Compute monthly break-even subscribers

Quick Overview

This question evaluates a candidate's ability to perform break-even analysis using basic algebra and financial modeling, specifically computing subscriber thresholds and interpreting how changes in price and costs affect profitability.

Compute monthly break-even subscribers

Company: Capital One

Role: Data Scientist

Category: Statistics & Math

Difficulty: easy

Interview Round: HR Screen

A streaming startup has monthly fixed cost F = $100M, variable cost v = $4 per subscriber per month, and price p = $9 per subscriber per month. a) Compute the monthly break-even subscriber count N* and show the formula and units. b) If price increases to $10 with costs unchanged, recompute N*. c) If fixed cost rises to $120M while p = $9 and v = $4, recompute N*. State any assumptions about timing and recognition of costs explicitly.

Quick Answer: This question evaluates a candidate's ability to perform break-even analysis using basic algebra and financial modeling, specifically computing subscriber thresholds and interpreting how changes in price and costs affect profitability.

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Oct 13, 2025, 9:49 PM
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Break-even Analysis for a Subscription Streaming Service

Context

A streaming startup incurs monthly fixed costs and per-subscriber variable costs and charges a monthly subscription price. Compute the monthly break-even subscriber count under different scenarios.

Given

  • Fixed cost per month: F = $100 million
  • Variable cost per subscriber per month: v = $4
  • Price per subscriber per month: p = $9

Tasks

(a) Compute the monthly break-even subscriber count N*. Show the formula, plug in values, and include units.

(b) If price increases to $10 with costs unchanged, recompute N*.

(c) If fixed cost rises to 120millionwhilep=120 million while p = 9 and v = $4, recompute N*.

State any assumptions about timing and recognition of revenue and costs explicitly.

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