Preparing a flexible budget for rent expense. The Richards Company has several stores, all in rented buildings. In preparing the flexible budgets for the stores, the accountant finds that most lease contracts for the stores are similar to the one for Store 84. For Store 84, the monthly rental is 6 percent of net sales for the month, but in no case is the monthly rental to be less than $1,500 per month.

What amount of rent would be provided at the following sales levels?

a. $18,000

b. $24,000

c. $31,000