Reference no: EM131324190

Terry Shevlin recently opened Terry’s Pub in the University District. Because of licensing restrictions, the only liquor he can sell is beer. The average price of beer at Terry’s Pub is $5.00 per glass, and each glass costs Terry an average of $4.10. Terry has hired a bartender and waiter at $3,000 and $4,000 per month, respectively. His rent, utilities, and other fixed operating cost are $3,000 per month. Terry is considering selling burgers during the lunch hour. He feels that this will increase his daytime business, which is currently quite small. It will also allow him to be more competitive with other local bars that offer a wider variety of food and beverages. Terry would like to sell the burgers for $1.24 each in order to be attractive to customers. Terry will buy buns for $1.44 a dozen and other materials for $1.20 per pound. Each pound of other materials will make three burgers. Other ingredients will cost an average of $ .12 per burger. Terry will also need to hire a part-time cook at $1,200 per month. Other additional fixed costs will run about $360 a month.

A. Terry was not sure how many new customers would be attracted by the hamburgers. Give Terry some advice about how many new customers would be needed to just break even on the new business if each new customer bought one hamburger and one beer. Include an assessment of the consequences of volume falling below or above this break-even point.

B. Terry could offer a higher quality hamburger if he spends 50% more on the ingredients. He could then charge $2.24 for them. Explain how Terry could determine whether the higher quality hamburgers would be more profitable than the regular hamburgers.