You have been asked to supervise a new intern, who inquires about the benefits of having combined goods and services businesses. Rather than explicitly tell him or her the answer, you explain to him or her how these types of businesses operate, so he or she can make an inference about the benefits. To illustrate the purpose of combined goods and services businesses, you tell your intern that sometimes, the combination of a primary good with additional services defines the complete product to the customer and better satisfied their needs. To further illustrate your point, you explain that local coffee shops offer coffee and breakfast as primary goods. However, they also provide free Wi-Fi to make customers more comfortable, encouraging longer stays and extra beverage or food purchases. Based on the information provided, what can your intern infer about the benefits of combined goods and services businesses?

Shrieves casting company is considering adding a new line to its product mix, and the capital budgeting analysis is being conducted by sidney johnson, a recently graduated mba. the production line would be set up in unused space in the main plant. the machinery’s invoice price would be approximately $200,000, another $10,000 in shipping charges would be required, and it would cost an additional $30,000 to install the equipment. the machinery has an economic life of 4 years, and shrieves has obtained a special tax ruling that places the equipment in the macrs 3-year class. the machinery is expected to have a salvage value of $25,000 after 4 years of use. the new line would generate incremental sales of 1,250 units per year for 4 years at an incremental cost of $100 per unit in the first year, excluding depreciation. each unit can be sold for $200 in the first year. the sales price and cost are both expected to increase by 3% per year due to inflation. further, to handle the new line, the firm’s net working capital would have to increase by an amount equal to 12% of sales revenues. the firm’s tax rate is 40%, and its overall weighted average cost of capital, which is the risk-adjusted cost of capital for an average project (r), is 10%. define “incremental cash flow.” (1) should you subtract interest expense or dividends when calculating project cash flow?