Contribution Margin
An important term used with break-even point or break-even analysis is contribution margin. In equation format it is defined as follows:
The contribution margin for one unit of product or one unit of service is defined as:
At Oil Change Co. the contribution margin per car (or per oil change) is computed as follows:
The contribution margin per car lets you know that after the variable expenses are covered, each car serviced will provide or contribute $15 toward the Oil Change Co.'s fixed expenses of $2,400 per week. After the $2,400 of weekly fixed expenses has been covered the company's profit will increase by $15 per car serviced.
Break-even Point In Units
The break-even point in units for Oil Change Co. is the number of cars it needs to service in order to cover both the company's fixed and variable expenses. The break-even point formula is to divide the total amount of fixed costs by the contribution margin per car:
It's always a good idea to check your calculations. The following schedule confirms that the break-even point is 160 cars per week:
