
- Step 1: Calculate the present value of the benefit expected from the project. ...
- Step 3: Calculate the benefit-cost ratio using the formula: BCR formula = PV of Benefit Expected from the Project / PV of the Cost of the Project
- Step 4: In some instances, we have to evaluate the proposed investment based on the benefit-cost ratio. The rules for selecting the project are as under:
What is the formula for cost benefit analysis?
What is the Cost-Benefit Analysis Formula?
- Example of Cost-Benefit Analysis Formula (With Excel Template) Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of Cost-Benefit Analysis in a better manner. ...
- Explanation. ...
- Relevance and Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis Formula. ...
- Cost-Benefit Analysis Formula Calculator
- Recommended Articles. ...
What is the benefit cost ratio (BCR)?
What is the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR)? The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is a profitability indicator used in cost-benefit analysis to determine the viability of cash flows generated from an asset or project. The BCR compares the present value of all benefits generated from a project/asset to the present value of all costs.
What are the benefits of cost ratio?
Ultimately there is no right decision beyond the decision to respect each player’s autonomy. It is a cost-benefit analysis that few of us will ever have to make in our lives — and one for which there is no consensus even among that small pool of elite talents good enough to be considered for a potential first-round payday in the NFL.
How to calculate benefits as a percent of salary?
This column considers ways to accommodate that change. Hot, poor countries would benefit by shifting away from agriculture into less vulnerable, non-agricultural sectors as temperatures rise, but such a reallocation of resources is unlikely without a major increase in global trade integration.

How is benefit-cost ratio calculated in project management?
The BCR Formula The benefit cost ratio is calculated by dividing the present value of benefits by that of costs and investments.
How do you calculate benefit-cost ratio with example?
Use the following data for calculation of the benefit-cost ratio. Since the BCR of Project B is higher, Project B should be undertaken....Example #3.ParticularsAmountPresent Value of Benefit Expected from Project4000000Present Value of Cost of the Project2000000
How do you calculate cost ratio?
Calculate the cost of sales ratio by dividing the cost of sales by the total value of sales. Then multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage.
What is a good cost-benefit analysis ratio?
Benefit – Cost Ratio (BCR): the BCR is the ratio of the present value of benefits to the present value of costs. The ratio should be greater than 1.0 for a project to be acceptable.
What is cost-benefit analysis formula?
The formula for benefit-cost ratio is: Benefit-Cost Ratio = ∑ Present Value of Future Benefits / ∑ Present Value of Future Costs.
What is a benefit ratio?
A benefit–cost ratio (BCR) is an indicator, used in cost–benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also expressed in monetary terms.
How do you calculate cost benefit analysis in Excel?
A typical cost benefit analysis involves these steps:Gather all the necessary data.Calculate costs. Fixed or one time costs. Variable costs.Calculate the benefits.Compare costs & benefits over a period of time.Decide which option is best for chosen time period.Optional: Provide what-if analysis.
What is cost benefit analysis example?
For example: Build a new product will cost 100,000 with expected sales of 100,000 per unit (unit price = 2). The sales of benefits therefore are 200,000. The simple calculation for CBA for this project is 200,000 monetary benefit minus 100,000 cost equals a net benefit of 100,000.
Why is cost benefit ratio important?
Summary. The benefit-cost ratio is used to determine the viability of cash flows from an asset or project. The higher the ratio, the more attractive the project's risk-return profile. Poor cash flow forecasting or an incorrect discount rate would lead to a flawed benefit-cost ratio.
How do you measure benefit of a project?
Here's a list of best practice when it comes to measuring benefits.Step one: identify your objectives and outcomes. ... Step two: identify tangible and intangible benefits. ... Step three: document your benefits. ... Step four: capture your baseline measurements. ... Step five: realise your benefits. ... Step six: monitor your benefits.
What are the 5 steps of cost-benefit analysis?
The major steps in a cost-benefit analysisStep 1: Specify the set of options. ... Step 2: Decide whose costs and benefits count. ... Step 3: Identify the impacts and select measurement indicators. ... Step 4: Predict the impacts over the life of the proposed regulation. ... Step 5: Monetise (place dollar values on) impacts.More items...
What are the advantages of benefit cost ratio?
Key advantages of the benefit-cost ratio include: It is a useful starting point in determining a project’s feasibility and whether it can generate incremental value. If the inputs are known (cash flows, discount rate), the ratio is relatively easy to calculate. The ratio considers the time value of money. Time Value of Money The time value of money ...
What is discount rate?
The discount rate used refers to the cost of capital, which can be the company’s required rate of return. Required Rate of Return The required rate of return (hurdle rate) is the minimum return that an investor is expecting to receive for their investment. Essentially, the required rate of return is the minimum acceptable compensation for ...
Is benefit cost ratio a determinant of feasibility?
Although the benefit-cost ratio is a simple tool to gauge the attractiveness of a project or asset, it should not be the sole determinant of a project’s feasibility. Other ratios and further analysis are recommended.
Example of Benefit-Cost Ratio Formula (With Excel Template)
Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of the Benefit-Cost Ratio in a better manner.
Explanation
The formula for Benefit-Cost Ratio can be calculated by using the following steps:
Relevance and Use of Benefit-Cost Ratio Formula
It is a very concept as it is predominantly used in capital budgeting to have a fair idea about the overall value of an upcoming project. However, this technique is more useful for smaller projects compared to larger ones as the latter usually have too many assumptions and uncertainties which makes it hard to quantify the future benefits.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Benefit-Cost Ratio Formula. Here we discuss how to calculate the Benefit-Cost Ratio Formula along with practical examples. We also provide a Benefit-Cost Ratio a calculator with a downloadable excel template. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
What is discount rate?
The discount rate is used for discounting the cash flows. Set a rate that is consistent with the requirements of your organization, e.g. capital cost or internal return target, or a risk-adjusted market interest rate. The calculator will apply this discount rate to all cash flows in order to discount them.
What is BCR analysis?
In cost benefit analyses, the BCR is one of the common methods to assess and compare the future profitability of a series of cash flows (see PMI PMBOK®, 6 th ed., part 1, ch. 1.2.6.4, p. 34). It is often used to supplement comparisons based on the net present value. In these cases, the BCR indicates the relation of costs and benefits. It is interpreted as follows: 1 A BCR lower than 1 indicates that the series of cash flows is not profitable. 2 A BCR of 1 is the result of a present value of the benefits equal to the present value of the costs of a project or investment. 3 A BCR greater than 1 stands for a profitable option. Its value increases as the relative excess of the discounted benefits over the discounted costs increases.
What does a BCR of 1 mean?
A BCR of 1 is the result of a present value of the benefits equal to the present value of the costs of a project or investment. A BCR greater than 1 stands for a profitable option. Its value increases as the relative excess ...
What to do if costs are not cash flows?
If some of your costs or benefits are not cash flows, e.g. use of internal resources, convert them into cash flow equivalents for comparison purposes. The same advice is applicable to non-monetary costs and benefits – they need to be converted into a consistent (currency) unit to ensure quantitative comparability.
What is the benefit cost ratio?
The benefit-cost ratio indicates the relationship between the cost and benefit of project or investment for analysis as it is shown by the present value of benefit expected divided by present value of cost which helps to determine the viability and value that can be derived from investment or project.
What is the benefit of using the benefit cost ratio?
The benefit of using the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is that it helps to compare various projects in a single term and helps to decide faster which projects should be preferred and which projects should be rejected.
What does BCR mean in investment?
If the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) is equal to one, the ratio will indicate that the NPV of investment inflows will equal investment’s outflows. Lastly, if the investment’s BCR is not more than one, the investment’s outflow shall outweigh the inflows or the benefits, and the project should not be taken into consideration.
How to calculate BCR?
To calculate the BCR formula, use the following steps: Step 1: Calculate the present value of the benefit expected from the project. The procedure to determine the present value is: Aggregate the amounts for all the years. Step 2: Calculate the present value of costs.
What are the limitations of BCR?
The major limitation of the BCR is that since it reduces the project to mere a number when the failure or success of the projector of expansion or investment etc. relies upon various variables and other factors, and those can be weakened by events which are unforeseen.
What is BCR in project?
A benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is an indicator showing the relationship between the relative costs and benefits of a proposed project, expressed in monetary or qualitative terms. If a project has a BCR greater than 1.0, the project is expected to deliver a positive net present value to a firm and its investors.
What does BCR mean in NPV?
If the BCR is equal to 1.0, the ratio indicates that the NPV of expected profits equals the costs. If a project's BCR is less than 1.0, the project's costs outweigh the benefits, and it should not be considered.
What is BCR in economics?
The BCR also does not provide any sense of how much economic value will be created, and so the BCR is usually used to get a rough idea about the viability of a project and how much the internal rate of return (IRR) exceeds the discount rate, which is the company’s weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) – the opportunity cost of that capital. ...
What is the limitation of BCR?
The primary limitation of the BCR is that it reduces a project to a simple number when the success or failure of an investment or expansion relies on many factors and can be undermined by unforeseen events. Simply following a rule that above 1.0 means success and below 1.0 spells failure is misleading and can provide a false sense of comfort with a project. The BCR must be used as a tool in conjunction with other types of analysis to make a well-informed decision.
What is the benefit cost ratio?
A benefit-cost ratio allows you to know whether your strategic plan towards the project is viable or not. A BCR can either be positive or negative. A positive ratio is where you get a value of more than one, while a negative gives you a value of less than one.
Why is benefit cost ratio important?
A benefit-cost ratio will help you know the overall value of money for the project you are about to undertake. This is important and makes the BRC a profitability index for you. You will therefore know how to budget and plan your finances appropriately.
What happens if the benefits outweigh the costs?
Keep in mind that this is a numerical equation. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then that project is a wise investment, and you can proceed. However, if the costs outweigh the benefits, it would be best to take a step back, reconsider and make necessary adjustments.
Why is it important to have a project manager?
Project managers play an important role in the successful execution of projects. They do not have fixed tasks, given that projects are structured differently. However, all these roles are aimed...
Why is benefit cost ratio important?
Conclusion. A benefit-cost ratio helps project managers address whether or not a project should be pursued, or in some cases, which project presents the best option. It is a valuable and necessary tool for cost-benefit analysis and project selection.
What is Opportunity Cost?
Opportunity cost is a concept describing the cost of pursuing one project and rejecting other options.
What is the BCR of a project?
An easy way to do it is to divide: Project A has a BCR of 5:2, and 5 / 2 is 2.5 . Do that with all four projects, and you find that project C has the highest BCR. A. BCR stands for benefit-cost ratio and it measures the benefits (revenue) against the cost of implementing the project.
What is indirect cost?
Indirect costs are typically shared between multiple projects, such as software that benefits more than one project. As you study for the PMP exam, remember sunk cost shouldn’t influence whether or not you pursue a project. Those decisions should be made based on the NPV, BCR, and other similar factors.
Do you have to calculate PV for PMP?
More than likely , you will not have to calculate PV for the PMP exam. However, you should understand the benefit-cost ratio is the PV of the benefits divided by the PV of the costs. As mentioned previously, the benefit-cost ratio is expressed as a decimal.
Definition
Benefit-Cost ratio is the ratio of the benefits of a project compared to the costs calculated in terms of Present Value (PV).
Sample Question
The total cost of a project being undertaken is $1,000,000 (NPV). It is expected that an increase in revenue of $2,000,000 (NPV) would be realized once the project is complete. What is the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of the project?
Larger the better
The larger the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), the more favorable the project financially is to the organization.

Formula For The Benefit-Cost Ratio
Example of The Benefit-Cost Ratio
- Cash flow projections for a project are provided below. The relevant discount rateis 10%. Question: What is the benefit-cost ratio of the project? Answer: The benefit-cost ratio would be calculated as $97,670.72 / $33,625.09 = 2.90.
Interpreting The Benefit-Cost Ratio
- The higher the BCR, the more attractive the risk-return profile of the project/asset. The value generated by the BCR indicates the dollar value generated per dollar cost. For example, the BCR of 2.90 in the preceding example can be interpreted as “For each $1 of cost in the project, the expected dollar benefits generated is $2.90.” The following shows the value range of the BCR an…
Advantages of The Benefit-Cost Ratio
- Key advantages of the benefit-cost ratio include: 1. It is a useful starting point in determining a project’s feasibility and whether it can generate incremental value. 2. If the inputs are known (cash flows, discount rate), the ratio is relatively easy to calculate. 3. The ratio considers the time value of moneythrough the discount rate. 4. The ratio indicates the value generated per dollar of costs.
Limitations of The Benefit-Cost Ratio
- Key limitations of the benefit-cost ratio include: 1. The reliability of the BCR depends heavily on assumptions. Poor cash flow forecasting or an incorrect discount rate would lead to a flawed ratio. 2. The ratio itself does not indicate the project’s size or provide a specific value on what the asset/project will generate. For example, both projects below show a BCR of 2, but present valu…
Final Thoughts
- Although the benefit-cost ratio is a simple tool to gauge the attractiveness of a project or asset, it should not be the sole determinant of a project’s feasibility. Other ratios and further analysis are recommended. The BCR is extremely sensitive to the cash flow forecasts and discount rates. If you think the underlying assumptions are incorrect or biased, the benefit-cost ratio should not b…
More Resources
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). In order to help you become a world-class financial analyst and advance your career to your fullest potential, these additional resources will be very helpful: 1. Analysis of Financial Statements 2. Hurdle Rate 3. Profitability Ratios 4. WACC