2. INTRODUCTION The break-even point has its origins in the economic concept of the "point of indifference." From an economic perspective, this point indicates the quantity of some good at which the decision maker would be indifferent, i.e., would be satisfied, without reason to celebrate or to opine. At this quantity, the costs and benefits are precisely balanced. Similarly, the managerial concept of break-even analysis seeks to find the quantity of output that just covers all costs so that no loss is generated. Managers can determine the minimum quantity of sales at which the company would avoid a loss in the production of a given good. If a product cannot cover its own costs, it inherently reduces the profitability of the firm
3. DEFINITION The break even point is the point where the gains equal the losses. The point defines when an investment will generate a positive return. The point where sales or revenues equal expenses. The point where total costs equal total revenues. There is no profit made or loss incurred at the break even point. It is the lower limit of profit when prices are set and margins are determined.
4. DEFINITION At this point the income of the business exactly equals its expenditure. If production is enhanced beyond this level, profit shall accrue to the business and if it is decreased from this level, loss shall be suffered by the business.
5.
6. CALCULATION OF THE BREAK EVEN POINT VARIABLE COST They are directly related to the volume of sales: that is these cost increase in proportion to the increase in sales and vice versa. FIXED COST Fixed costs continue regardless of how much you can sell or not sell, and can be made up of such expenses as rent, wages, telephone account and insurance. These cost can be estimated by using last years figure as a basis, because they typically do not change.
7. At break even point, the desired profit is zero. In case the volume of output or sales is to be computed for a desired profit, the amount of desired profit should be added to fixed cost is the formula given above. Units for a desired profit= Fixed cost+ desired profit Contribution per unit
8. Margin Of Safety Margin of safety represents the strength of the business. It enables a business to know what is the exact amount it has gained or lost and whether they are over or below the break even point.It helps the management to estimate that how much their estimated sales can be reduced to even achieve some kind of profit from production and sales or how much costs can increase to even then company at profit point and can survive loss position.margin of safety = (current output - breakeven output)
10. BREAK-EVEN POINT CALCULATION To break-even the company must sell 50 units per month. If the Company just broke even, then its Profit and Loss Statement would look like the following:
12. BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS It refers to the ascertainment of level of operations where total revenue equals to total costs. Analytical tool to determine probable level of operation. Method of studying the relationship among sales, revenue, variable cost, fixed cost to determine the level of operation at which all the costs are equal to the sales revenue and there is no profit and no loss situation. Important techniques in profit planning and managerial decision making.
13.
14.
15. ADVANTAGES It is cheap to carry out and it can show the profits/losses at varying levels of output. It provides a simple picture of a business - a new business will often have to present a break-even analysis to its bank in order to get a loan.
16. LIMITATIONS Break-even analysis is only a supply side (i.e. costs only) analysis, as it tells you nothing about what sales are actually likely to be for the product at various prices. It assumes that fixed costs (FC) are constant It assumes average variable costs are constant per unit of output, at least in the range of likely quantities of sales. (i.e. linearity) It assumes that the quantity of goods produced is equal to the quantity of goods sold (i.e., there is no change in the quantity of goods held in inventory at the beginning of the period and the quantity of goods held in inventory at the end of the period). In multi-product companies, it assumes that the relative proportions of each product sold and produced are constant (i.e., the sales mix is constant).
