Cost-volume-profit (CVP) and break-even analysis are two related ways to quickly answer some key business questions that include:

  • How much will our profits go up if sales volume goes up by 100 units?
  • What do my sales need to reach for my new company to be profitable?
  • How much will profits go down if we don't sell the budgeted number of units?

CVP and break-even analysis are incredibly useful tools that finance professionals use throughout their careers. The formula is simple but powerful. The CVP formula is the basic equation that determines almost every line of the income statement. It's the formula that drives projections, forecasts, and budgets. The formula can be used for a wide range of analyses that answer key business questions.

The course begins with a quick overview of how CVP analysis is used to calculate profitability and how break-even analysis can help you find a target sales volume. We also explore some key questions it can answer. The rest of this course dives deeper into these concepts. We'll look at the CVP and break-even formulas in more detail and how to use them. I'll show how they can help inform business decisions.

This course provides the basics for those new to CVP while providing insights to those with experience with CVP and break-even analysis.

Course Key Concepts: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis, CVP Analysis, Break-Even Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis, Contribution Margin.

Note: This course is also available in Text-Based format:
Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) and Break-Even Analysis (Text Based Course)

Learning Objectives
  • Discover and recall the CVP and break-even formulas.
  • Identify how to calculate the break-even point for multiple products.
  • Recognize how costs and profits change across the relevant range of analysis.
Last updated/reviewed: January 29, 2025
Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Foundational
No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.
Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) and Break-Even Analysis9:48
  Calculating Profit Using the CVP Formula7:30
  REVIEW QUESTIONS: Calculating Profit Using the CVP Formulaquiz
  Break-Even Analysis11:54
  Multiple Product Break-Even Analysis7:12
  The Relevant Range and Step Costs9:12
  When Fixed Costs Sink Companies6:08
  Key Takeaways5:42
  REVIEW QUESTIONS: Key Takeawaysquiz
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) and Break-Even Analysis57:26
SUPPORTING MATERIAL
  Slides: Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) and Break-Even AnalysisPDF
  Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) and Break-Even Analysis GlossaryPDF
REVIEW AND TEST
 FINAL EXAMexam