CandleFocus Glossary Editor
Shutdown Points Defined
Shutdown points are often used in business planning as a first step in decision making. A shutdown point is the point at which the revenue a company earns from its operations is equal to its variable costs, and thus there is no economic benefit to continuing operations. Companies may also use shutdown points to assess whether a particular product line is worth maintaining.
In some cases, a company may decide to shut down an operation for a short time if it is suffering from losses and the action will provide short-term benefits. In some cases, shutdown decisions are taken for the entire company.
How a Shutdown Point is Determined
When trying to determine a shutdown point, companies analyze their total fixed costs, total variable costs and their marginal costs. For example, they may determine the total fixed costs of a product line, add in the marginal costs associated with completing a product and then compare the total to the selling price of the product. If the selling price of the product exceeds the total cost of producing it, the company can make a positive contribution margin and should remain in operation.
If, however, the total cost of producing a product exceeds the selling price, a company should shut down operations until such time as it can earn a positive contribution margin. This includes when a company’s capacity exceeds its demand, as total variable costs can quickly add up and become higher than its revenue.
Types of Shutdown Points
Shutdown points come in three major types: Partial Shutdown, Non-operating Shutdown and Total Shutdown. A partial shutdown occurs when a company reduces its output or stops production altogether on certain products, while continuing to produce other products. A non-operating shutdown is when a company stops all of its operations and closes its doors. A total shutdown is a permanent shut down of a business, typically as part of a merger or acquisition.
In an industry with high fixed costs, the conditions where companies can remain in operation can often be slim. Shutting down production when demand drops may be the only viable option for some companies in order to maintain profitability. The analysis of shutdown points is a good way for companies to determine the financial position of each product and make the best decisions when it comes to operations and productivity.
On the other hand, a shutdown point should not be taken lightly as it can potentially lead to loss of jobs and other serious consequences for a company. Companies must carefully analyze their total costs, marginal costs, and revenue stream before making a decision on whether to close or remain open.
Shutdown points are often used in business planning as a first step in decision making. A shutdown point is the point at which the revenue a company earns from its operations is equal to its variable costs, and thus there is no economic benefit to continuing operations. Companies may also use shutdown points to assess whether a particular product line is worth maintaining.
In some cases, a company may decide to shut down an operation for a short time if it is suffering from losses and the action will provide short-term benefits. In some cases, shutdown decisions are taken for the entire company.
How a Shutdown Point is Determined
When trying to determine a shutdown point, companies analyze their total fixed costs, total variable costs and their marginal costs. For example, they may determine the total fixed costs of a product line, add in the marginal costs associated with completing a product and then compare the total to the selling price of the product. If the selling price of the product exceeds the total cost of producing it, the company can make a positive contribution margin and should remain in operation.
If, however, the total cost of producing a product exceeds the selling price, a company should shut down operations until such time as it can earn a positive contribution margin. This includes when a company’s capacity exceeds its demand, as total variable costs can quickly add up and become higher than its revenue.
Types of Shutdown Points
Shutdown points come in three major types: Partial Shutdown, Non-operating Shutdown and Total Shutdown. A partial shutdown occurs when a company reduces its output or stops production altogether on certain products, while continuing to produce other products. A non-operating shutdown is when a company stops all of its operations and closes its doors. A total shutdown is a permanent shut down of a business, typically as part of a merger or acquisition.
In an industry with high fixed costs, the conditions where companies can remain in operation can often be slim. Shutting down production when demand drops may be the only viable option for some companies in order to maintain profitability. The analysis of shutdown points is a good way for companies to determine the financial position of each product and make the best decisions when it comes to operations and productivity.
On the other hand, a shutdown point should not be taken lightly as it can potentially lead to loss of jobs and other serious consequences for a company. Companies must carefully analyze their total costs, marginal costs, and revenue stream before making a decision on whether to close or remain open.