Question

CompUSA Inc. sells computer hardware. It also markets related software and software-support services. The company prepares annual forecasts for sales, of which the first six months of 2019 are given below.

In a typical month, total sales are broken down as follows: cash sales, 30%; VISA® credit card sales, 65%; and 5% open account (the company’s own charge accounts). For budgeting purposes, assume that cash sales plus bank credit card sales are received in the month of sale; bank credit card sales are subject to a 3% processing fee, which is deducted daily at the time of deposit into CompUSA’s cash account with the bank. Cash receipts from collection of accounts receivable typically occur as follows: 20% in the month of sale, 50% in the month following the month of sale, and 27% in the second month following the month of sale. The remaining receivables generally turn out to be uncollectible.

CompUSA’s month-end inventory requirements for computer hardware units are 30% of the following month’s estimated sales. A one-month lead time is required for delivery from the hardware distributor. Thus, orders for computer hardware units are generally placed by CompUSA on the 25th of each month to ensure availability in the store on the first day of the month needed. These units are purchased on credit, under the following terms: n/45, measured from the time the units are delivered to CompUSA. Assume that CompUSA takes the maximum amount of time to pay its invoices. On average, the purchase price for hardware units runs 60% of selling price.

CompUSA Inc. Forecasted Sales (units and dollars) January–June 2019
	Number of Units				Hardware Sales				Software/ Support Sales				Total Revenue
January		120			$	360,000			$	140,000			$	500,000
February		130				390,000				160,000				550,000
March		90				270,000				130,000				400,000
April		100				300,000				125,000				425,000
May		110				330,000				150,000				480,000
June		120				360,000				140,000				500,000
Totals		670			$	2,010,000			$	845,000			$	2,855,000

Required:

1. Calculate estimated cash receipts for April 2019.

2. The company is looking at the number of hardware units to order on January 25.

a. Determine the estimated number of units to be ordered.

b. Calculate the dollar cost (per unit and total) for these units.

3. Cash planning in this line of business is critical to success. Management feels that the assumption of selling price per unit ($3,000) is firm—at least for the foreseeable future. Also, it is comfortable with the 30% rate for end-of-month inventories. It is not so sure, however, about (a) the Cost of Goods Sold (CGS) rate (because of the state of flux in the supplier market) and (b) the level of predicted sales in March 2019. Discussions with marketing and purchasing suggest that three outcomes are possible for each of these two variables, as follows:

Outcome	March Sales		CGS%
Optimistic	100	units	55	%
Expected	90	units	60
Pessimistic	80	units	65

The preceding outcomes are assumed to be independent, which means that there are nine possible combinations (3 × 3). You are asked to conduct a sensitivity analysis to determine the range of possible cash outflows for April 10, under different combinations of the above. Assume, for simplicity, that sales volume for April is fixed. Complete the following table:

Answer 1

Lastly following is the sensitivity analysis based on the above data

	Sensitivity Analysis table
Combination	Outcome	March Sales (Units)	CGS%	Selling Price	Cash Outflow
1	Optimistic	100	50%	$     3,000.00	$       1,500.00
2	Expected	90	60%	$     3,000.00	$       1,800.00
3	Neutral	80	65%	$     3,000.00	$       1,950.00
4	Optimistic	100	60%	$     3,000.00	$       1,800.00
5	Expected	90	65%	$     3,000.00	$       1,950.00
6	Neutral	80	50%	$     3,000.00	$       1,500.00
7	Optimistic	100	65%	$     3,000.00	$       1,950.00
8	Expected	90	50%	$     3,000.00	$       1,500.00
9	Neutral	80	60%	$     3,000.00	$       1,800.00