Exercise 15-18 (35 minutes)
1. Estimated cost of the architectural job
Labor type
Estimated
hours Hourly rate Total cost
Architects…………….……………………..150 $300 $ 45,000
Staff………………….…………….……….…300 75 22,500
Clerical……………..……….……………....500 20 10,000
2. Frey should first determine an estimated selling price, based on its cost
and desired profit for this job.
Total estimated cost…………………..……………….…………..……… $213,125
This $293,125 price may or may not be its bid. It must consider past
experiences and competition. It might make the bid at the low end of
what it believes the competition will bid. By bidding at about $285,000,
the profit on the job will only be $71,875 ($285,000 – $213,125). While
this may allow Frey to get the job, it must consider several other factors.
Among them:
a. How accurate are its estimates of costs? If costs are understated,
b. How accurate is the estimate of the competition’s probable bidding
c. Is it willing to meet the expected low bid of the competition? In the
example above, would it be acceptable to earn only $71,875 on this