Sequential Method of Support Department Cost Allocation
Stevenson Company is divided into two operating divisions: Battery and Small Motors. Assume that
Stevenson uses the sequential method to allocate support department costs to the operating divisions.
Power costs are allocated on the basis of the number of machine hours and general factory costs on
the basis of square footage. General Factory is allocated first in the sequential method for the
company. Support department cost allocations are based on the following data:

Support

Operating Divisions

Departments
General

Small

Power

Factory

Battery

Motors

$160,000

$430,000

$163,000

$84,600

Machine hours

2,000

2,000

7,000

1,500

Square footage

1,000

1,500

5,000

15,000

18,000

60,000

Overhead costs

Direct labor hours

Required:
1. Calculate the allocation ratios for Power and General Factory. (Note: Carry these calculations out to
four decimal places.)
Allocation ratios for General Factory

Power
Battery
Small Motors

.0476
.2381
.7143

Allocation ratios for Power

Battery
Small Motors

.8235
.1765

2. Allocate the support service costs to the operating divisions. Round all amounts to the nearest
dollar. Use a minus sign to indicate a subtraction. For those boxes in which no entry is required, leave
the box blank or enter zero ("0").

Support Departments

Operating Divisions
Small

Power
$

General Factory
$

160,000

Direct costs

Battery
$

430,000

Motors
$

163,000

84,600

Allocate:
-430,000

General Factory
Power
$
Total

$
0

$
0

3. Assume divisional overhead rates are based on direct labor hours. Calculate the overhead rate for
the Battery Division and for the Small Motors Division. Round overhead rates to the nearest cent.
$
Battery overhead rate
$
Small Motors overhead rate

$