Two University Graduates, Bill and Steve, Worked for an Advertising

question 272

Essay

Two university graduates, Bill and Steve, worked for an advertising agency at an annual salary of $40,000 each for 3 years after they graduated. Then, they decided to quit their jobs and start a partnership that designs and builds Web sites. They rented an office for $12,000 a year and bought capital for $30,000. To pay for the equipment, Bill and Steve borrowed money from a bank at an annual interest rate of 6 percent. During their first year of operation, the partners' total revenue was $100,000. The market value of their capital at the end of the year was $20,000. If Bill and Steve do not design Web pages, their best alternatives are to return to their previous job.
a) What is the firm's economic depreciation?
b) What are the partnership's costs?
c) What is the firm's economic profit in the first year of operation?

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Definitions:

Variable Cost

Costs that vary directly with the level of production or volume of output, such as raw materials and labor associated with the production process.

Sales Volume

The quantity of products or services sold by a business within a specific period, crucial for assessing company performance and planning.

Net Income

The total profit of a company after all expenses and taxes have been deducted from total revenues.

Margin of Safety

The difference between actual or projected sales and the break-even point, indicating the cushion a business has before it incurs a loss.