Nelson Corporation reports the following information:
Selling price per unit $70
Variable cost per unit $45
Fixed cost per unit $15
Annual credit sales 400,000 units
Collection period 3 months
Rate of return 19%
The company is considering easing its credit standards. If it does, the following is expected
to result:
Sales will increase by 25%;
collection period will increase to 4 months;
bad debt losses are anticipated to be 4% on the incremental sales;
and collection costs will increase by $34,000.
Should the proposed relaxation in credit standards be implemented?
Support your answer with computations.
Solution:
Incremental Profit:
Increased unit sales (400,000 x 0.25) 100,000
Contribution margin per unit ($70 - $45) x $25
Incremental profit $ 2,500,000
Increased bad debts:
Incremental dollar sales (1000,000 x $70) $ 7,000,000
Anticipated bad debt losses percentage x 0.04
Additional bad debts $ 280,000
New average unit cost:
Units Unit Cost Total Cost
Present 400,000 $ 60 $ 24,000,000
Increment 100,000 $ 45 4,500,000
Total 500,000 $ 28,500,000
New average unit cost = $ 28,500,000 = $ 57
500,000
Additional Cost:
Investment in average accounts receivable
[(credit sales/turnover) x (unit cost/selling price)]
After change in policy
[($35,000,000/3) x ($57/$70)] $ 9,500,000
Current
[($28,000,000/4) x ($60/$70)] 6,000,000
Incremental $ 3,500,000
Rate of return x 0.19
Opportunity cost $ 665,000
Net advantage or disadvantage of proposal:
Additional profitability $ 2,500,000
Less: Increased bad debts $ 280,000
Increased collection cost 34,000
Opportunity cost 665,000 979,000
Net Advantage $ 1,521,000
It is in the best interest of Nelson Corporation to implement its proposed relaxation of credit
standards as it can gain a net advantage of $ 1,521,000.00.