The Contribution Margin Ratio is a company's revenue, minus variable costs, divided by its. The formula to determine the contribution margin of a business. Contribution margin is a cost accounting concept that allows a company to determine the profitability of individual products. The phrase 'contribution margin' can also refer to a per unit measure.
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Contribution Margin Formula
Contribution margin concept establishes a relationship between cost, sales, and profit. For the calculation of Contribution margin, the firm refers to its net sales and total variable expenses. It refers to the amount left over after deducting from the revenue or sales, the direct and indirect variable costs incurred in earning that revenue or sales. This left-over value then contributes to paying the periodic fixed costs of the business with any remaining balance contributing profit to the firm.
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Alternatively, contribution margins can be determined by calculating the contribution margin per unit formula and the contribution ratio.
Here’s the Contribution Margin Formula –
Contribution Margin = Net Sales – Total Variable Expenses
Or,
Contribution Margin = Contribution Margin per Unit * No. of Unit Sold
Examples of Contribution Margin Formula (With Excel Template)
Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of Contribution Margin formula in a better manner.
You can download this Contribution Margin Formula Excel Template here – Contribution Margin Formula Excel Template
Example #1
Suppose, we sell a pen for $10 in the market and the variable cost is $6. Calculate the contribution margin of the pen
We can calculate the contribution margin of the pen by using the formula given below
Contribution Margin = Net Sales – Total Variable Expenses
- Contribution Margin= $10 – $6
- Contribution Margin = $4
The contribution margins for the sale of pen would be $4 and selling this pen would increase the profit of the firm by $4.
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In this example, we will calculate the contribution margins of the firm through per unit. Let’s discuss:
A Firm sells a single product known as product A. Sales and cost figures of the firm are given below:
Solution:
By using the above information provided by the Firm, we can calculate per unit and a total contribution margin of the product A as below:
Contribution Margin per Unit is calculated using the formula given below
Contribution Margin per Unit = Sales Price per Unit – Total Variable Cost per Unit
- Contribution Margin per Unit = $100 – $65
- Contribution Margin per Unit = $35 per unit
Total Contribution Margin is calculated using the formula given below
Contribution Margin = Net Sales – Total Variable Expenses
Contribution Margin = (No. of Unit Sold * Sales Price per Unit) – (No. of Unit Sold * Variable Cost per Unit)
- Total Contribution Margin = (10,000 units × $100) – (10,000 units * $65)
- Total Contribution Margin = $10,00,000 – $6,50,000
- Total Contribution Margin = $3,50,000
Or
Total Contribution Margin is calculated using the formula given below
Contribution Margin = Contribution Margin per Unit * No. of Unit Sold
- Total Contribution Margin = $35 * 10,000 units
- Total Contribution Margin = $350,000
Example #3
In this Example, we will calculate the contribution margins alternatively with Net profit and fixed cost. Let’s discuss, the financial data of the firm to calculate contribution margins
During the financial year 2018, Firm ABC has sold mobile phones of INR 2,00,000 and followings are the variable cost for the firm:
Solution:
- Total Variable Cost = INR (50,000+20,000+40,000+30,000)
- Total Variable Cost = INR 1,40,000
Contribution Margin is calculated using the formula given below
Contribution Margin = Net Sales – Total Variable Expenses
- Contribution Margin = INR 2,00,000 – INR 1,40,000
- Contribution Margin = INR 60,000
We can say that ABC Firm has left over INR 60,000 to meet its fixed expenses and any remainder after meeting the fixed cost will be the profit for the firm. The fixed cost of the firm ABC includes following:
Total Fixed Cost is calculated as:
- Total Fixed Cost = INR 10,000 + INR 15,000
- Total Fixed Cost = INR 25,000
Net Profit is calculated using the formula given below
Net Profit = Net Sales – (Total Variable Expenses + Fixed Expenses)
- Net Profit = INR 2,00,000 – (1,40,000 + 25,000)
- Net Profit = INR 35,000
Alternatively, we can calculate the contribution margins of the firm by using the formula given below
Contribution Margin = (Total Fixed Cost + Net Profits)
- Contribution Margins = INR (25,000 + 35,000)
- Contribution Margins = INR 60,000
Explanation
Contribution margin is the amount left-over after deducting from the revenue, the direct and indirect variable costs incurred in earning that revenue. This left-over value then contributes to paying the periodic fixed costs of the business with any remaining balance contributing profit to the owners. Hence, we can calculate contribution margins by deducting the total variable cost from the total sales.
To calculate the contribution margins, we need to consider three things:
- Fixed Expenses: Fixed expenses are those expenses that do not change irrespective of sales volume such as rent, salary, insurance, utilities, office, depreciation, fees etc.
- Variable Expenses: Variable expenses are those expenses which tend to change with the volume of sales such as the cost of goods sold.
- Price: The price of the product is the price set by the firm to sell at wholesale price or cost of manufacturing the product plus mark up.
Alternate Contribution Margin formula –
Contribution Margin = Fixed Cost + Net Profit
We can represent contribution margin in percentage as well. Alternatively, it is known as ‘contribution to sales’ ratio or ‘Profit Volume’ ratio. This ratio represents the percentage of sales income available to cover its fixed cost expenses and to provide operating income to a firm.
Unit contribution margin per unit denotes the profit potential of a product or activity from the sale of each unit to cover per unit fixed cost and generate profit for the firm. E.g. a firm sales a product at Rs 10 per piece and incurred variable costs per unit Rs 7, the unit contribution margin will be Rs 3 (10 – 7).
Relevance and Uses of Contribution Margin Formula
Contribution margin is used by companies in their decisions regarding its operations. It is applied in various ways by the firm/individual for different levels of decision making
- By using the contribution margin, the firm uses in break even analysis. The breakeven point for a firm is when the revenue of the firm equals its expenses, also, we can that the point where the firm is having neither a net profit nor net loss.
- Contribution margin analysis is used to measure the operating leverage of the firm; as it measures how growth in sales translates to growth in profits.
- Contribution margin is also used to judge whether a firm has monopoly power in competition law, such as the use of the Lerner Index
- Contribution margin is also used to compare individual product lines and also be estimated to set sales goals.
Contribution Margin Formula Calculator
You can use the following Contribution Margin Calculator.
Net Sales |
Total Variable Expenses |
Contribution Margin Formula |
Contribution Margin Formula = | Net Sales – Total Variable Expenses |
= | 0– 0 |
= | 0 |
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Contribution Margin formula. Here we discuss How to Calculate Contribution Margin along with practical examples. We also provide Contribution Margin Calculator with downloadable excel template. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
The direct cost margin is calculated by taking the difference between the revenue generated by the sale of goods or services and the sum of all direct costs associated with the production of those goods, divided by the total revenue.
Expressed as a percentage, the direct cost margin indicates what portion of each revenue dollar is retained as profit after accounting for only those expenses incurred for the production of goods and services. The direct cost margin is often referred to as the gross margin and is an important metric in corporate finance.
Depending on how revenue and expense data are labeled on company financial documents, this margin may be expressed in two ways:
Direct Cost Margin = (Revenue - Direct Costs) / Revenueor
Gross Margin = (Revenue - Cost of goods sold) / Revenue
What are Direct Costs?
Direct costs are expenses that can be directly linked to items for sale. For manufacturers, this includes raw materials such as lumber, paint, hardware and the cost of labor needed to build each item. For retail operations, direct costs include the price paid to the wholesaler or manufacturer and any commissions paid to salespeople.
Depending on the operation, it may also include supervisor salaries if the presence of the supervisor is directly and uniquely beneficial to the production or sale of goods. The salaries or wages of employees whose roles are not intrinsically linked to the production or sale of goods are not included as direct costs.
Direct costs are also referred to as the cost of goods sold, or COGS.
Measuring Operational Profitability
The direct cost margin is an excellent indicator of whether a company's most basic expenses are eating into its net profits. A low direct cost margin means relatively little revenue is left over to cover all the other expenses a business incurs in its day-to-day operations. A weak gross margin can easily trickle down to a less-than-impressive net profit margin.
Keeping direct costs down is a crucial component of maintaining a healthy bottom line.