Question

Westside Plumbing and Heating Company is offered a contract for$100,000 to provide plumbing for a new building. The labor and equip-ment costs are calculated to be $60,000 for fulfilling the contract. West-side has materials in its inventory to complete the job. The raw ma-terials initially cost the firm $50,000; however the material prices havedeclined in the interim and now cost only $37,500. Thus if thefirmchose not to accept the contract and sells the materials, they wouldincur a loss of $12,500. Material prices are not expected to go up inthe future. Should Westside accept the contract. Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Westside Plumbing and Heating Company

Westside should accept the contract.

By accepting the contract at the price of $100,000, Westside incurs a total cost of $97,500 and makes a little profit of $2,500 ($100,000 - $97,500). The contract enables Westside to utilize the materials that it has in inventory instead of allowing it to deteriorate further in value.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Contract price = $100,000

Labor and equipment costs = $60,000

Original cost of materials = $50,000

Materials market price = $37,500

Total costs to be incurred = $97,500 ($60,000 + $37,500)

Profit to be earned = $2,500 ($100,000 - $97,500)