Paul Swanson has an opportunity to acquire a franchise from The Yogurt Place, Incorporated, to dispense frozen yogurt products under The Yogurt Place name. Mr$.$ Swanson has assembled the following information relating to the franchise:

a$.$ A suitable location in a large shopping mall can be rented for $$3,500$ per month.

b$.$ Remodeling and necessary equipment would cost $$270,000.$ The equipment would have a $15-$year life and an $$18,000$ salvage value. Straight$-$line depreciation would be used, and the salvage value would be considered in computing depreciation.

c$.$ Based on similar outlets elsewhere, Mr$.$ Swanson estimates that sales would total $$300,000$ per year. Ingredients would cost $20\%$ of sales.

d$.$ Operating costs would include $$70,000$ per year for salaries, $$3,500$ per year for insurance, and $$27,000$ per year for utilities. In addition, Mr$.$ Swanson would have to pay a commission to The Yogurt Place, Incorporated, of $12\mathrm{.}5\%$ of sales.

Required:

Prepare a contribution format income statement that shows the expected net operating income each year from the franchise outlet.

$2-$a$.$ Compute the simple rate of return promised by the outlet.

$2-$b$.$ If Mr$.$ Swanson requires a simple rate of return of at least $12\%,$ should he acquire the franchise?

$3-$a$.$ Compute the payback period on the outlet.

$3-$b$.$ If Mr$.$ Swanson wants a payback of four years or less, will he acquire the franchise?

Prepare a contribution format income statement that shows the expected net operating income each year from the franchise outlet.

$\backslash$table$[[$The Yogurt Place, Incorporated,,$],[$Contribution Format Income Statement,,$],[$Variable expenses:,,$],[,,],[,,0],[,,0],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,0],[,,],[,,],[,,],[,,]]$

Compute the simple rate of return promised by the outlet. $($Round your final answer to the nearest whole percent.$)$

Simple rate of return

$\%$

Compute the payback period on the outlet. $($Round your answer to $1$ decimal place.$)$

Payback period

years