholesale in 12-bottle cases for $80 per case. There is a selling commission of $16 per case. The January direct materials, direct labor, and factory overhead cost are as follows:
    Direct Materials

    ..... Cost Behavior....Units Per Case....Cost per unit...Direct Materials cost per case
    Cream base variable... 72 ozs.. . $0.015... $1.08
    Natural oils... variable... 24 ozs.. . 0.250... 6.00
    Bottle (8oz.).. variable... 12 bottles... 0.400... 4.80
    ... $11.88

    Direct Labor

    Dept.. . Cost Behavior.. Time per case.. Labor Rate Per hour.. Direct Labor Cost per case

    The Problem:
    The management of Royal Essentials, Inc. wishes to determine the number of cases required to break even per month. The utilities cost, which is part of factory overhead, is a mixed cost. The following information was gathered from the first six months of operation regarding this cost.
    2008... Case Production... Utility Total Cost...
    January... 300... $230
    February... 600... 265
    March... 1,000... 300
    April... 900... 292
    May... 750... 275
    June... 825... 280
    Instructions:
    1. Determine the fixed and variable portion of the utility cost using the high-low method.
    This is what I came up with, is this correct? $200. Fixed cost and a .10 per unit variable cost.

    2. Determine the contribution margin cost per case.
    11.88 + 5.04 + .10 = $17.02 variable cost per case minus $80. Sales per case =$62.98
    Is this correct?

    3. Determine the fixed cost per month, including the utility fixed cost.
    utility 200 plus facility lease 9,694 plus equipment depreciation 3,600, plus supplies 600 =14.094
    Is this correct?
    4. Determine the break-even number of cases per month.
    this is what I came up with: 14094/ 96 =146.8 cases per month.
    Is this correct?

    If these are not correct, could you please help me?
    Thank you,
    fustrated
    :)
    moromba's Avatar
    moromba Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #2

    Mar 20, 2008, 11:20 AM
    you need to minues 16.00 (commission) per sales caes.

    You have 62.8 but -16 = 46.98 (per teacher):o
    morgaine300's Avatar
    morgaine300 Posts: 6,561, Reputation: 276
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    #3

    Mar 23, 2008, 12:13 AM
    1. Determine the fixed and variable portion of the utility cost using the high-low method.
    This is what I came up with, is this correct? $200. Fixed cost and a .10 per unit variable cost.
    Correct

    2. Determine the contribution margin cost per case.
    11.88 + 5.04 + .10 = $17.02 variable cost per case minus $80. Sales per case =$62.98
    Is this correct?
    Don't know where you got the $5.04, but I'm going to presume that's direct labor since you didn't give that information, but it seems logical. And you left off the $16 commission. Commission isn't factory overhead. It's a selling cost. However, contribution margin is sales minus all variable costs, regardless of whether they are product or period costs. So the $16 has to come out. (i.e. what moromba said, except this is the reason, not cause "per teacher.")

    3. Determine the fixed cost per month, including the utility fixed cost.
    utility 200 plus facility lease 9,694 plus equipment depreciation 3,600, plus supplies 600 =14.094
    Is this correct?
    I don't know because you never gave any overhead information. Except for the $200 of course. But let's pretend for the moment this is all correct. (They are all fixed expenses, but whether you've included everything or not I don't know.)

    4. Determine the break-even number of cases per month.
    this is what I came up with: 14094/ 96 =146.8 cases per month.
    Is this correct?
    Where did you get 96? Break-even is fixed costs divided by contribution margin. Each unit made will cost the variable costs. The leftovers are the contribution margin for each unit made. That contributes towards covering the fixed costs. If you take fixed costs and divide by contribution margin, it's telling you how many you need to make in order to cover the fixed costs. You should be using the number figured in step (2) (once it's corrected for the $16).
    chu26981's Avatar
    chu26981 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Jun 29, 2008, 01:05 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by morgaine300
    Correct



    Don't know where you got the $5.04, but I'm going to presume that's direct labor since you didn't give that information, but it seems logical. And you left off the $16 commission. Commission isn't factory overhead. It's a selling cost. However, contribution margin is sales minus all variable costs, regardless of whether they are product or period costs. So the $16 has to come out. (i.e. what moromba said, except this is the reason, not cause "per teacher.")



    I don't know because you never gave any overhead information. Except for the $200 of course. But let's pretend for the moment this is all correct. (They are all fixed expenses, but whether you've included everything or not I don't know.)



    Where did you get 96? Break-even is fixed costs divided by contribution margin. Each unit made will cost the variable costs. The leftovers are the contribution margin for each unit made. That contributes towards covering the fixed costs. If you take fixed costs and divide by contribution margin, it's telling you how many you need to make in order to cover the fixed costs. You should be using the number figured in step (2) (once it's corrected for the $16).
    Could you please show your final answer not withstanding those items that were not given? I just want to compare my 'final' answer with what you have. Thanks!
    morgaine300's Avatar
    morgaine300 Posts: 6,561, Reputation: 276
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    #5

    Jul 2, 2008, 07:16 PM
    No, I don't just give answers to homework. If you want yours checked, then post them and I'll check them.
    seema88's Avatar
    seema88 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Apr 16, 2010, 10:19 AM

    Hi morgaine3000, I was just wondering whether if I post some calculations I worked out for the question I posted you would be willing to check them? Im sorry I am new to this website so didn't know how else to send you a message
    morgaine300's Avatar
    morgaine300 Posts: 6,561, Reputation: 276
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    #7

    Apr 21, 2010, 03:24 AM

    I would prefer that you don't send me personally a message anyway. Questions on a specific topic area are supposed to stay on the forums, and not be sending people questions privately.

    You also need to start your own thread for your question. If you do that and post the problem and your work, someone can take a look at it when they get a chance, yes.
    faiser.malik's Avatar
    faiser.malik Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Feb 9, 2011, 11:04 AM
    asalama oalikum guys any 1 can tell me about step2 in which...
    2. Determine the contribution margin cost per case.
    11.88 + 5.04 + .10 = $17.02 variable cost per case minus $80. Sales per case =$62.98
    explain me about the amount of 5.04
    and
    .Direct Materials cost per case(by adding all direct material cost is 11.88) and variable cost per unit (by using the method of high low method is .10)
    now tell me about 5.04
    turney1497's Avatar
    turney1497 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    Oct 11, 2012, 08:08 AM
    Hi, I was just wondering where you get the .10 cents in question #2?
    turney1497's Avatar
    turney1497 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #10

    Oct 11, 2012, 08:09 AM
    And how you get the $200 for the fixed cost. Somehow I ended up with -2000. I thought I followed the rules correctly, but I have always struggled with math and accounting.

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