Question

Hillyard Company, an office supplies specialty store, prepares its master budget on a quarterly basis. The following data have been assembled to assist in preparing the master budget for the first quarter:

As of December 31 (the end of the prior quarter), the company’s general ledger showed the following account balances:

Cash	$	43,000
Accounts receivable		202,400
Inventory		58,200
Buildings and equipment (net)		353,000
Accounts payable			$	86,025
Common stock				500,000
Retained earnings				70,575
	$	656,600	$	656,600

Actual sales for December and budgeted sales for the next four months are as follows:

December(actual)	$	253,000
January	$	388,000
February	$	585,000
March	$	299,000
April	$	196,000

Sales are 20% for cash and 80% on credit. All payments on credit sales are collected in the month following sale. The accounts receivable at December 31 are a result of December credit sales.

The company’s gross margin is 40% of sales. (In other words, cost of goods sold is 60% of sales.)

Monthly expenses are budgeted as follows: salaries and wages, $18,000 per month: advertising, $58,000 per month; shipping, 5% of sales; other expenses, 3% of sales. Depreciation, including depreciation on new assets acquired during the quarter, will be $42,580 for the quarter.

Each month’s ending inventory should equal 25% of the following month’s cost of goods sold.

One-half of a month’s inventory purchases is paid for in the month of purchase; the other half is paid in the following month.

During February, the company will purchase a new copy machine for $1,300 cash. During March, other equipment will be purchased for cash at a cost of $71,500.

During January, the company will declare and pay $45,000 in cash dividends.

Management wants to maintain a minimum cash balance of $30,000. The company has an agreement with a local bank that allows the company to borrow in increments of $1,000 at the beginning of each month. The interest rate on these loans is 1% per month and for simplicity we will assume that interest is not compounded. The company would, as far as it is able, repay the loan plus accumulated interest at the end of the quarter.

(1) outline your suggestions to save money for the company based on the results of the budget you prepared.

Answer 1

Based on the above cash budget, following suggestions can be made:-

- If Company has better investment opportunities in future then it should not declare dividend.

- Company should try to negotiate with its creditors for the increase in credit period. For example, Entire Purchase will be paid after One Month. This will put less pressure on working capital requirements.

- Monthly Fixed Expenses should be controlled and reduced to an acceptable level.

- Policy regarding purchases need to be considered carefully.

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