Question: CA18-8 ETHICS (Revenue Recognition—Membership Fees) Midwest Health Club (MHC) offers 1-year memberships. Membership fees are due in full at the beginning of the individual membership period. As an incentive to new customers, MHC advertised that any customers not satisfied for any reason could receive a refund of the remaining portion of unused membership fees. As a result of this policy, Richard Nies, corporate controller, recognized revenue ratably over the life of the membership. MHC is in the process of preparing its year-end financial statements. Rachel Avery, MHC’s treasurer, is concerned about the company’s lackluster performance this year. She reviews the financial statements Nies prepared and tells Nies to recognize membership revenue when the fees are received.

Instructions

Answer the following questions.

(b) What should Nies do?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer

Nies must follow generally accepted accounting principlesfor recognizing revenue.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Corporate Controller

The person who is responsible for the management of the accounting process in the business entity is known as the corporate controller. Such an individual is responsible for financial, managerial, and corporate accounting.

02

Action of Nies

Nies should insist the controller prepare the financial statement according to generally accepted accounting principles that will recognize the revenue when it is earned or over time. If the controller is not comfortable with the preparation of financial statements according to GAAP, then an alternative course of action must be identified.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In September 2017, Gaertner Corp. commits to selling 150 of its iPhone-compatible docking stations to Better Buy Co. for \(15,000 (\)100 per product). The stations are delivered to Better Buy over the next 6 months. After 90 stations are delivered, the contract is modified and Gaertner promises to deliver an additional 45 products for an additional \(4,275 (\)95 per station). All sales are cash on delivery.

Instructions

(b) Prepare the journal entry for the sale of 10 more stations after the contract modification, assuming that the price for the additional stations reflects the standalone selling price at the time of the contract modification. In addition, the additional stations are distinct from the original products as Gaertner regularly sells the products separately.

(Franchise Fee, Initial Down Payment) On January 1, 2017, Lesley Benjamin signed an agreement, covering 5 years, to operate as a franchisee of Campbell Inc. for an initial franchise fee of \(50,000. The amount of \)10,000 was paid when the agreement was signed, and the balance is payable in five annual payments of \(8,000 each, beginning January 1, 2018. The agreement provides that the down payment is nonrefundable and that no future services are required of the franchisor once the franchise commences operations on April 1, 2017. Lesley Benjamin’s credit rating indicates that she can borrow money at 11% for a loan of this type.

Instructions

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(c) Repeat the requirements for part (a), assuming that Campbell must provide services to Benjamin throughout the franchise period to maintain the franchise value.

Leno Computers manufactures tablet computers for sale to retailers such as Fallon Electronics. Recently, Leno sold and delivered 200 tablet computers to Fallon for $20,000 on January 5, 2017. Fallon has agreed to pay for the 200 tablet computers within 30 days. Fallon has a good credit rating and should have no difficulty in making payment to Leno. (a) Explain whether a valid contract exists between Leno Computers and Fallon Electronics. (b) Assuming that Leno Computers has not yet delivered the tablet computers to Fallon Electronics, what might cause a valid contract not to exist between Leno and Fallon?

How should a franchisor account for continuing franchise fees and routine sales of equipment and supplies to franchisees?

(Franchise Fee, Initial Down Payment) On January 1, 2017, Lesley Benjamin signed an agreement, covering 5 years, to operate as a franchisee of Campbell Inc. for an initial franchise fee of \(50,000. The amount of \)10,000 was paid when the agreement was signed, and the balance is payable in five annual payments of $8,000 each, beginning January 1, 2018. The agreement provides that the down payment is nonrefundable and that no future services are required of the franchisor once the franchise commences operations on April 1, 2017. Lesley Benjamin’s credit rating indicates that she can borrow money at 11% for a loan of this type.

Instructions

(c) Repeat the requirements for part (a), assuming that Campbell must provide services to Benjamin throughout the franchise period to maintain the franchise value.

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