The company that you work for as a managerial accountant uses independent agents to sell its products. These agents are currently being paid a commission of 15% of the sales price, but are asking for an increase to 20% of sales made during the coming year. You had already prepared the following income statement for the company based on the 15% commission:

Income Statement Year Ending April 30, 2016 Sales $1,000,000 Cost of goods sold (all variable) 600,000 Gross profit 400,000 Selling and administrative expenses Commissions only $150,000 Fixed costs 10,000 160,000 Income before taxes 240,000 Income tax expense (25%) 60,000 Operating income $ 180,000

Management wants to examine the possibility of employing the company's own salespeople. The company would need a sales manager at an annual salary of $60,000 and three sales people at an annual salary of $30,000 each, plus a commission of 5% of sales. All other fixed costs, as well as the variable cost percentages would remain the same as in the above pro forma income statement. Instructions

a) Based on the pro forma income statement you have already prepared, calculate the breakeven point in sales dollars for the company for the year ending April 30, 2016.

b) Calculate the break-even point in sales dollars for the year ending April 30, 2016, if the company uses its own salespeople.

c) Calculate the volume of sales dollars required for the year ending April 30, 2016, to have the same operating income as projected in the pro forma income statement if the company continues to use the independent sales agents and agrees to their demand for a 20% sales commission.

d) Calculate the estimated sales volume in sales dollars that would generate an identical operating income for the year ending April 30, 2016, regardless of whether the company employs its own sales people or continues to use the independent sales agents and pays them a 20% commission.