Question

Feather Friends, Inc., distributes a high-quality wooden birdhouse that sells for $120 per unit. Variable expenses are $60.00 per unit, and fixed expenses total $200,000 per year. Its operating results for last year were as follows:

Sales	$	2,880,000
Variable expenses		1,440,000
Contribution margin		1,440,000
Fixed expenses		200,000
Net operating income	$	1,240,000

Required:

Answer each question independently based on the original data:

1. What is the product's CM ratio?

2. Use the CM ratio to determine the break-even point in dollar sales.

3. If this year's sales increase by $57,000 and fixed expenses do not change, how much will net operating income increase?

4-a. What is the degree of operating leverage based on last year's sales?

4-b. Assume the president expects this year's sales to increase by 15%. Using the degree of operating leverage from last year, what percentage increase in net operating income will the company realize this year?

5. The sales manager is convinced that a 14% reduction in the selling price, combined with a $72,000 increase in advertising, would increase this year's unit sales by 25%.

a. If the sales manager is right, what would be this year's net operating income if his ideas are implemented?

b. Do you recommend implementing the sales manager's suggestions?

6. The president does not want to change the selling price. Instead, he wants to increase the sales commission by $2.20 per unit. He thinks that this move, combined with some increase in advertising, would increase this year's sales by 25%. How much could the president increase this year's advertising expense and still earn the same $1,240,000 net operating income as last year?

Answer 1

Answer of Part 1:

Contribution Margin per Unit = Sells – Variable expenses per unit
Contribution Margin per Unit = $120 - $60
Contribution Margin per Unit = $60

CM Ratio = Contribution Margin per Unit / Sells *100
CM Ratio = $60 / $120 *100
CM Ratio = 50%

Answer of Part 2:

Break Even Point in Dollar Sales = Fixed Expenses / CM Ratio
Break Even Point in Dollar Sales = $200,000 / 0.5
Break Even Point in Dollar Sales = $400,000

Answer of Part 3:

Increased Contribution Margin = Increased Sales * CM Ratio
Increased Contribution Margin = $57,000 * 0.5
Increased Contribution Margin = $28,500

Answer of Part 4-a:

Degree of Operating Leverage = Contribution Margin / Net Operating Income
Degree of Operating Leverage = $1,440,000 / $1,240,000
Degree of Operating Leverage = 1.16

Answer of Part 4-b:

Increase in Net Operating Income = Degree of Operating Leverage * Expected Increased sales
Increase in Net Operating Income = 1.16 * 15%
Increase in Net Operating Income = 17.4%

Increase in Net Operating Income = 17.4% * 1,240,000
Increase in Net Operating Income = $215,760