Back to Business Model & Competition
11+entrepreneurship-lab

Cost structure

Understand why cost-informed pricing: minimum viable price = variable cost per unit (floor — below this you lose money on every unit).

In this lesson

Cost structure is part of Business Model & Competition. This preview shows how entrepreneurship-lab connects to everyday family decisions such as earning, saving, spending choices, goals, approvals, or parent-guided money conversations inside Progress Penguin.

Today’s money mission

Imagine this situation: Your pastry business: rent 20000 in local currency/month (fixed), ingredients 300 in local currency/pastry (variable), packaging 50 in local currency/pastry (variable). You sell 200 pastries/month.

What you need to know

Cost-informed pricing: minimum viable price = variable cost per unit (floor — below this you lose money on every unit). Above variable cost but below total cost per unit (contribution margin) — each sale reduces fixed cost burden. Above total cost per unit (including fixed cost allocation) — true profit begins. Each threshold has strategic meaning.

Real-life example

Real-life money moment: Your pastry business: rent 20000 in local currency/month (fixed), ingredients 300 in local currency/pastry (variable), packaging 50 in local currency/pastry (variable). You sell 200 pastries/month. Total monthly costs? The key lesson is: Total costs: Fixed: 20,000.

Progress Penguin connection

Open the linked simulator and test one scenario for “Cost structure.” Use this objective: Understand why understanding your cost structure matter for pricing decisions. Save the result and explain which input changed the outcome most.

Activity preview

Try the money challenge

Enter your business scenario into the simulator and test: cost-informed pricing: minimum viable price = variable cost per unit (floor — below this. Find the exact point where the outcome crosses from loss to profit.

Try one real money action

Open Tasks and submit proof for one task, or open Requests and make a deposit request. Parent approval can happen later.

Quiz preview

Cost structure includes:

Just rent when planning ahead
Nothing for the typical person
Variable + fixed costs of operation
Just supplies over the longer term

Your pastry business: rent 20000 in local currency/month (fixed), ingredients 300 in local currency/pastry (variable), packaging 50 in local currency/pastry (variable). You sell 200 pastries/month. Total monthly costs?

90000 in local currency — rent 20000 in local currency + (300+50)×200 = 20000 in local currency+70000 in local currency
70000 in local currency given the circumstances in this situation
60000 in local currency when planning ahead under normal conditions
20000 in local currency — only the fixed rent under normal conditions