Break-Even Analysis
Break-Even Analysis
Objectives:
You should be able to….
Introduction:
A break-even analysis is a financial calculation used to determine the point at which a business's
total revenues equal its total expenses, resulting in neither profit nor loss.
I.e. it's the point at which a business "breaks even" and covers all its costs. Beyond this point, every
additional sale or unit produced contributes to profit.
Fixed Costs: These are the costs that do not change with the level of production or sales.
Examples include rent, insurance, salaries of permanent staff, and equipment depreciation.
Variable Costs: These costs vary directly with the level of production or sales. Examples include
raw materials, direct labor, and sales commissions.
Total Costs: The sum of fixed and variable costs is the total cost for a given level of production.
Break-Even Point (BEP): The break-even point is the level of production or sales at which total
revenues match total costs. At this point, the business neither makes a profit nor incurs a loss.
1
Drawing a break-even chart.
To draw a break-even chart, we need information about the FC, VC and revenue of a business.
E.g. A sports shoe business has the following information;
- Fixed costs are $5000 per year.
- Variable costs of each pair of shoes are $3
- Each pair of shoes is sold for a price of $8
- The factory can produce a maximum output of 2000 pairs of shoes per year.
To draw the break-even chart, we complete a table like the one below:
Note: There will be no variable costs because there is no output being produced. i.e. no shoes are
being sold and so there also no revenue.
Question: (5 mins)
How were the figures got when total sales where 500 units? Turn to your neighbor and discuss.
2
The information above can be plotted on a graph below:
Note:
The ‘y’ axis (vertical axis) measures money amounts (costs & revenue)
The ‘x’ axis (horizontal axis) shows the number of units produced and sold.
The fixed costs do not change at any level of output.
The total cost line is the addition of variable costs and fixed costs.
3
Group Activity (3) 2: (5 mins)
Homework
a) Watch the video to define, calculate and interpret the margin of safety
b) Generate your own example and work it out.
4
Observations.
- The maximum revenue now rises to $18,000. The break-even point of production falls to 833
units and the maximum profit rises to $7000. Is it a wise decision???
However the manager needs to consider competitor prices too….meaning he may not sale all
the 2000 pairs at $9 each.
The break-even chart can also be used to show the safety margin. i.e. the amount by which sales
exceed the break-even point.
5
Activity 1: 10 mins
Activity 2: 10 mins
Activity 3: 10 mins
6
Assessment: Try out the exam style questions at home
7
8
Topic: Achieving quality production
Why quality is important and how quality production might be achieved.
Choose your assigned are, read, summarize and prepare to present to class in our next
lesson)
a) What quality means and why it is important for all businesses. (Natasha, Romain)
b) The concept of quality control and how businesses implement quality control. (Laurence,
Aaliya, Mary)
c) The concept of quality assurance and how this can be implemented. (TQM). (Aminat,
Measum, Emmanuel)
Prepare your presentation in any way you want, provided its meaningful