John and Lea Smith both worked for a small-town school district for 30 years. When John and Lea retired, they moved to the town of Jacksonville, NC. When the Smiths moved to the town, they decided to start a child care business in their home called Grandmas House. Grandmas House is licensed by the state. The state charges an annual fee of $225 to maintain the license. Insurance is $3,840 annually. The facility is licensed to care for a maximum of six children. The Smiths charge a fee of $800 per month for each child. The monthly fee is based on a full day of care, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If additional time is required beyond 4:00 p.m., parents must pay an additional charge of $15 per hour for each child. The couple provides two meals and a snack for the children. The cost of the meals and snack is $3.20 per child per day. There are six children currently enrolled. The daycare space is an 820 square foot addition to their home that was built in 1964. The Smiths purchased the home and completed the renovations for $79,500 and they believe the addition has a useful life of 25 years. The facility has a large open space for play, reading, and other activities. There is a section for sleeping which contains small cots. The facility is equipped with a small kitchen, two bathrooms and a small laundry area. The daycare increased the Smiths utility cost by $50 each month. During the first week of operations, the washer and dryer stopped working. Both appliances were old and had been used by the couple for many years. The old appliances cost a total of $440. While a laundry room was not initially a necessity, it became increasingly important for laundering the soiled clothes of the children, blankets, and sheets. A company nearby, Red Oak Laundry and Dry Cleaning, can launder clothing for the Smiths, including pick-up and delivery, for $52 per month. Alternatively, the Smiths can take clothes to the laundromat once a week, which is three miles away (one way). The applicable mileage rate is $0.56/mile. They can launder the clothes themselves at a cost of $8 per week. The self-service alternative does not include detergent or fabric sheets. The couple would need to purchase these items in order to use the laundromat. Purchasing laundry supplies in bulk from MegaloMart would cost $35 every quarter. The final alternative is for the Smiths to purchase a washer and dryer. The cost of the appliances is: washer $420 and dryer $380. The additional accessories for both appliances, needed for installation, cost $43.72. The store will deliver the appliances at a total cost of $35. The cost of installing the appliances is free. Both appliances are expected to last 8 years. According to the manufacturer the washer will increase energy costs by $120 per year. The dryer will increase energy costs by $145 per year. The Smiths need some assistance in decision making and evaluation. They have contacted you, to provide some advice. 2 Respond to the following Questions to help John and Lea make their decisions. Include all of your calculations! (If necessary, the Smiths will use straight line depreciation.)

3. What would it cost the couple to launder clothes? Show your detailed calculations for of three alternatives given.

4. The couple has already made a significant investment in this business. Using ROI and the payback method for capital expenditures to express how long will it take for the couple to recoup their investment? Is the payback method a good measure of whether the company will be successful? If not, how would you measure the success of the company? Explain. ** Prepare a letter to the Smiths advising them of your recommendation. Make sure to offer them details to support your recommendation. Show all of your calculations.