Master Budget Problem - The Observer Company (Solution)

Facts: The Observer Company is a small, rapidly growing wholesaler of consumer electronic products including small kitchen appliances and power tools. A sales forecast supplied by the Marketing Department predicts that sales during Quarter 1 of 20x2 will increase by 10% each month over the previous month’s sales. Then (beginning in April 20x2) sales are expected to remain constant for the next several months. The Company is going to put some new equipment in operation just after the New Year begins. They hope to finance it largely with cash and the sale of marketable securities, but if necessary they can get a short-term loan from the Karch Bank. Observer’s Balance Sheet at December 31, 20x1 is as follows:

As Assistant Controller for the Observer Company you are now preparing a monthly budget for Quarter 1 of 20x2. In this process, the following information has been accumulated:

(1) Projected Sales for December 20x1 are $400,000. Credit sales typically are 75% of total sales. Observer’s credit experience indicates that 10% of credit sales are collected during the month of sale, and the remainder is collected during the following month.

(2) Observer’s cost of goods sold is normally 70% of sales. Inventory is purchased on account and 40% of each month’s purchases are paid during the month of purchase. The remainder is paid during the following month. To have adequate amounts of inventory on hand Observer has a policy that inventory at the end of each month should equal half of the next month’s projected cost of goods sold.

(3) Observer’s other monthly expenses are estimated as follows:

Sales Salaries $21,000

Advertising & promotion $16,000

Administrative salaries $21,000

Depreciation $25,000 (Includes depreciation on new equipment purchased at beginning of Quarter 1)

Interest on Bonds $2,500

Property taxes $900

Sales Commissions --- 1 percent of current month’s sales

(4) The Company President has indicated that Observer will be investing $125,000 in equipment to be used in the firm’s warehouse just after the New Year begins. This equipment purchase will be financed from the company’s cash and marketable securities. However, the President noted that Observer should keep a minimum cash balance of $25,000. If necessary, the remainder of the equipment purchased will be financed using short-term credit from the Karch Bank. The minimum period for such a loan is 3 months with short-term interest rates being 10% per year. If a loan is needed the President has decided that it should be paid off at the end of the Quarter 1, if possible.

(5)Observer’s Board of Directors has indicated an intention to declare and pay cash dividends of $50,000 on the last day of each quarter.

(6)The interest on any short-term borrowing will be paid when the loan is repaid. Interest on Observer’s Bonds is paid semiannually on January 31 and July 31 for the preceding six-month period.

(7)Property taxes are paid semi-annually on February 28 and August 31 for the preceding six-month period.

Required: Complete the Observer Company’s Master Budget for Quarter 1 of 20x2 using the Excel spreadsheet provided.