Simplified Analysis of Your Business Break Even

by: Francisco J. Colayco

It may be that readers may be less interested in the analysis of a business. However, I’d like to address those who might want to learn for a business they now have or for their planning of a future business.

Break-even in business means how much you need to sell (i.e., how many units of products you need to sell at a given unit price) so that you will be able to sustain your business. Break-even does not mean you are losing money but it also does not mean that you are making money. If your sales are below your break-even, you will be incurring losses and if it is higher, your will be making money.

For big businesses, there will be finance people who can do all the required analysis. However, for a small business, the owner will have to do the analysis himself and it may not be so easy for those who do not really have experience. I will try to help you to compute break-even. You do not have to think in a complicated way. You can just use the simplest forms possible.

1. You need a “Profit and Loss Statement” or P&L of your Business preferably per month. This means you have to calculate your Sales, the Cost of Sales and Expenses for every month.
2. The “Cost of Sales” or CS is what you spend to make the product that you sell. If you are just trading or in “buy and sell” like sari-sari stores, your CS is the amount that you pay for the products you sell.
3. For your Expenses, you need to separate into Fixed and Variable expenses. The variable expenses are those that are directly related to the product when you make a sale. For those in trading, your variable expenses are your CS and maybe commissions you may pay depending on how much you sell. If you are a service business, you may not even have variable expense.
4. Fixed Costs are expenses you will spend whether you sell anything or not. Examples are rent, utilities, telephone, salaries and benefits. Notice that these are expenses that do not change much when there are small changes in sales. You will spend these amounts whether you sell or not. Of course, if your sales increase very much, you will probably have to add people and spend more fixed costs. But let’s just assume that these are fixed costs for our break-even analysis.

5. The basis for determining your break-even sales is your sales price per unit of your product (e.g. per kg, or per piece or per hour, etc, etc).

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of the article!

“Know Your Taxes” with Mon Abrea

Taxes are definitely part of the heightening political drama nowadays. With so much money lost to the pockets of many corrupt leaders, many Filipinos are becoming more concerned with their money. Thus, financial literacy becomes all the more important!

We are lucky to feature the renowned “Tax Whiz,” Mon Abrea, in one of our episodes in Pisobilities @ The Business Portal. He discusses the basic things you need to know about taxes, as well as the common tax issues among many Filipinos today.

 

Mon Abrea’s new book, Got a Question About Taxes is available at all leading bookstores nationwide! You can also order via the Colayco Foundation. Just call 637-3731 or 637-3741.

Get a copy now!

“Nang Magising si Juan” Episode 10 Sneak Peek

Last Sunday, Ariel returned to LandBank to open his Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) account assisted by Ms. Vangie Illustrisimo, Trust Sales and Marketing Officer.  Armand Bengco, our Executive Director at Colayco Foundation also gave him some advice on how to deal with his personal debt.  With a minimum of Php10k, Ariel was able to buy shares in a UITF.

Again, there are different types of UITF depending on your ability to take risks.  UITF have no guarantees but it is unlikely that you will lose your investment if you keep it over the long term.  The market price of UITF shares goes up and down.  Your gains or losses on your investment will only happen when you sell your shares.  You have to sell at a price higher than your average purchase price.  If you sell at a price lower than your average purchase price,purchase price, you can lose money.  The risk is really your ability to hold on to your investment until the price goes up.

Tomorrow July 20, Ariel will be involved in trying to put up a business.  As usual, he will do what he wants without much preparation and make his mistakes.  Eventually, he will realize those mistakes and have a good learning experience.


Catch Nang Magising si Juan tomorrow, 8:00 am at GMA News TV!

Nang Magising si Juan would like to thank it sponsors Bulgar, Bounty Fresh Chicken Chooks-to-Go, Mang Inasal, Landbank of the Philippines, and many more!

Pisobilities: Kapiso Mo, T-say Alonzo Episode 2 (Needs and Wants)

by: Francisco J. Colayco

People often complain that they do not have enough money to save because of numerous expenses. Most of the time, however, it all boils down to knowing if what you’re spending for is a need or a want. Is most of your money going to your needs? Or is it going to your wants? And given that fact, what are you doing about it?

Here’s an interesting episode from our mini-series, “Kapiso Mo: T-say Alonzo” regarding Needs vs Wants!

 

Want to give yourself an upgrade on your personal finances? Through One Wealthy Nation (OWN), you CAN! Visit www.onewealthynation.com today.

Upside and Downsides of Credit Cards

It’s Monday again! Credit cards has its ups and downs. What are the bad practices related to credit cards? And how do you properly use them? Check out Ms. Guita Gopalan, Managing Director of the Colayco Foundation, as she answered these questions in the segment, “Wise Spending Wednesday” on Solar Daybreak:

Want to start taking charge of your financial life? Attend our Pisobilities: Wealth Within Your Reach seminar. For the schedules, click here!

Nang Magising si Juan Episode 9 Sneak Peek

by: Francisco J. Colayco

Last Sunday, Ariel and I interviewed Landbank’s Vice President Mr. Josefino “Joji” Cerin to find out what options there are for retirees in Landbank. It was a most interesting exchange of ideas for medium level investors. In summary, Mr. Cerin clarified the various options particularly Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) with a minimum requirement of Php10k. There is a good possibility of making money especially over the medium to long term of 3-5 years. However, losses are also possible if you sell at the wrong time but it is unlikely to end up with a complete loss of your investment. Ariel was not interested in the interview because he was uncomfortable when he could not understand. That was a bad attitude but I cannot force anyone to learn if they are not interested.

In another situation, Ariel had the right idea of trying to use his assets to earn him some income. Of course, because of his unthinking ways, it was not the best business, but at least he was trying, in converting his garage into a dancing place for senior citizens. Unfortunately, one of the senior citizens collapsed while dancing. She did not want to go to the hospital because she did not have any savings or insurance to pay for the medical expenses. Ariel with his good heart tried to help her but his funds are limited as well. The lady who fainted advised Ariel to prepare for his future.

On Sunday, July 13, Ariel and I will return to Landbank to ask for more products and options for each Filipino to grow their wealth. It will be a very interesting meeting where you will learn more about bank products that can give you better returns on your money than just leaving your savings in a savings account.

Catch Nang Magising si Juan this Sunday, 8:00 am at GMA News TV!

Nang Magising si Juan would like to thank it sponsors Bulgar, Bounty Fresh Chicken Chooks-to-Go, Mang Inasal, Landbank of the Philippines, and many more!

Kagandahan ng Mutual Funds sa Pagpapalago ng Pera

ni: Francisco J. Colayco

Unang lumabas sa Bulgar noong ika-18 ng Hunyo, 2011

Tunghayan ang mga tanong ni P:

Gusto ko lang pong magtanong tungkol sa mutual funds. May isang kilalang American advisor na hindi inirerekomenda ang mutual funds sa mga seryosong investor. Pero mukhang alam na alam po ninyo ang ikinaganda ng mutual funds, kaya gusto ko pong itanong sa inyo ang mga sumusunod:

 

1.) Ano ang ikinaganda ng mutual funds kung ikukumpara sa ibang investments?

2.) Ano po ang opinyon ninyo sa American advisor na hindi nagrerekomenda ng mutual funds para sa mga seryosong investor? Sabi niya, para lang daw iyon sa mga investor na walang karanasan at kulang sa kaalaman.

3.) Sinasabing mas ligtas ang mutual funds kumpara sa mga stock investment. Pero ano naman po ang “catch” o kapalit ng pagiging ligtas nito?

 

Ang ating sagot:

Napakaraming pagpipilian na investments. Maganda ang marami sa mga ito. Pero ang mahalaga ay matukoy mo kung ano ang angkop para sa iyo. Hindi sapat ang maikling sagot para matugunan ang iyong tanong tungkol sa kagandahan ng mutual funds kumpara sa ibang investment options.

Ito ang pangunahing reklamo sa mutual funds ng American advisor na iyon: Hindi raw hamak na mas kikita pa ang mga marurunong na investor kung IPUNIN na lang nila ang 1-2% na management fee na kinokolekta ng mutual funds. Sa ekonomiya ng U.S., ang maliit na porsiyentong ito ay maaaring maging katumbas na ng 25-30% ng tubo ng equities market. Tandaan na mas matanda at sopistikado ang merkado sa U.S. Hindi  angkop para sa atin ang kanyang payo dahil karamihan sa ating mga indibidwal na investor ay walang sapat na kakayahan na makamit ang diversification upang bawasan ang panganib ng DIREKTANG pag-i-invest sa stock market.  Kung walang sapat na diversification, napakamapanganib ng pag-i-invest!

Isa pa, kaunting-kaunting investors na nagtatrabaho bilang empleyado o may aktibong propesyon ang may oras upang bantayan nang husto ang merkado. Kauting-kaunti lang ang may kakayahan na makakuha ng napapanahong research tungkol sa ekonomiya, ang capital markets, pati na rin ang long term trends. Napakaimportante sa investing ng tama at napapanahong impormasyon.

Marami na akong nasulat na libro at sinadya kong talakayin lamang ang mga basic na impormasyon tungkol sa investments. Ang aking adbokasiya ay turuan ang mga regular na Pilipinong income-earner kung paano humawak ng pera at magpalago ng yaman sa pinakasimpleng paraan na angkop sa kontekstong Pilipino. Para sa karaniwang income-earner na gustong palaguin ang kanyang maliit na ipon, ang pag-iinvest sa pooled fund  – na gaya ng mutual fund – lang talaga ang tanging paraan.

Ang mga sopistikadong investor ay puwedeng mas maalam pa sila kaysa sa akin o kaya ay may kakayahan silang piliin ang mga mas komplikadong investment. Pero isang bagay ang tiyak: Kailangan ng mga sopistikadong investor na makatanggap ng de-kalidad na research work upang masiguro at mapanatili ang kanilang tagumpay.

Lagi tayong bukas sa mga katanungan at sasagutin ko kayo sa abot ng aking makakaya.

Mutual fund at Unit Investment Trust Fund: MGA PUWEDENG PAGLAGAKAN NG MALIIT NA PUHUNAN

by: Francisco J. Colayco

*Unang lumabas sa Bulgar noong ika-6 ng Agosto, 2009

Sir, puwede ho ba na i-explain n’yo ang differences between uitf at mutual fund? Saka anu-ano bang companies under mutual fund ang maire-recommend n’yo na puwedeng pagpilian na subok na? At paano ang proseso nito gaya nang minimum amount na puwedeng i-place? Paano kami mag-a-apply at paano kikita ‘yung pera namin?

Ang sagot ko:

May dalawang taon nang nakaraan nang ipinaliwanag ko ang Mutual Fund (MF) at Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) dito sa Bulgar.  Bumaba, umakyat, bumaba muli, akyat-baba at ngayon tumataas na naman ang halaga nang mga ito.

Ang MF at UITF ay mga kumpanyang nagbebenta ng kanilang mga parte or shares sa mga namumuhunan. Ang perang napagbentahan ng mga ito ay ipinambibili muli ng piling-piling mga seguridad, stocks at iba pang ari-arian ng mga fund manager o tagapamahala ng pondong may sapat na karanasan sa pamumuhunan. Binibigyan ng mga MF at UITF ang mga maliliit na namumuhunan ng pagkakataon na mailagak ang pera nila sa mga negosyong nagbibigay ng mas malaking tubo o ‘di kaya interes. Sa ganitong paraan, napadadali para sa mga kaunti lang ang kapital na mamuhunan sa mga merkadong pinansiyal, sa mas maraming uri ng negosyo imbes na sa iilan lang.

Halimbawa, kung P5,000 lang ang kapital at ikaw mismo ang mamimili sa stock market, malamang ay kakaunting parte o shares lang ng isang kumpanya ang mabibili mo. Pero kung sa MF o UITF ilalagak ang pera, maikakalat ito sa maraming kumpanyang pinamumuhunanan ng MF o UITF. Ito ay naisasagawa dahil ang iyong limang libong piso ay nakaangkas sa malaking pondo na bumubuo ng MF o UITF.

Ang ganitong magandang kombinasyon ng maraming pinamumuhunanan, na tinatawag na diversified portfolio, ay isang epektibong paraan para mabawasan ang panganib ng pagkalugi. Parang inilalagay ang mga itlog sa maraming basket imbes na sa iisa. ‘Yun nga lang, dapat ingatan ang pagpili ng MF o UITF na paglalagakan ng pera. Siguraduhing maayos ang pagpapalakad nito, dahil hindi pa rin garantisadong mababawi ang kapital sa ganitong klaseng pamumuhunan.

Sali na sa aming Investability: Mutual Fund seminars. Para sa schedule ng mga seminars, mag-click lang dito!

Ano ang Inaasam ng Mga Gustong Yumaman?

by: Francisco J. Colayco

unang lumabas sa Bulgar noong Hunyo 1, 2013

TINUTURO natin na palaguin mo ang yaman mo para magkaroon ka ng sapat na pera upang tustusan ang pinili mong pamumuhay kahit hindi ka na nagtatrabaho. Hindi ko sinasabing huwag kang magtrabaho. Sa tingin ko, kailangang magtrabaho ang bawat isa hangga’t maaari basta hindi nakasasama sa sarili. Pero ito ang pangunahing mensahe: Kapag mayaman ka, may kakayahan kang mamili kung magtatrabaho ka o hindi. Tandaan rin ang kasabihan: “Ang pinakamayamang tao ay hindi iyong may pinakamaraming pag-aaari, bagkus, pinakamayaman ang taong pinakakaunti ang pangangailangan.”

 

Magdadala ba ng kalungkutan ang kawalan ng pera? OO ang malinaw na sagot. Kung wala kang sapat na pera para man lang sa mga basikong pangangailangan, malamang mag-aalala ka sa bawat minuto ng iyong buhay. Pero hindi ito nangangahulugang hindi ka maaaring maging masaya kung mahirap ka. Kailangan mo lang itapat ang iyong pamumuhay ayon sa iyong kakayahan. Gaano man kaliit ang iyong yaman, makakahanap ka ng kaligayahan sa pagbabahagi ng iyong oras at talento sa mga taong magpapahalaga sa mga iyon. Sa bandang huli, ang pagbabahagi ang sikreto ng kaligayahan.

 

Magdadala ba ng kaligyahan ang limpak-limpak na pera? HINDI ang malinaw na sagot. Tatalakayin natin ito sa ibang artikulo.

 

Maaari kang mangarap na magkaroon ng maraming pera dahil kapag nangangarap tayo, pinapaniwalaan natin ang gusto nating paniwalaan. Maraming mga taong gustong yumaman ang nangangarap ng mga magagandang bagay na dulot ng maraming pera. Ito ang ilang mga pangarap na walang katotohanan:

 

Magdadala ang pera ng mga kaibigan. Sa katunayan, mas mahirap makahanap ng tunay na kaibigan kapag napakarami mong pera. Minamahal ka ng mga tunay mong kaibigan dahil sa iyong pagkatao at hindi dahil sa benepisyo na makukuha nila mula sa iyong kayamanan. Mahirap kilatisin ang mga taong makakasalamuha mo kung tapat ba ang hangarin nila sa iyo. Maliban na lamang siguro sa mga malapit mong kaibigan na naging kaibigan mo bago ka pa man yumaman, o iyong mga kaibigan mo na kasing yaman mo.  Sa kasamaang palad, ang ilan sa mga yumayaman ay nakakalimot sa kanilang mga tunay na kaibigan. Nagiging mas malapit sila sa mga taong mahilig sumipsip para makakuha ng pakinabang at pabor.

 

Magdadala ang pera ng tunay na pag-ibig. Sa katunayan, mas mahirap para sa isang mayamang tao na alamin kung tunay ang isang pag-ibig. Karaniwang mababaw at walang tiwala sa sarili ang mga taong naghahanap ng mayamang katuwang sa buhay. Ang katangian na dapat makita sa katuwang sa buhay ay katalinuhan, tiwala sa sarili, at masayahing disposisyon na kayang magpagaan ng buhay. Kung nasa iyo ang mga katangiang iyon, at mayaman ka pa, napakahusay na kombinasyn! Pero kung hindi, ano ang gagawin mo?

 

Bigyang edukasyon ang sarili sa lahat ng aspekto ng buhay. Patuloy na palaguin ang iyong ipon para magkaroon ng sapat na pera upang makapagretiro ka habang napapanatili ang pamumuhay na makakapagpasaya sa iyo. Naniniwala akong ang balanseng halaga ng yaman ang pinakamainam. Tiyakin na may mahusay kang personal na pinansiyal na plano na nakalkula mo at napag-isipan nang maigi. Bumisita sa Financial Tools na matatagpuan sa www.franciscocolayco.com.

 

“Nang Magising si Juan” Episode 8 Sneak Peek

Like many Filipinos, Ariel does not think much about his financial future.  In fact, he has no knowledge at all about investments.  Unfortunately, he wanted to impress his childhood Vanessa, who aside from being so attractive had become quite accomplished and knows so much about investments.  Ariel is not able to keep up with their conversation and even falls asleep as Vanessa tried to teach her.  Ariel wants to learn more about investments but still, his pride and pretense continues to hinder him from learning.  He still has to realize how much more he can learn if only he puts his mind into it.  His wish will happen especially since he is being more involved in what I am doing.

 

In Episode 8 on July 6 at 8am of  “Nang Magising si Juan”, we will see Ariel converting his garage into a dancing place for senior citizens.  Unfortunately, one of the senior citizens collapses.  As everyone were discussing the medical treatment she has to got through, she confessed that she did not have any savings or insurance to pay for the medical expenses.

Catch “Nang Magising si Juan” this Sunday, 8:00 am, at GMA News TV!

Nang Magising si Juan would like to thank its sponsors: Bulgar, Bounty Fresh Chicken Chooks-to-Go, Mang Inasal, Landbank of the Philippines, and many more!