Answer: 1a. Break-even point assuming 15% commission rate:
Contribution margin per dollar of sales = Sales - Variable expenses = $17,500,000 - $7,875,000 = $9,625,000
Break-even point = Fixed expenses ÷ Contribution margin ratio
Contribution margin ratio = Contribution margin ÷ Sales = $9,625,000 ÷ $17,500,000 = 0.55
Break-even point = $4,607,500 ÷ 0.55 = $8,377,273
1b. Break-even point assuming 20% commission rate:
Contribution margin per dollar of sales = Sales - Variable expenses = $17,500,000 - $7,875,000 = $9,625,000
New commission rate = 20% of sales
New commission expense = 0.20 × $17,500,000 = $3,500,000
New contribution margin = $9,625,000 - $3,500,000 = $6,125,000
Break-even point = Fixed expenses ÷ Contribution margin ratio
Contribution margin ratio = Contribution margin ÷ Sales = $6,125,000 ÷ $17,500,000 = 0.35
Break-even point = $4,607,500 ÷ 0.35 = $13,164,286
1c. Break-even point assuming own sales force:
Contribution margin per dollar of sales = Sales - Variable expenses = $17,500,000 - $7,875,000 = $9,625,000
Fixed expenses increase by $2,625,000
The contribution margin decreases by $2,625,000 due to the elimination of agent commissions.
New contribution margin = $9,625,000 - $2,625,000 = $7,000,000
Break-even point = Fixed expenses ÷ Contribution margin ratio
Contribution margin ratio = Contribution margin ÷ Sales = $7,000,000 ÷ $17,500,000 = 0.40
Break-even point = ($4,607,500 + $2,625,000) ÷ 0.40 = $18,057,500
Sales required to generate the same net income as the budgeted income statement with 20% commission rate:
Net income = $1,368,500
Fixed expenses = $4,607,500 + $612,500 = $5,220,000
Contribution margin per dollar of sales = Sales - Variable expenses = $17,500,000 - (0.20 × $17,500,000) - $7,875,000 = $5,750,000
Required sales = (Fixed expenses + Net income) ÷ Contribution margin ratio
Contribution margin ratio = Contribution margin ÷ Sales = $5,750,000 ÷ $17,500,000 = 0.33
Required sales = ($5,220,000 + $1,368,500) ÷ 0.33 = $22,518,182
Sales at which net income would be equal regardless of sales method:
Net income = $1,368,500
Fixed expenses = $4,607,500 + $612,500 = $5,220,000
Contribution margin per dollar of sales for own sales force = $17,500,000 - $7,875,000 - $2,625,000 = $6,000,000
Contribution margin per dollar of sales for agents with 20% commission rate = $17,500,000 - (0.20 × $17,500,000) - $7,875
Compute the degree of operating leverage that the company would expect to have at the end of next year assuming:
a. The agents’ commission rate remains unchanged at 15%.
Contribution margin = Sales - Variable expenses
= $17,500,000 - $7,875,000
= $9,625,000
Contribution margin ratio = Contribution margin ÷ Sales
= $9,625,000 ÷ $17,500,000
= 0.55
Fixed expenses = $2,450,000 + $2,625,000 + $1,860,000 + $612,500
= $7,547,500
Operating income = Contribution margin - Fixed expenses
= $9,625,000 - $7,547,500
= $2,077,500
Degree of operating leverage = Contribution margin ÷ Operating income
= $9,625,000 ÷ $2,077,500
= 4.63
b. The agents’ commission rate is increased to 20%.
Contribution margin = Sales - Variable expenses
= $17,500,000 - $7,875,000
= $9,625,000
Fixed expenses = $2,450,000 + $3,500,000 + $1,860,000 + $612,500
= $8,422,500
Operating income = Contribution margin - Fixed expenses
= $9,625,000 - $8,422,500
= $1,202,500
Degree of operating leverage = Contribution margin ÷ Operating income
= $9,625,000 ÷ $1,202,500
= 7.99
c. The company employs its own sales force.
Contribution margin = Sales - Variable expenses
= $17,500,000 - $7,875,000
= $9,625,000
Fixed expenses = $2,450,000 + $2,625,000 + $109,375 + $656,250 + $437,500 + $1,421,875 + $80,500
= $7,780,750
Operating income = Contribution margin - Fixed expenses
= $9,625,000 - $7,780,750
= $1,844,250
Degree of operating leverage = Contribution margin ÷ Operating income
= $9,625,000 ÷ $1,844,250
= 5.22
Therefore, the degree of operating leverage would be 4.63, 7.99, and 5.22 if the agents' commission rate remains unchanged at 15%, is increased to 20%, and if the company employs its own sales force, respectively.
Explanation: