What Is The Breakeven Point (BEP)?



Calculating the breakeven point (BEP) could be essential for many reasons, including profitability, investing, financing, and more. In this article, we summarized everything about the matter, including the breakeven point definition, calculation, formula, and use cases—read on to see everything.

What Is The Breakeven Point (BEP)? Breakeven Definition

When the market price of an item and the initial cost are equal, the breakeven point (breakeven price) for a transaction or investment is reached.

The breakeven point (BEP) formula in corporate accounting is calculated by dividing the total fixed costs of production by the revenue per unit less the variable expenses per unit. In this context, fixed costs are those constant expenses regardless of the number of units sold.

The production level at which total sales for a product equal total costs is known as the breakeven point.

Main Takeaways

• The breakeven point is determined in accounting by dividing the fixed production costs by the price per unit less the variable production costs.
• The production level at which a product's expenses and revenues are balanced is known as the breakeven point.
• When an asset's market value equals its initial cost, this is referred to as reaching the breakeven point in investment.
• Finding unaccounted-for costs, reducing emotional decision-making, creating goals, gaining finance, and determining fair prices are all things that a break-even analysis may assist with.

Introduction To BEP: Breakeven Point Use Cases

Breakeven points (BEPs) are useful in a number of situations.

For instance, the amount a homeowner would need to make from a sale of a property to precisely cover the net purchase price, inclusive of closing costs, taxes, fees, insurance, and interest paid on the mortgage—as well as costs associated with maintenance and home improvements—is known as the breakeven point.

The homeowner would precisely break even at that cost, generating neither profit nor loss.

Additionally, traders use BEPs to analyze deals, determining the price a security must reach to precisely pay all transaction costs, including taxes, commissions, management fees, and other expenses.

The same formula is used to determine a company's breakeven point: take fixed expenses and divide them by the gross profit margin percentage.

Read more about The Importance Of The Income Statement In Accounting.

A Breakeven Point And Analysis's Advantages

Many objects can benefit from a breakeven analysis, including:

Identifying improper expenditures: A break-even analysis might reveal costs that you would not have otherwise anticipated.

There won't be any unpleasant shocks because the financial obligations you must make will be established at the conclusion of a break-even study.

Limiting emotional decision-making: It's rarely a good idea to base business decisions on emotions, but it may be challenging to do so.

A break-even analysis provides concrete information, which is a better starting point for business decisions.

Setting targets: Following a break-even analysis, you will know exactly what kinds of objectives must be achieved to turn a profit. This aids in setting and achieving objectives.

Obtaining financing: A breakeven analysis is frequently required to get finance and present your company strategy to investors.

Appropriate pricing: A break-even analysis can help you determine your items' selling price.

Read also: The Top Accounting Software for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.

Breakeven Point (BEP) Formula In Business

The breakeven formula gives the amount needed to break even for a firm.

Calculating the contribution margin will allow you to translate this to units (unit sale price less variable costs). How many units are required to break even may be calculated by multiplying the fixed costs by the contribution margin.

The financial accounts of a company include the data needed to compute its BEP. The fixed expenses and the gross margin % are the first pieces of information needed.

Thus, to cover its fixed and variable expenses in this example of the breakeven point, the business has to make SAR 5 million in sales.

If it increases sales, the business will turn a profit. A loss will result if fewer sales are reached.

Breakeven Point Definition Explained

In many aspects of business and finance, a breakeven point is used. It is the output level when total production income and total production expenses are equal in accounting terms.

How To Calculate Breakeven Point?

Fixed expenses are often divided by the gross profit margin to get the breakeven point in a company. This results in the amount of money a business needs to make a profit.

The Conclusion

A breakeven point identifies the price, yield, profit, or other statistics that must be reached to avoid a loss or recoup an original investment in a business or project. Therefore, a SAR 2 million enterprise would need to make SAR 2 million in net earnings before it becomes profitable.

In many circumstances, the expenses of any fees, commissions, taxes, and occasionally the impacts of inflation are also factored into the breakeven point calculation.