What is one use of break-even analysis for small businesses?

Break-even analysis serves an important role in the financial planning of small businesses, particularly in assessing the feasibility of a product. This analysis helps entrepreneurs understand the relationship between fixed and variable costs and how much of a product needs to be sold at a given price to cover those costs. By calculating the break-even point, which is the point at which total revenues equal total costs, businesses can evaluate whether a product is viable in terms of profitability. If the analysis shows that the business cannot sell enough of the product to break even, it may indicate that adjustments need to be made, such as changing pricing strategies, reducing costs, or enhancing marketing efforts to stimulate sales.

The other options do not align with the primary purpose of break-even analysis. Employee satisfaction is typically assessed through surveys or performance reviews; taxes are calculated through accounting practices that consider revenues and expenses rather than break-even points; and customer demographics are analyzed using market research methods rather than financial computations like break-even analysis.