Breakeven the most important ratio you are not using.

Break-even calculations are an essential tool for businesses to assess their financial viability and make informed decisions. Here are some key reasons why a business should use break-even calculations:

1. Determining profitability: Break-even analysis helps a business determine the level of sales or revenue required to cover all its costs and expenses. By calculating the breakeven point, a business can assess whether its current sales volume is sufficient to generate profits or if adjustments need to be made.

2. Setting pricing strategies: Understanding the breakeven point allows a business to set appropriate pricing strategies. By incorporating costs, such as fixed costs and variable costs, into the break-even calculation, a business can determine the minimum price at which a product or service should be sold to cover expenses and achieve profitability.

3. Evaluating cost structure: Break-even analysis helps identify the components of a business's cost structure. It distinguishes between fixed costs (e.g., rent, utilities, salaries) and variable costs (e.g., raw materials, direct labour), allowing a business to assess the impact of different cost elements on its profitability. This information can guide cost reduction efforts or highlight areas where efficiency improvements are needed.

4. Assessing investment decisions: Before making significant investments or undertaking new projects, break-even analysis can provide insights into the financial feasibility and potential profitability of such endeavours. By estimating the breakeven point and considering projected sales volumes, a business can evaluate the risks and returns associated with an investment decision.

5. Planning and budgeting: Break-even calculations help in the planning and budgeting process. They provide a baseline for setting sales targets and revenue goals, as well as determining the level of sales required to cover expenses in different scenarios. This information is valuable for creating realistic budgets and developing effective business strategies.

6. Sensitivity analysis: Break-even analysis allows businesses to conduct sensitivity analysis by varying different factors such as pricing, costs, or sales volume. This analysis helps assess the impact of changes in these variables on the breakeven point and profitability. It provides valuable insights into the potential risks and opportunities associated with different business scenarios.

Overall, break-even calculations enable businesses to gain a deeper understanding of their financial position, make informed decisions, and evaluate the impact of various factors on their profitability. By incorporating break-even analysis into their financial management practices, businesses can improve their planning, budgeting, and strategic decision-making processes.

A quick and "easy" version of this is to calculate the gross margin breakeven point, you'll need to consider the gross margin percentage and the fixed costs of your business. Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Determine the gross margin percentage: Gross margin is the difference between the revenue generated from sales and the cost of goods sold (COGS). Calculate the gross margin percentage by dividing the gross margin by the revenue and multiplying by 100. The formula is: Gross Margin Percentage = (Revenue - COGS) / Revenue * 100.

2. Identify your fixed costs: Fixed costs are expenses that remain constant regardless of the level of production or sales. Examples include rent, utilities, salaries, and insurance. Make a list of all your fixed costs.

3. Calculate the gross margin per unit: Divide the gross margin percentage by 100 to convert it to a decimal. Then, multiply this decimal by the selling price per unit. The resulting figure represents the gross margin per unit.

4. Determine the breakeven point in units: Divide your fixed costs by the gross margin per unit to calculate the breakeven point in units. This figure represents the number of units you need to sell to cover your fixed costs and reach the breakeven point.

Here's an example to illustrate the calculation:

Let's assume:

• Revenue per unit: £100

• COGS per unit: £70

• Gross margin percentage: 30%

• Fixed costs: £10,000

1. Calculate the gross margin percentage: (Revenue - COGS) / Revenue * 100 = (£100 - £70) / £100 * 100 = 30%.

2. Calculate the gross margin per unit: Gross margin percentage / 100 * Revenue per unit = 0.3 * £100 = £30.

3. Determine the breakeven point in units: Fixed costs / Gross margin per unit = £10,000 / £30 = 333.33 units (rounded up to 334 units).

So, in this example, you would need to sell at least 334 units to cover your fixed costs and reach the gross margin breakeven point.

Remember that the gross margin breakeven point is focused on covering fixed costs only. To achieve overall profitability, you need to consider other costs and expenses, such as variable costs and operating expenses.