Contribution Sales less variable costs
Therefore contribution is the fixed costs plus the profit. Contribution is useful in decision making. High contribution per unit indicates a more volatile business: that is, one that is more risky. Therefore we should expect a business with high contribution/unit to provide a higher return on investment in the longer term. Look at the two break-even charts in Figures 3.6 and 3.7 overleaf. What are the differences between the two situations? What has happened to the break-even point, and why?
Figure 3.3 Rent cost against volume of activity