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Microlesson · 5-min read

Break-Even Point (BEP)

# Break-Even Point (BEP)

The Break-Even Point is the level of sales at which the company earns No Profit and No Loss — i.e. total contribution exactly equals total fixed cost. It can be expressed either in units or in rupees (₹).

## Formulas

BEP in units:

$$\text{BEP (units)} = \frac{\text{Fixed Cost}}{\text{Contribution per unit}}$$

BEP in ₹ (amount):

$$\text{BEP (₹)} = \frac{\text{Fixed Cost}}{\text{P/V Ratio}}$$

Alternatively, BEP (₹) = BEP (units) × Selling Price per unit.

## Logic

To recover any cost, divide that cost by the contribution per unit — that gives the number of units whose contribution will exactly recover the cost.

## Extension – Sales Required to Earn a Desired Profit

When the question asks the sales required to recover Fixed Cost plus earn a target Profit:

$$\text{Units required} = \frac{\text{Fixed Cost} + \text{Desired Profit}}{\text{Contribution per unit}}$$

$$\text{Sales (₹) required} = \frac{\text{Fixed Cost} + \text{Desired Profit}}{\text{P/V Ratio}}$$

Worked example

### Example 1

Example 1 — BEP in units and ₹

Fixed Cost = ₹1,20,000; SP/unit = ₹50; VC/unit = ₹30.

Contribution/unit = ₹20 → P/V Ratio = 20/50 = 40%.

BEP (units) = 1,20,000 / 20 = 6,000 units.

BEP (₹) = 1,20,000 / 0.40 = ₹3,00,000 (cross-check: 6,000 × ₹50 = ₹3,00,000). ✓

### Example 2

Example 2 — Sales to earn a desired profit

Using the same data, target profit = ₹40,000.

Units required = (1,20,000 + 40,000) / 20 = 8,000 units.

Sales required (₹) = (1,20,000 + 40,000) / 0.40 = ₹4,00,000.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using Sales per unit instead of Contribution per unit in the denominator of BEP (units) — fixed cost is recovered by contribution, not by total sale price.
  • Using Variable Cost Ratio instead of P/V Ratio in BEP (₹).
  • Forgetting to ADD desired profit to fixed cost when computing target sales — questions often slip this in.
  • Mixing units of numerator and denominator (Fixed Cost in ₹ but contribution in % or per unit — keep both consistent).
Reference:
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