Feather Friends, Inc., distributes a high-quality wooden birdhouse that sells for $20 per unit. Variable expenses are $8 per unit, and fixed expenses total $180,000 per year. Its operating results for last year were as follows:

Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $400,000

Variable expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   160,000

Contribution margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   240,000 

Fixed expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    180,000

Net operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    $60,000

Required:

Answer each question independently based on the original data:

1. What is the product’s CM ratio?

2. Use the CM ratio to determine the break-even point in dollar sales.

3. Assume this year’s unit sales and total sales increase by 3,750 units and $75,000, respectively. If the fixed expenses do not change, how much will net operating income increase?

4. a. What is the degree of operating leverage based on last year’s sales?

b. Assume the president expects this year’s unit sales to increase by 20%. Using the degree of operating leverage from last year, what percentage increase in net operating income will the company realize this year?

5. The sales manager is convinced that a 10% reduction in the selling price, combined with a $30,000 increase in advertising, would increase this year’s unit sales by 25%. If the sales manager is right, what would be this year’s net operating income if his ideas are implemented? Do you recommend implementing the sales manager’s suggestions? Why?

6. The president does not want to change the selling price. Instead, he wants to increase the sales commission by $1 per unit. He thinks that this move, combined with some increase in advertising, would increase this year’s unit sales by 25%. How much could the president increase this year’s advertising expense and still earn the same $60,000 net operating income as last year?