Differential Cost Definition Example How To Calculate

Differential Cost Definition

It differs from the marginal cost because marginal costMarginal CostMarginal cost formula helps in calculating the value of increase or decrease of the total production cost of the company during the period under consideration if there is a change in output by one extra unit. It is calculated by dividing the change in the costs by the change in quantity.read more includes labor, direct expenses, and variable overheads, whereas differential cost includes both fixed and variable costs.

Examples of Differential Cost

The following are examples to understand this concept in a better manner.

Example #1

ABC Ltd is a company that produces card boxes. Its monthly cost statistics are as follows:

· Units made and sold: 800 units per month

· Maximum production and sales capacity: 1200 units per month

· Selling price: $30

The bifurcation of cost is as given below:

They have an alternative to increasing the production of up to 900 by reducing the selling price to 28.

Please evaluate the feasibility of the option.

Solution

Option 1: Present situation: selling price 30

Hence, the entity is earning a profit of $5,600 per month.

Option 2: Alternative to increase the production

Based on the two options, the cost of both the options can be evaluated as given below:

From the above analysis, we can observe that with the change in the alternative, an entity will have to incur an additional cost of $1,000. Hence, an increase in production is not advisable.

Example #2

Continuing the above example, ABC Ltd. has an opportunity for a one-time-only special order to sell 100 units at $25 each. Should they accept the special order?

Option 1: Present Situation

Option 2: Accepting one-time order

The differential analysis of both the options are as given below:

Thus, we can observe an increase in profit after accepting the order. Hence, ABC Ltd. should accept the order and should enhance their profit.

Usage of Differential Cost Analysis

Getting Prices of Products: The optimum price quoted can be won.Accepting or Rejecting Special Orders: Whether to work out in any additional specific order in business.Adding or Eliminating Products, Segments, or Customers: Whether to continue or diversify from any specific business segment or not.Processing or Selling Joint Products: Whether to co-produce or co-sell the products or jointly market the products;Deciding whether to Make Products or Buy them: Whether to manufacture the product or leverage the production facility of others.

Accounting Treatment of Differential Costing

The differential costs can be fixedFixed CostFixed Cost refers to the cost or expense that is not affected by any decrease or increase in the number of units produced or sold over a short-term horizon. It is the type of cost which is not dependent on the business activity.read more, variable, or semi-variable costsSemi-variable CostsFixed and variable costs combine to form semi-variable costs. Because semi variable costs are influenced by both fixed and variable costs, they are also referred to as mixed costs.read more. Users leverage the costs to evaluate options to make strategic decisions positively impacting the company. Hence, no accounting entryAccounting EntryAccounting Entry is a summary of all the business transactions in the accounting books, including the debit & credit entry. It has 3 major types, i.e., Transaction Entry, Adjusting Entry, & Closing Entry. read more is needed for this cost as no actual transactions are undertaken, and this is the only evaluation of alternatives. Also, no accounting standards can guide the treatment of differential costing.

Conclusion

Thus, differential cost includes fixed and semi-variable expenses. It is the difference between the total cost of the two alternatives. Therefore, its analysis focuses on cash flowsCash FlowsCash Flow is the amount of cash or cash equivalent generated & consumed by a Company over a given period. It proves to be a prerequisite for analyzing the business’s strength, profitability, & scope for betterment. read more, whether it is getting enhanced or not. Therefore, all variable costs are not part of the differential cost and are considered only on a case-to-case basis.