CVP / Break-Even Analysis
Overview
Cost-Volume-Profit analysis determines the relationship between costs, volume, and profit to find the break-even point and plan for target profits. Supports single-product and multi-product scenarios with what-if simulation capabilities.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill in the following scenarios:
- Break-Even Point Calculation - Determine the sales volume needed to cover all costs
- 「損益分岐点を計算して」「何個売れば元が取れる?」
- New Business/Product Feasibility - Evaluate whether a new venture can be profitable
- 「新商品の採算シミュレーションをして」「新規事業の損益分岐点を出して」
- Pricing Decision Support - Analyze the profit impact of price changes
- 「値上げしたら利益はどう変わる?」「価格設定のシミュレーションをして」
- Cost Structure Optimization - Evaluate fixed cost reduction or variable cost improvement scenarios
- 「固定費を削減したらどうなる?」「変動費率を改善した場合の効果は?」
- What-If / Sensitivity Analysis - Model multiple scenarios for management decision-making
- 「売上が10%減ったら利益はどうなる?」「What-if分析をして」
Prerequisites
Before running this skill, ensure the following data is available:
- Revenue Data: Selling price per unit and/or total sales amount
- Variable Cost Data: Variable cost per unit or total variable costs
- Fixed Cost Data: Total fixed costs for the analysis period
- Volume Data: Current or projected sales volume (units)
- For Multi-Product: Sales mix ratios for each product
Input Data Format
Single Product:
| Parameter |
Example |
| Selling Price per Unit |
$500 |
| Variable Cost per Unit |
$300 |
| Total Fixed Costs |
$1,000,000 |
| Current Sales Volume |
8,000 units |
Multi-Product (CSV):
product_name,selling_price,variable_cost,sales_mix_ratio
Product A,500,300,0.60
Product B,800,500,0.30
Product C,200,120,0.10
Workflow 1: Cost Structure Analysis
- Identify Cost Behavior: Classify all costs as fixed or variable
- Calculate Unit Contribution Margin:
Unit CM = Selling Price - Variable Cost per Unit
- Calculate CM Ratio:
CM Ratio = Unit CM / Selling Price
- Assess Cost Structure: Determine operating leverage (fixed cost proportion)
- For Multi-Product: Calculate weighted average CM ratio using sales mix
Key Formulas
| Metric |
Formula |
| Unit Contribution Margin |
Selling Price - Variable Cost per Unit |
| Contribution Margin Ratio |
CM / Sales |
| Total Contribution Margin |
Sales - Total Variable Costs |
Workflow 2: Break-Even Calculation
- Break-Even in Units:
BEP (units) = Fixed Costs / Unit CM
- Break-Even in Sales:
BEP (sales) = Fixed Costs / CM Ratio
- Target Profit Sales:
Required Sales = (Fixed Costs + Target Profit) / CM Ratio
- Margin of Safety:
- Amount:
Current Sales - Break-Even Sales
- Ratio:
(Current Sales - BEP) / Current Sales * 100%
- Multi-Product BEP: Use weighted average CM ratio, note constant sales mix assumption
Margin of Safety Interpretation
| Margin of Safety Ratio |
Risk Level |
Interpretation |
| > 40% |
Low |
Strong buffer above break-even |
| 20% - 40% |
Moderate |
Adequate but monitor closely |
| 10% - 20% |
Elevated |
Limited margin, corrective action needed |
| < 10% |
High |
Near break-even, urgent attention required |
Workflow 3: Scenario Analysis & Decision Support
- Price Change Scenarios: Model profit impact of price increases/decreases
- Cost Structure Changes: Simulate fixed cost reduction or variable cost improvement
- Volume Sensitivity: Show profit at different volume levels (e.g., 80%, 90%, 100%, 110%, 120%)
- Operating Leverage Analysis: How profit changes amplify relative to revenue changes
- Decision Recommendations: Summarize findings with actionable recommendations
Output
The analysis produces a structured CVP report containing:
- Cost Structure Summary: Fixed costs, variable costs, CM ratio breakdown
- Break-Even Analysis: BEP in units and sales, with visualization data
- Margin of Safety Assessment: Current position relative to break-even
- Scenario Analysis Table: Multiple what-if scenarios with profit projections
- Decision Recommendations: Prioritized actions based on analysis
Output template: assets/cvp_analysis_template_ja.md (Japanese) or assets/cvp_analysis_template_en.md (English)
Resources
References (load into context for guidance)
references/09_break-even-analysis_20251005.md - Break-even analysis fundamentals with practical bakery business examples, margin of safety concepts
references/10_differential-cost-analysis_20251104.md - Differential cost-revenue analysis for make-or-buy and special order decisions
Assets (templates for output generation)
assets/cvp_analysis_template_ja.md - Japanese CVP analysis report template
assets/cvp_analysis_template_en.md - English CVP analysis report template
Best Practices
- Always verify cost classification (fixed vs. variable) - misclassification leads to incorrect BEP
- CVP analysis assumes linear cost behavior within the relevant range
- For multi-product analysis, clearly state the sales mix assumption
- Present margin of safety alongside BEP to convey the risk context
- Include sensitivity analysis - single-point BEP is less useful than a range of scenarios
- Remember CVP limitations: single-period model, constant prices, no inventory changes
Examples
Example: Bakery Break-Even Analysis
Input:
- Selling Price per unit (bread loaf): ¥350
- Variable Cost per unit: ¥150
- Fixed Costs (monthly): ¥600,000
- Current Monthly Volume: 5,000 loaves
Analysis:
- Unit CM: ¥350 - ¥150 = ¥200
- CM Ratio: ¥200 / ¥350 = 57.1%
- BEP (units): ¥600,000 / ¥200 = 3,000 loaves
- BEP (sales): ¥600,000 / 0.571 = ¥1,050,000
- Current Sales: ¥1,750,000
- Margin of Safety: (¥1,750,000 - ¥1,050,000) / ¥1,750,000 = 40.0% (Low Risk)
Scenario Analysis:
| Scenario |
Volume |
Revenue |
Profit |
MoS |
| Base Case |
5,000 |
¥1,750K |
¥400K |
40% |
| Price +10% |
5,000 |
¥1,925K |
¥575K |
47% |
| Volume -20% |
4,000 |
¥1,400K |
¥200K |
25% |
| Fixed Cost -10% |
5,000 |
¥1,750K |
¥460K |
44% |
1---2name: ma-cvp-break-even3description: CVP(Cost-Volume-Profit)分析・損益分岐点分析スキル。固定費・変動費の構造分析、 限界利益率の算出、損益分岐点売上高/数量の計算、安全余裕率の評価、 目標利益達成に必要な売上高のシミュレーションを行う。多品目分析にも対応。 Use when: 損益分岐点を知りたいとき、新規事業や価格変更の採算シミュレーション、 固定費削減・変動費率改善の効果試算、What-if分析に使用。 Triggers: "損益分岐点", "CVP", "break-even", "限界利益", "contribution margin", "安全余裕率", "margin of safety", "固変分解", "変動費率"4---56# CVP / Break-Even Analysis78## Overview910Cost-Volume-Profit analysis determines the relationship between costs, volume, and profit to find the break-even point and plan for target profits. Supports single-product and multi-product scenarios with what-if simulation capabilities.1112## When to Use This Skill1314Use this skill in the following scenarios:15161. **Break-Even Point Calculation** - Determine the sales volume needed to cover all costs17 - 「損益分岐点を計算して」「何個売れば元が取れる?」182. **New Business/Product Feasibility** - Evaluate whether a new venture can be profitable19 - 「新商品の採算シミュレーションをして」「新規事業の損益分岐点を出して」203. **Pricing Decision Support** - Analyze the profit impact of price changes21 - 「値上げしたら利益はどう変わる?」「価格設定のシミュレーションをして」224. **Cost Structure Optimization** - Evaluate fixed cost reduction or variable cost improvement scenarios23 - 「固定費を削減したらどうなる?」「変動費率を改善した場合の効果は?」245. **What-If / Sensitivity Analysis** - Model multiple scenarios for management decision-making25 - 「売上が10%減ったら利益はどうなる?」「What-if分析をして」2627## Prerequisites2829Before running this skill, ensure the following data is available:3031- **Revenue Data**: Selling price per unit and/or total sales amount32- **Variable Cost Data**: Variable cost per unit or total variable costs33- **Fixed Cost Data**: Total fixed costs for the analysis period34- **Volume Data**: Current or projected sales volume (units)35- **For Multi-Product**: Sales mix ratios for each product3637### Input Data Format3839**Single Product:**40| Parameter | Example |41|-----------|---------|42| Selling Price per Unit | $500 |43| Variable Cost per Unit | $300 |44| Total Fixed Costs | $1,000,000 |45| Current Sales Volume | 8,000 units |4647**Multi-Product (CSV):**48```csv49product_name,selling_price,variable_cost,sales_mix_ratio50Product A,500,300,0.6051Product B,800,500,0.3052Product C,200,120,0.1053```5455## Workflow 1: Cost Structure Analysis56571. **Identify Cost Behavior**: Classify all costs as fixed or variable582. **Calculate Unit Contribution Margin**: `Unit CM = Selling Price - Variable Cost per Unit`593. **Calculate CM Ratio**: `CM Ratio = Unit CM / Selling Price`604. **Assess Cost Structure**: Determine operating leverage (fixed cost proportion)615. **For Multi-Product**: Calculate weighted average CM ratio using sales mix6263### Key Formulas6465| Metric | Formula |66|--------|---------|67| Unit Contribution Margin | Selling Price - Variable Cost per Unit |68| Contribution Margin Ratio | CM / Sales |69| Total Contribution Margin | Sales - Total Variable Costs |7071## Workflow 2: Break-Even Calculation72731. **Break-Even in Units**: `BEP (units) = Fixed Costs / Unit CM`742. **Break-Even in Sales**: `BEP (sales) = Fixed Costs / CM Ratio`753. **Target Profit Sales**: `Required Sales = (Fixed Costs + Target Profit) / CM Ratio`764. **Margin of Safety**:77 - Amount: `Current Sales - Break-Even Sales`78 - Ratio: `(Current Sales - BEP) / Current Sales * 100%`795. **Multi-Product BEP**: Use weighted average CM ratio, note constant sales mix assumption8081### Margin of Safety Interpretation8283| Margin of Safety Ratio | Risk Level | Interpretation |84|------------------------|------------|----------------|85| > 40% | Low | Strong buffer above break-even |86| 20% - 40% | Moderate | Adequate but monitor closely |87| 10% - 20% | Elevated | Limited margin, corrective action needed |88| < 10% | High | Near break-even, urgent attention required |8990## Workflow 3: Scenario Analysis & Decision Support91921. **Price Change Scenarios**: Model profit impact of price increases/decreases932. **Cost Structure Changes**: Simulate fixed cost reduction or variable cost improvement943. **Volume Sensitivity**: Show profit at different volume levels (e.g., 80%, 90%, 100%, 110%, 120%)954. **Operating Leverage Analysis**: How profit changes amplify relative to revenue changes965. **Decision Recommendations**: Summarize findings with actionable recommendations9798## Output99100The analysis produces a structured CVP report containing:1011021. **Cost Structure Summary**: Fixed costs, variable costs, CM ratio breakdown1032. **Break-Even Analysis**: BEP in units and sales, with visualization data1043. **Margin of Safety Assessment**: Current position relative to break-even1054. **Scenario Analysis Table**: Multiple what-if scenarios with profit projections1065. **Decision Recommendations**: Prioritized actions based on analysis107108Output template: `assets/cvp_analysis_template_ja.md` (Japanese) or `assets/cvp_analysis_template_en.md` (English)109110## Resources111112### References (load into context for guidance)113114- `references/09_break-even-analysis_20251005.md` - Break-even analysis fundamentals with practical bakery business examples, margin of safety concepts115- `references/10_differential-cost-analysis_20251104.md` - Differential cost-revenue analysis for make-or-buy and special order decisions116117### Assets (templates for output generation)118119- `assets/cvp_analysis_template_ja.md` - Japanese CVP analysis report template120- `assets/cvp_analysis_template_en.md` - English CVP analysis report template121122## Best Practices123124- Always verify cost classification (fixed vs. variable) - misclassification leads to incorrect BEP125- CVP analysis assumes linear cost behavior within the relevant range126- For multi-product analysis, clearly state the sales mix assumption127- Present margin of safety alongside BEP to convey the risk context128- Include sensitivity analysis - single-point BEP is less useful than a range of scenarios129- Remember CVP limitations: single-period model, constant prices, no inventory changes130131## Examples132133### Example: Bakery Break-Even Analysis134135**Input:**136- Selling Price per unit (bread loaf): ¥350137- Variable Cost per unit: ¥150138- Fixed Costs (monthly): ¥600,000139- Current Monthly Volume: 5,000 loaves140141**Analysis:**142- Unit CM: ¥350 - ¥150 = ¥200143- CM Ratio: ¥200 / ¥350 = 57.1%144- BEP (units): ¥600,000 / ¥200 = 3,000 loaves145- BEP (sales): ¥600,000 / 0.571 = ¥1,050,000146- Current Sales: ¥1,750,000147- Margin of Safety: (¥1,750,000 - ¥1,050,000) / ¥1,750,000 = 40.0% (Low Risk)148149**Scenario Analysis:**150| Scenario | Volume | Revenue | Profit | MoS |151|----------|--------|---------|--------|-----|152| Base Case | 5,000 | ¥1,750K | ¥400K | 40% |153| Price +10% | 5,000 | ¥1,925K | ¥575K | 47% |154| Volume -20% | 4,000 | ¥1,400K | ¥200K | 25% |155| Fixed Cost -10% | 5,000 | ¥1,750K | ¥460K | 44% |