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12.1: Special Order Decisions

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Learning Outcomes

  • Create a report outlining the data to support a special order decision

In Module 11: Relevant Revenues and Costs, we went through a special order question with Hupana Running Company. Remember, they got a call to make those awesome fuchsia high tops? Here is a reminder:

Special Order: Fuchsia High Tops
Revenue (50 pair @ $150 each) $7,500
Expenses  
Material: Fuschia (50 × 7 units x $3.5 per unit) $1,225
Direct Labor (50 × .8 × $30) $1,200
Variable overhead (30 hours × $3 per hour) $150
Total variable expenses $2,575
   
Fixed Expense  
Dye for material cutter $1,200
   
Total Expenses for Special Order $3,775
Incremental net operating income $3,725

So a special order is a one-time order, that is not part of a company’s regular business operation. Effective analysis needs to be done to insure that a special order will bring additional revenue to a company and not use space or time that would have been better used for the regular product lines. As a manager, it may be your responsibility to figure out if a special order should be taken, and if so, how much should be charged for the order.

In Hupana Running Company’s case, the revenue for the special order high-tops is sufficient to cover the additional costs incurred to make them. Make sure to account for things like special equipment or materials that might increase the costs. Also, make sure that you have the time available in your production schedule to handle the extra work.

Hupana needs to pay overtime to complete this order, but still made a nice profit on this special order. There may be additional things to consider from the qualitative standpoint (remember, it isn’t always about the money!). Perhaps the exposure will bring additional sales of the regular line of shoes, or other teams may want to order shoes!


This page titled 12.1: Special Order Decisions is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lumen Learning via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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