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Disco Fever: Instructions

Step 1

Download the spreadsheet

This is a spreadsheet that has been set up for you to analyse the costs involved running a mobile disco business. Follow the directions on the activity worksheet, 'analysing disco costs', starting at number 2. Find the break even point and make a break-even chart from the data using the chart wizard on Excel. What is the margin of safety? If you need some help with some of the terms used in working with spreadsheets, you may want to go to the guidance about using spreadsheets.

Step 2

Download the spreadsheet

This file is a spreadsheet of an example cash flow statement for the mobile disco for a whole year; but it needs to be finished and added to. Can you put in the correct formulas to complete the spreadsheet? Assume the following changes:-

1. Sales go up by 2% per month from Feb. to Dec.
2. The variable cost will go up by 3%.
3. Advertising goes up at £1.25 per month
4. Transport goes up at £1.50 per month.

If you want some help with putting in these formulae, you will need to download the spreadsheet.

What profits is the business making at the end of the year? Should the price go up?

1. Experiment with different sales revenue and variable costs amounts and see what kinds of profits you can make, they must be feasible!

N.B. If you need some help with some of the terms used in working with spreadsheets or some of the business jargon, you may want to go to the guidance about using spreadsheets.

Step 3

Use the Desk Top Publisher to create and design an advert or flyer, that will inform people of the disco hire service available, all its features and the price of various packages. Consider the different formats you can have and make a decision based on the audience you want to reach; it can be an A4, or A5 ad, a two-fold or a three-fold flyer. The ad/flyer must show the name of the business, the days of the week that are available to book the service, details about the service itself, type and style of music, other entertainment; like lights and the prices and times of hire, with a contact address or telephone number for the business.