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Marginal costing

Section 3 of 11

Break-Even Analysis

Break-even point (BEP) — where Total Revenue = Total Costs (zero profit)

BEP (units) = Fixed Costs ÷ Contribution per Unit

Three methods of finding BEP:

  1. Calculation — apply the formula above
  2. Table — list total revenue and total cost at each output level
  3. Graph — plot TR and TC lines; intersection = BEP

Break-even graph components:

  • Fixed costs line — horizontal (constant at all output levels)
  • Total costs line — rises from the fixed costs intercept
  • Revenue line — rises from the origin; steeper than total costs line
  • BEP = intersection of revenue line and total costs line

Adjust the values below — the graph updates live

£0£7.5k£15k£22.5k£30k0200400600800units of outputBreak-even: 500 unitsLOSSPROFIT
Sales Revenue
Total Costs
Fixed Costs
Loss area
Profit area

Break-even point

500 units

Break-even revenue

£15,000

Contribution per unit

£20

Margin of safety at max output

400 units

View data table
UnitsFixed CostsVariable CostsTotal CostsRevenueProfit / (Loss)
0£10,000£0£10,000£0(£10,000)
200£10,000£2,000£12,000£6,000(£6,000)
400£10,000£4,000£14,000£12,000(£2,000)
600£10,000£6,000£16,000£18,000£2,000
800£10,000£8,000£18,000£24,000£6,000

Example — Jason Sports Ltd: FC £10,000; SP £30; VC £10

  • Contribution per unit = £20
  • BEP = £10,000 ÷ £20 = 500 units

Uses: new business planning, "what if" scenario testing, bank loan applications, evaluating management decisions

Limitations:

  • Assumes linearity — prices and costs do not change with volume
  • Assumes all output is sold in the same period it is produced
  • Only valid for a single product
  • Data is estimated and may be inaccurate

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