Question

Payback Period Payson Manufacturing is considering an investment in a new automated manufacturing system. The new system requires an investment of $1,200,000 and either has: Even cash flows of $800,000 per year or The following expected annual cash flows: $150,000, $150,000, $400,000, $400,000, and $100,000.

Required:
Calculate the payback period for each case.

Answer 1

Assuming cashflows of $800,000 a year:

Payback period = Investment / Stable cashflow

= 1,200,000 / 800,000

= 1.5 years

Assuming uneven cashflows:

Payback period = Number of years before payback year + Cash remaining to be paid / Cashflow in payback period

= 150,000 + 150,000 + 400,000 + 400,000

= $1,100,000

Years before payback year = 4 years

Cash remaining to be paid back = Investment - Cashflow so far

= 1,200,000 - 1,100,000

= $100,000

Payback period = 4 + 100,000 / 100,000

= 5 years