Price

There are 4 key factors that influence a firm’s pricing decisions. Costs and product life cycle are internal factors. The nature of a product and the degree of competition are external factors.

Costs

Costs influence firm’s pricing decisions because firms usually aim to make profit.
A firm’s price and costs determines how much profit the firm will make. Businesses cannot afford to set a price lower than their costs forever.

Product life cycle

Where a product is in the product life cycle determines whether the firm will charge a high or low price for the product.
When a new product is launched, firms may charge higher prices to take advantage of exclusivity.
When Apple launches new iPhones (like the iPhone X), they charge higher prices. The iPhone X cost $1,000 in Autumn 2017, but this price fell to $850 by February 2018.

Nature of product

The nature of a product affects pricing in 2 key ways:
- Whether a good is a luxury good will affect how much a business charges.
- How hard it is to differentiate from competitors affects how much a business can charge. If it is similar (homogenous), then businesses usually price at a similar level to competitors.
For example, in the crude oil market, oil is the same no matter who produces it. This means that there is a uniform price (same price for all businesses and customers) in the market.

Degree of competition

The degree of competition affects the pricing decision of firms because the more competition a firm faces, the more options customers have.
When customers have lots of options for similar products, businesses must compete to attract customers using a lower price.

Setting Pricing - Price Skimming

Price skimming is a pricing method where a business sets a relatively high initial price and then gradually lowers it over time. This is often used before a business faces competition in the market. Once competition arrives, there will be downward pressure on the price to fall.

Maximise revenue

Price skimming is used to try and maximise revenue.
Consumers who buy early on are willing to pay a higher price but the business can still attract other customers who can pay a lower price later on in the product’s lifecycle.

Cover fixed costs (research and development)

Price skimming can help to recover the costs of research and development, which can be expensive for technology products.
- For example, the Apple iPhone X reportedly cost over $1bn in research and development costs.

Slower unit sales growth

A disadvantage of price skimming is that it can slow down the growth of a product and this can give competitors more time to launch a competing product or service.
A company does not maximise the number of sales at the start so competitors can get more of a chance to enter the market.

1Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

1.1The Dynamic Nature of Businesses

1.1.1The Dynamic Nature of Businesses

1.1.2Risk & Reward

1.1.3The Role of Business Enterprise

1.1.4The Role of Business Enterprise 2

1.1.5The Role of the Entrepreneur

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Dynamic Nature of Business

1.1.7Grade 9 - Dynamic Nature of Business

1.2Spotting a Business Opportunity

1.2.1Customer Needs

1.2.2Market Research

1.2.3Market Segmentation

1.2.4The Competitive Environment

1.2.5Primary & Secondary Market Research

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Business Opportunities

1.2.7Application Questions - Business Opportunities

1.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Market Segmentation

1.3Putting a Business Idea into Practice

1.3.1Business Aims

1.3.2Business Objectives

1.3.3Business Revenues & Costs

1.3.4Costs - Calculations

1.3.5Revenue - Calculations

1.3.6Business Profits & Break-Even Analysis

1.3.7Profits & Losses - Calculations

1.3.8Interest - Calculations

1.3.9Cash & Cash Flow

1.3.10Cash & Cash Flow 2

1.3.11Cash Flow - Calculations

1.3.12Sources of Business Finance

1.3.13End of Topic Test - Business in Practice

1.3.14Grade 9 - Business in Practice

1.3.15Exam-Style Questions - Business in Practice

1.4Making the Business Effective

1.4.1The Options for Start-Up & Small Businesses

1.4.2Limited Liability

1.4.3Franchising & Not-For-Profits

1.4.4Business Location

1.4.5The Marketing Mix

1.4.6Business Plans

1.4.7End of Topic Test - Effective Business

1.4.8Application Questions - Effective Business

1.4.9Exam-Style Questions - Business Plans

1.5Business Stakeholders

1.5.1Business Stakeholders

1.5.2Technology & Business

1.5.3Legislation & Business

1.5.4Legislation & Business 2

1.5.5The Economy & Business

1.5.6External Influences

1.5.7End of Topic Test - Business Stakeholders

1.5.8Grade 9 - Business Stakeholders

2Building a Business

2.1Growing the Business

2.1.1Business Growth

2.1.2Finance

2.1.3Changes in Business Aims & Globalisation

2.1.4Ethics & Business

2.1.5The Environment & Business

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Growing a Business

2.1.7Application Questions - Growing a Business

2.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Business Growth

2.2Making Marketing Decisions

2.2.1Product

2.2.2Product Life Cycle

2.2.3Price

2.2.4Pricing Methods

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Product & Price

2.2.6Grade 9 - Product & Price

2.2.7Promotion & Advertising

2.2.8PR & Sales Promotions

2.2.9Sponsorship & Product Placement

2.2.10Promotional Mix

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Promotion

2.2.12Application Questions - Promotion

2.2.13Exam-Style Questions - Promotional Mix

2.2.14Place & Wholesalers

2.2.15Direct to Consumer

2.2.16E-commerce & M-commerce

2.3Making Operational Decisions

2.3.1Job Production

2.3.2Batch & Flow Production

2.3.3Working with Suppliers

2.3.4Effective Supply Chains

2.3.5Just In Time & Just In Case

2.3.6Managing Quality

2.3.7Total Quality Management

2.3.8The Sales Process

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Operational Decisions

2.3.10Grade 9 - Operational Decisions

2.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Managing Stock

2.4Making Financial Decisions

2.4.1Gross Profit & Net Profit - Definitions

2.4.2Gross Profit - Calculations

2.4.3Net Profit - Calculations

2.4.4Rate of Return

2.4.5Rate of Return - Calculations

2.4.6Research & Financial Data

2.4.7Marketing Data

2.4.8Percentage Change - Calculations

2.5Making Human Resource Decisions

2.5.1Organisational Structures

2.5.2Organisational Structures 2

2.5.3Recruitment

2.5.4Effective Recruitment

2.5.5Training a Workforce

2.5.6Motivating a Workforce

2.5.7End of Topic Tests - Human Resources

2.5.8Application Questions - Human Resources

2.5.9Exam-Style Questions - Human Resources

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