Learn to differentiate between fixed and variable costs and how to calculate when a company will hit its break-even point.
0% Complete
Variable Costs
Fixed Costs
Calculating Operating Profit Using Variable and Fixed Costs
Operating Leverage: Effect on Sales Volume
Operating Leverage: Effect on Risk
Contribution Margin
Contribution Margin Ratio
Break-Even Point in Units
Course Review
Course Quiz
Course Description
In the fourth lesson of our “Accounting 101” series, “Contribution Margin and Break-Even,” you will explore the distinctions between fixed and variable costs and how to leverage this information for effective financial analysis. You will learn how these costs behave differently with production volume and how to assess a company's operating leverage. By calculating the contribution margin—revenues minus variable costs—you will understand its relation to the gross profit margin. Additionally, you will learn how to determine when a company reaches its break-even point.
By the end of this course, you will able to answer questions such as:
• How can a company’s cost structure influence the risk in its operations?
• How does a company’s contribution margin affect its ability to scale?
• What shifts in cost structure can reduce the time for a company to break even?