# Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis (CVP): Definition and Formula Explained

## What Is Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis?

Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis evaluates how sales and cost variations affect a company's operating profit. By determining the breakeven point and analyzing contribution margin, businesses can make informed decisions to achieve profitability and meet target profit margins.

### Key Takeaways

*   Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis examines how changes in sales volume and costs affect a company's operating profit.
*   The breakeven point is calculated using the formula: Fixed Costs divided by Contribution Margin.
*   CVP analysis is useful for determining the number of units needed to reach profitability or achieve a target profit.
*   Contribution margin, the difference between total sales and total variable costs, is crucial for evaluating a business's profitability.
*   CVP analysis assumes fixed costs remain constant and all produced units are sold, which may not account for real-world variability.

  

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*— Investopedia / Daniel Fishel*

## How to Use Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis for Break-Even Calculations 

Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis, also referred to as breakeven analysis, can be used to determine the [breakeven point](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/breakevenpoint.asp) for different sales volumes and cost structures. The breakeven point is the number of units that need to be sold—or the amount of sales revenue that has to be generated—to cover the costs required to make the product.

CVP analysis can be useful for companies when making short-term business decisions. Running a CVP analysis involves using several equations for price, cost, and other variables; these equations are plotted on a graph.  

## Calculating Breakeven With the CVP Formula

One key CVP formula is the formula used to calculate a company's breakeven point. The breakeven sales volume formula is:

For example, a company with $100,000 of fixed costs and a contribution margin of 40% must earn revenue of $250,000 to break even.

In addition to calculating the breakeven point, the formula above can also be tweaked to determine a company's target sales volume (in order to achieve its target profit): Add a target profit amount per unit to the fixed-cost variable of the formula.

For example, if the previous company desired a profit of $50,000, the necessary total sales revenue is found by dividing $150,000 (the sum of fixed costs and desired profit) by the contribution margin of 40%. This example yields a required sales revenue of $375,000.

## Understanding Contribution Margin in CVP Analysis

Use CVP analysis to find a product's contribution margin, which is total sales minus total variable costs. A business profits when its contribution margin is higher than its total fixed production costs.

Calculate the contribution margin per unit by subtracting the unit variable cost from the unit sales price.

The contribution margin ratio is determined by dividing the contribution margin by total sales.

The [contribution margin](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/contributionmargin.asp) is part of the formula used to determine the breakeven point of sales. The contribution margin helps find the breakeven point of sales. Divide total fixed costs by the contribution margin ratio to calculate the breakeven sales in dollars.

## Key Assumptions and Limitations of CVP Analysis 

CVP analysis is reliable only if costs remain fixed at a specific production level, assuming all units are sold and fixed costs are stable. Another assumption is all changes in expenses occur because of changes in activity level. Semi-variable expenses must be split between expense classifications using the [high-low method](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/high-low-method.asp), scatter plot, or statistical regression.

## How Is Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis Used?

CVP analysis is used to determine whether there is an economic justification for a product to be manufactured. A target profit margin is added to the breakeven sales volume, which is the number of units that need to be sold in order to cover the costs required to make the product (and arrive at the target sales volume needed to generate the desired profit). The decision maker could then compare the product's sales projections to the target sales volume to see if it is worth manufacturing.

## What Assumptions Does Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis Make?

The reliability of CVP lies in the assumptions it makes, including that the sales price and the fixed and variable cost per unit are constant. The costs are fixed within a specified production level. All units produced are assumed to be sold, and all fixed costs must be stable. Another assumption is all changes in expenses occur because of changes in activity level. Semi-variable expenses must be split between expense classifications using the high-low method, [scatter plot](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scattergraph-method.asp), or statistical regression.

## What Is Contribution Margin?

The contribution margin can be stated on a gross or per-unit basis. It represents the incremental money generated for each product/unit sold after deducting the variable portion of the firm's costs. Basically, it shows the portion of sales that helps to cover the company's fixed costs. Any revenue left after covering fixed costs is profit. So, for a business to be profitable, the contribution margin must exceed total fixed costs.

## The Bottom Line

Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis empowers businesses by showing how variations in costs and sales volume impact operating profit, helping determine the breakeven point where total sales equal total costs. This pivotal tool not only aids in setting sales targets but also ensures profitability by calculating the contribution margin—the difference between total sales and total variable costs. For sustained profitability, businesses must ensure their contribution margin surpasses total fixed costs, allowing for informed short-term decision-making and economic justifications for new products.