Colin Was a Professional Classical Guitar Player Until His Motorcycle

question 84

Multiple Choice

Colin was a professional classical guitar player until his motorcycle accident that left him disabled. After long months of therapy, he hired an experienced luthier (maker of stringed instruments) and started a small shop to make and sell Spanish guitars. The guitars sell for $700 and the fixed monthly operating costs are as follows: $$\begin{array} { | l | r | } \hline \text { Rent and utilities } & \$ 1,210 \\\hline \text { Wages and benefits to luthier } & 2,500 \\\hline \text { Other expenses } & 480 \\\hline\end{array}$$ Colin's accountant told him about contribution margin ratios and he understood clearly that for every dollar of sales, $0.65 went to cover his fixed costs, and that anything past that point was pure profit.
Colin wishes to earn $4,000 of operating profit each month. Calculate the number of guitars Colin will have to sell to achieve the target profit.

• A) 39 guitars
• B) 33 guitars
• C) 15 guitars
• D) 18 guitars

---

Definitions:

Contribution Margin

The selling price per unit, minus the variable cost per unit, indicating how much a product contributes towards covering fixed costs and generating profit.

Simulation Analysis

A process of modeling a real-world system or process through a computer program to study its behavior under various conditions.

Scenario Analysis

The process of examining and evaluating possible events or scenarios that could affect the outcome of a decision or investment.

Operating Cash Flow

Cash generated by a company’s normal business operations, indicating whether a company can generate sufficient positive cash flow to maintain and grow its operations.