Midlands Inc. had a bad year in 2019. For the first time in its history, it operated at a loss. The company’s income statement showed the following results from selling 80,000 units of product: net sales $2,000,000; total costs and expenses $2,235,000; and net loss $235,000. Costs and expenses consisted of the following.
Management is considering the following independent alternatives for 2020.
1. Increase unit selling price 25% with no change in costs and expenses.
2. Change the compensation of salespersons from fixed annual salaries totaling $200,000 to total salaries of $40,000 plus a 5% commission on net sales.
3. Purchase new high-tech factory machinery that will change the proportion between variable and fixed cost of goods sold to 50:50.
Instructions
a. Compute the break-even point in dollars for 2019.
b. Compute the break-even point in dollars under each of the alternative courses of action for 2020. (Round to the nearest dollar.) Which course of action o you recommend?
