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Chapter 21: Q36PGB (page 1178)

Question: Using variable costing, service company

Divine Pool Cleaning Service provides pool cleaning services to residential customers. The company has three employees, each assigned to specific customers. The company considers each employee’s territory as a business segment. The company incurs variable costs that include the employees’ wages, pool chemicals, and gas for the service vans. Fixed costs include depreciation on the service vans. Following is the income statement for the month of August:

Requirements

1. Calculate the contribution margin ratio for each business segment.

2. The business segments had the following number of customers: Byson, 80; Moore, 50; and Freeman, 110. Compute the service revenue per customer, variable cost per customer, and contribution margin per customer for each business segment.

3. Which business segment was most profitable? List some possible reasons why this segment was most profitable. How might the various reasons affect the company in the long term?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer

  1. The contribution margin ratio of the Byson, Moore and Freemansegmentsis 70%, 70% and 30% respectively.

Particulars

Byson (80)

Moore (50)

Freeman (110)

Service revenue per customer

$110

$110

$110

Variable cost per customer

$66

$33

$77

Contribution Margin

$44

$77

$33

  1. Moore is more profitable organization as it has high contribution because of low profit.

Step by step solution

01

Calculation of contribution margin ratio

Particulars

Byson

Moore

Freeman

Service revenue (a)

$8,800

$5,500

$12,100

Contribution Margin (b)

$3,520

$3,850

$3,630

Contribution margin ratio (b/a)

40%

70%

30%

02

Calculation of average service revenue per customer, average variable cost per customer and, average contribution margin per customer.

Particulars

Byson (80)

Moore (50)

Freeman (110)

Service revenue per customer

$8,800/80

=$110

$5,500/50 =$110

$12,100/110 =$110

Variable cost per customer

$5,280/80 =$66

$1,650/50 =$33

$8,470/110 =$77

Contribution Margin

$3,520/80 =$44

$3,850/50 =$77

$3,630/110 =$33

03

Profitability Analysis

Moore is the most profitable segment because the contribution margin per customer is the highest. The reason behind the highest contribution margin is the less variable cost per customer.

The less variable cost will benefit the company in long-run by resulting higher operating profits.Variable cost plays a vital role in operating profit because fixed cost is a sunk cost which does not impact operating profit.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is it appropriate to use variable costing when planning production in the short term?

Sampson Company operates a manufacturing facility where several products are made. Each product is considered a business segment, and the product managers have the opportunity to receive a bonus based on the profit of the segment. Franco Hopper is the manager for the scissors product line. Production and sales data for the scissors product line for the past three years are shown below:

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Units produced 100,000 units 125,000 units 160,000 units Units sold 100,000 units 100,000 units 100,000 units Sales price per unit \( 12.00 per unit \) 12.00 per unit $ 12.00 per unit Variable manufacturing cost per unit 5.00 per unit 5.00 per unit 5.00 per unit Total fixed manufacturing costs 200,000 per year 200,000 per year 200,000 per year

Hopper’s bonus is 0.5% of the gross profit of the scissors product line, based on absorption costing. Upper management is discussing changing the bonus system so that bonuses are based on operating income using variable costing. Hopper is opposed to this change and has been trying to convince the other product managers to join him in voicing their opposition. There are no beginning inventories in Year 1.

Requirements:

  1. Calculate the fixed cost per unit produced for each year.
  2. Prepare income statements for the three years using absorption costing.
  3. Calculate Hopper’s bonus based on the current plan.
  4. Prepare income statements for the three years using variable costing.
  5. Calculate Hopper’s bonus based on the proposed plan.
  6. Give possible reasons why Hopper is opposed to the proposed bonus plan. Do you think Hopper’s actions have been ethical the past three years? Why or why not?

Preparing variable and absorption costing income statements

Game Source manufactures video games that it sells for \(43 each. The company uses a fixed manufacturing overhead allocation rate of \)5 per game. Assume all costs and production levels are exactly as planned. The following data are from Game Store’s first two months in business during 2018:

October November Sales 1,500 units 2,900 units Production 2,500 units 2,500 units Variable manufacturing cost per game \( 17 \) 17Sales commission cost per game 7 7Total fixed manufacturing overhead12,500 12,500

Total fixed selling and administrative costs 11,500 11,500 Requirements

1. Compute the product cost per game produced under absorption costing and under variable costing.

2. Prepare monthly income statements for October and November, including columns for each month and a total column, using these costing methods:

a. absorption costing.

b. variable costing.

3. Is operating income higher under absorption costing or variable costing in October? In November? Explain the pattern of differences in operating income based on absorption costing versus variable costing.

4. Determine the balance in Finished Goods Inventory on October 31 and November 30 under absorption costing and variable costing. Compare the differences in inventory balances and the differences in operating income. Explain the differences in inventory balances based on absorption costing versus variable costing.

Analyzing profitability

Relative Furniture Company manufactures and sells oak tables and chairs. Price and cost data for the furniture follow:

Tables Chairs

Sales Price \( 1,400 \) 50

Variable manufacturing costs 1,148 21

Sales commission (8%) 112 4

Relative Furniture has three sales representatives: Abe, Brett, and Corrin. Abe sold 50 tables with 4 chairs each. Brett sold 110 tables with 6 chairs each. Corrin sold 90 tables with 8 chairs each.

Requirements:

  1. Calculate the total contribution margin and the contribution margin ratio for each sales representative (round to two decimal places).
  2. Which sales representative has the highest contribution margin ratio? Explain why.

Analyzing profitabilityFather Furniture Company manufactures and sells oak tables and chairs. Price and cost data for the furniture follow:

Tables Chairs Sales Price \( 800 \) 70 Variable manufacturing costs 60025Sales commission (10%) 807Relative Furniture has three sales representatives: Adam, Ben, and Caleb. Adam sold 100 tables with 6 chairs each. Ben sold 110 tables with 4 chairs each. Caleb sold 80 tables with 8 chairs each.

Requirements

1. Calculate the total contribution margin and the contribution margin ratio for each sales representative (round to two decimal places).

2. Which sales representative has the highest contribution margin ratio? Explain why.
See all solutions

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