Base Line, Inc. makes tennis balls. The company can produce up to 500,000 cans of balls per year. Current annual production is 450,000 cans. Annual fixed costs total $150,000. The variable cost of making and selling each can of balls is $0.75. Owners expect a 15% annual return on the company's $1,000,000 in assets. Assume that Base Line is a price taker in a highly competitive environment. The current market price for a can of balls produced by manufacturers similar to Base Line is $1.55.
1) If Base Line is unable to reduce its total fixed costs below $150,000, what should its target unit variable costs be?
A. $0.75
B. $0.80
C. $0.88
D. $1.35
E. $1.55
2) Base Line has hired a marketing agency to help it gain more control over its sales price. The agency's fee for developing the advertising campaign is $79,548. Assuming sales volume and other costs will not be affected by the advertising campaign, what would Base Line's cost plus price be?
A. $1.43
B. $1.55
C. $0.93
D. $1.42
E. $1.59