One of Natalies friends, Curtis Lesperance, runs a coffee shop where he sells speciality coffees and prepares and sells muffins and cookies. He is eager to buy one of Natalies fine European mixers, which would enable him to make larger batches of muffins and cookies. However, Curtis cannot afford to pay for the mixer for at least 30 days. He asks Natalie if she would be willing to sell him the mixer on credit.

Natalie comes to you for advice. She asks the following questions.

1. Curtis has given me a set of his most recent financial statements. What calculations should I do with the data from these statements, and what questions should I ask him after I have analysed the statements? How will this information help me decide if I should extend credit to Curtis?

2. Is there an alternative other than extending credit to Curtis for 30 days?

3. I am thinking seriously about being able to have my customers use credit cards. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of letting my customers pay by credit card?

4. On November 30, a friend of Natalies asks her to teach a class at the neighbourhood school. Natalie agrees and teaches a group of 35 first-grade students how to make gingerbread cookies. The next day, Natalie prepares an invoice for $300 and leaves it with the school principal. The principal says that he will pass the invoice along to the head office, and it will be paid sometime in December.

Instructions

(a) Answer Natalies questions.