EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Certification Courses
  • 250+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

Percentage Of Completion Method

By Melvin SewakMelvin Sewak

Home » Finance » Blog » Accounting Fundamentals » Percentage Of Completion Method

Percentage Of Completion Method

What is the Percentage of Completion Method?

It is one of the revenue recognition methods in accounting to measure and record the revenue from long-term contracts. It is different from the basic revenue recognition principle. This method is typically used in scenarios where the costs are recorded on a proportional basis, revenue collection is assured. Also, to maintain consistency and relevancy the revenue and costs related to the period are recorded in the same period. here we will discuss the percentage of the completion method.

So in short whenever there are long-term contracts, the estimated revenue and costs are split across the length or the duration of the project. Now as time goes by and the project makes progress towards completion, the revenue and costs for the period are recorded into the accounting books on a pro-rata basis. Of course, recognition of revenue is subject to the probability of the collection of the revenue. This type of accounting method is mainly used in construction projects as the length of the project is long and the costs and revenue need to be tied up together based on the completion of the project.

Start Your Free Investment Banking Course

Download Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

Components of a percentage of completion method

Following are the components of the percentage of completion method:

  • Cost-to-cost method: In this method, the only cost of the raw material and equipment purchased and used in the project is used in the calculation of the revenue recognized for the period. If something is purchased but not used in the project as of now will not become a part of the calculation.
  • Efforts expended method: In this method, the cost is calculated in terms of the efforts instead of raw material purchased and used in the project. So the efforts expended to till date with respect to the total estimated efforts for the entire project is used in the calculation of the revenue recognized for the period.
  • Units-of-delivery method: In this method, the revenue for the period is recognized to the extent of the units delivered to till date with respect to the estimated units to be delivered for the entire length of the contract. So the units delivered to till date is used as a metric for calculating the recognized revenue on a pro-rata basis.

All these variations use different metrics to calculate the revenue for the period but the underlying logic is still the same. To simplify the following are the main inputs for the calculation for the revenue for the period:

  • Estimated total cost for the entire duration of the project or contract
  • Estimated total revenue for the entire duration of the project or contract
  • The cumulative cost of the project incurred as of present
  • Cumulative revenue recognized from the project as of present

Carrying out simple mathematics based on the above components can provide the revenue to be recognized for the current period. Though it may not provide the exact realistic figures this seems to be the most possible way to accurately measure the revenue from the long-term contracts in the most probable manner.

Formula of Percentage of completion method

Following formula can be used to calculate the revenue to be recognized for the period based on the percentage of completion method:

Popular Course in this category
All in One Financial Analyst Bundle (250+ Courses, 40+ Projects)250+ Online Courses | 1000+ Hours | Verifiable Certificates | Lifetime Access
4.9 (3,296 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Finance for Non Finance Managers Course (7 Courses)Cost Accounting Course (5 Courses)US GAAP Course (29 Courses with 2020 Updated)

calculate the revenue

Where:

  • m = the number of periods lapsed since the inception of the contract.
  • N = the expected length of the contract
  • K = the current period
  • E = the total estimated cost of a contract

Example

Let us take a simple example of a construction project to show how the revenue and costs are recognized for a particular period after some interval.

Let us assume a corporation got a long-term construction contract. The project is estimated to run for 5 years and will cost approx. $10 million (approx. estimate) and the total revenue is estimated to be approx. 200 million. Let us say it is the end of the first year and the cost incurred till now is $2000. So the revenue recognized will be calculated as follows:

Percentage of completion method example

Let’s say in year 2 due to some unforeseen circumstances the project’s total cost is recalculated to $12 million. Also, the cost incurred so far is $6 million. So the revenue recognized will be calculated as follows:

Percentage of completion method example 2

Advantages

Following are the advantages of the percentage of completion method:

  • It allocates the cost and revenue pertaining to a particular period based on the extent of completion of the contract or project and hence there is no need to wait till the project is completed to recognize the cost and revenues incurred in the duration of the contract or project.
  • It does not allocate the proportion of cost that is incurred but is not currently put to use in the project. Hence it gives a more real-time estimate of the costs and revenues associated with the project.

Disadvantages

Following are the disadvantages of the percentage of completion method:

  • Since construction projects take a long time to complete, the estimation of the costs and associated revenues is a daunting task as not much information is available at the start of the project.
  • If the initial estimate of revenue and costs for the project are not accurate then there may be changes and adjustments to them quite frequently which may show fluctuation in the revenue and costs realized in the accounting books. This will not reflect a good picture in front of the stakeholders of the company.

Limitations

Following are the limitations of the percentage of completion method:

  • This method can only be used for contracts that have a duration of more than one year.
  • This method may show fluctuation in the estimates given by the management.

Conclusion

  • There are three types of variations that can be used under the percentage of completion method: Cost-to-cost method, Effort expended method and Units-of-delivery method.
  • This method holds good only in specific circumstances (like long-duration contracts).
  • This method must be used only when revenue and costs associated with the project can be estimated with high accuracy to avoid multiple adjustments to the estimates.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to the Percentage Of Completion Method. Here we have discussed the components, formula, example, advantages, and disadvantages of a percentage of completion method. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

  1. Sales Revenue Formula
  2. Revenue vs Earnings
  3. Business Valuation Methods
  4. Revenue vs Income

All in One Financial Analyst Bundle (250+ Courses, 40+ Projects)

250+ Online Courses

1000+ Hours

Verifiable Certificates

Lifetime Access

Learn More

1 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Primary Sidebar
Finance Blog
  • Accounting fundamentals
    • Asset Account
    • Estate Tax
    • Excise Tax
    • Finance Lease
    • Financial Assets Examples
    • Flat Tax
    • Accounts Receivable - Debit or Credit
    • Anti Dilutive Securities
    • Quality of Earning
    • Utilities Expenses
    • Audit Report Contents
    • Budgetary Control
    • Callable Preferred Stock
    • Capital Expenditure
    • Capital Lease Criteria
    • Carrying Amount
    • Cash Flow Analysis
    • Deferred Tax Liabilities
    • Completed Contract Method
    • Earned Income
    • Explicit Cost
    • External Audit
    • Accrued Expense
    • Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
    • Depreciation Tax Shield
    • Accounts Receivable Financing
    • Audit Report Qualified Opinion
    • Audit Report
    • Audit Report Examples
    • Marginal Tax Rate
    • Marginal Tax Rate
    • Direct vs Indirect Cash Flow Methods
    • Salvage Value
    • Balance Sheet Analysis
    • Current Liabilities Examples
    • Debtor
    • Other Comprehensive Income
    • Period Costs
    • Inventories List
    • Marketable Securities in Balance Sheet
    • Gross Sales
    • Tax Haven
    • Interim Reporting
    • Date of Record of Dividends
    • Short Term Assets
    • Revenue Streams
    • Tax Planning
    • Accounts Receivable Journal Entry
    • Book Profit
    • Capital Budgeting Importance
    • Accounts Payable Cycle
    • Inventory Audit
    • Estimated Tax
    • Dividend Declared
    • SG & A Expenses
    • Tax Lien
    • Excise Tax Examples
    • Accelerated Share Repurchase
    • Accounting Ethics
    • Accounts Payable Credit or Debit
    • Accounting for Fair Value Hedges
    • Long Term Debt in Balance Sheet
    • Assets Example
    • Audit Assertions
    • Accounts Receivable Process
    • List of Operating Expenses
    • Income Tax Accounting
    • Non-Operating Expenses
    • Unrealized Gains and Loses
    • Warranty Expense
    • What is Budgeting?
    • WIP Inventory
    • Current Liabilities
    • Zero Based Budgeting
    • Types of Liabilities on Balance Sheet
    • Marginal Costing vs Absorption Costing
    • Non-Current Liabilities Examples
    • Cash Equivalents
    • Types of Assets
    • Assets List
    • Deferred Income Tax
    • Working Capital Management Importance
    • Extraordinary Items
    • Deferred Tax
    • Long Term Liabilities
    • Perpetual Inventory System
    • Intangible Assets Examples
    • Goodwill
    • Working Capital Loan
    • Consolidated Financial Statement
    • Contingent Asset
    • Cash and Cash Equivalents
    • Fixed Assets
    • Current Asset
    • Financial Assets Types
    • Financial Assets
    • Wasting Asset
    • Write off
    • Objectives of Financial Statement Analysis
    • Earnout
    • Hire Purchase
    • Sublease
    • Off Balance Sheet
    • Liabilities Example
    • Leasehold
    • Off Balance Sheet Financing
    • Revolving Credit Facility
    • General Reserve
    • Accounting Information System
    • Accounting Transaction
    • Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis
    • 3 Types of Inventory
    • Cook the Books
    • Non Performing Assets
    • Revenue Reserve
    • Commitments and Contingencies
    • Conservatism Principle of Accounting
    • Money Measurement Concept
    • Materiality Concept
    • Types of Accounting
    • Types of Financial Statements
    • Balance Sheet Items
    • Components of Financial Statements
    • Cost Method
    • Related Party Transactions
    • Relevance in Accounting
    • Responsibility Accounting
    • Tragedy of the Commons
    • Accounts Receivable Aging
    • Accounting Scandals
    • Cost Benefit Principle
    • Accrual Accounting Examples
    • Fiscal Year
    • Financial Statement Limitations
    • Grey List
    • Objectives of Financial Statements
    • What are Accounting Principles?
    • Accounting Controls
    • Users of Financial Statements
    • Accounting Cycle
    • Accounting Estimates
    • Window Dressing in Accounting
    • What are Accounting Policies?
    • Fringe Benefits
    • Full Disclosure Principle
    • Financial Statement Examples
    • Sunk Cost
    • Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio
    • Days in Inventory
    • Current Ratio vs Quick Ratio
    • Investment Banking vs Private Equity
    • Private Equity vs Hedge Fund
    • Accounting Ratios
    • Shell Corporation
    • Cost Accounting Career
    • Funds from Operations
    • Accounting Career
    • Actuaries Career
    • General Ledger Accounting
    • Forensic Accounting Career
    • Auditing Career
    • Budgeting Career
    • Gross Profit Ratio
    • Management Accounting Career
    • Cycle Counting
    • Going Concern Concept
    • Debit Note vs Credit Note
    • EBIT vs Net Income
    • EBIT vs Operating Income
    • EBITDA vs Net Income
    • EBITDA vs Operating Income
    • GAPP vs Non-GAAP
    • Finance vs Lease
    • Gross sales vs Net sales
    • Income Tax vs Payroll Tax
    • Mortgage Banker vs Broker
    • Revenue vs Net Income
    • Shareholder vs Stakeholder
    • Stock Option vs RSU
    • Full Form of FYI
    • Return on Invested Capital
    • Transaction Exposure
    • LLC vs Partnership
    • Replacement Cost
    • Unit Contribution Margin
    • Accounts Payable vs Notes Payable
    • CA vs CS
    • Capitalizing vs Expensing
    • CPA vs CA
    • Trial Balance vs Balance Sheet
    • CA vs MBA
    • Merger Accounting
    • Cash Management
    • Sole Proprietorship vs LLC
    • Manufacturing Overhead
    • Asset Retirement Obligation
    • Temporary Account
    • Leveraged Lease
    • Predetermined Overhead Rate
    • Drag-Along Rights
    • Special Journal
    • Interest vs Dividend
    • Direct Materials
    • Accounting Method
    • Return on Sales
    • Calendar Year vs Fiscal Year
    • Contribution Margin Income Statement
    • Activity Based Budgeting
    • Common Size Income Statement
    • Capital Lease vs Operating Lease
    • Insolvency vs Bankruptcy
    • Vertical Analysis of Income Statement
    • Debt vs Equity Financing
    • Adjusted EBITDA
    • LLC vs Inc
    • Return on Average Capital Employed
    • Stocks vs Real Estate
    • Return on Equity
    • Return on Capital Employed
    • Diluted Earnings Per Share
    • Limited Partner vs General Partner
    • Basic EPS
    • Cash Flow Return on Investment
    • Fixed vs Variable
    • Public Company vs Private Company
    • Market Order vs Limit Order
    • Return on Total Assets
    • Hard Cost vs Soft Cost
    • Return on Average Assets
    • Ethereum vs Ethereum Classic
    • Capital Employed
    • Gross Profit Percentage
    • OIBDA
    • Average Collection Period
    • Profit Margin
    • EBITDA Margin
    • Working Capital Turnover Ratio
    • Marginal vs Effective Tax Rate
    • CFO vs Controller
    • Accounting Interview Questions
    • EBITDA
    • Asymmetric Information
    • Days Payable Outstanding
    • Journal Examples
    • Debit vs Credit
    • Lease vs Rent
    • Buying vs Leasing
    • Finance Job From Engineering
    • Days Inventory Outstanding
    • Horizontal Integration Example
    • Revenue Expenditure
    • Accounts Payable Turnover Ratio
    • Statement of Cash Flows
    • Days Sales Uncollected
    • Days Sales Outstanding
    • Statement of Income Example
    • Unadjusted Trial Balance
    • Red Herring Example
    • Revenue vs Turnover
    • Functions of Financial Market
    • Cost of Goods Sold Example
    • Operating Ratio
    • Stock Turnover Ratio
    • Bill of Sale Examples
    • Break Even Analysis Example
    • Financial Analysis Example
    • Statement of Retained Earnings Example
    • Equity Ratio
    • Long Term Liabilities Example
    • Defensive Interval Ratio
    • Operating Expense Example
    • Solvency Ratio
    • Capital Adequacy Ratio
    • Cash Flow From Operations Ratio
    • Working Capital Example
    • Cash Reserve Ratio
    • Quick Ratio
    • Loan Sharks
    • Fixed Asset Examples
    • Partnership Example
    • Standard Deviation Examples
    • Accounting vs CPA
    • Period Cost vs Product Cost
    • Cash Ratio
    • Investment vs Speculation
    • Annuity vs Lump Sum
    • Bank Draft vs Certified Cheque
    • Bidding vs Auction
    • Better in Business and Finance
    • Direct Tax vs Indirect Tax
    • Financial Ratio Analysis Technique
    • EPS and Diluted EPS
    • Stocks vs Bonds
    • IFRS Vs US GAAP
    • Finance Degree Career Options
    • Tax Slabs & Rates
    • Lease vs Buy
    • Interest Rate vs Annual Percentage Rate
    • Long Term vs Short Term Capital Gains
    • Memorandum of Association vs Article of Association
    • Large Cap vs Small Cap
    • CPA vs CMA
    • Assets vs Liabilities
    • Revenue vs Income
    • Bookkeeping vs Accounting
    • Financial Lease vs Operating Lease
    • EBIT vs EBITDA
    • Revenue vs Sales
    • Common stock vs Preferred stock
    • US GAAP vs IFRS
    • Current Account vs Capital Account
    • IFRS in India
    • Finance vs Economics
    • ACCA vs CIMA
    • Current Assets vs Non Current Assets
    • Economic Examples
    • Investment vs savings
    • Active vs Passive Investing
    • Financial Accounting vs Management Accounting
    • Revenue vs Earnings
    • Trade Discount vs Cash Discount
    • Limited Liability Company
    • Finance for Non Finance Professionals
    • Costs vs Expenses
    • Chapter 11 vs Chapter 13
    • Why Financial Analytics
    • Accounting vs Financial Management
    • ACA vs ACCA
    • ACCA vs CPA
    • Budget vs Forecast
    • Positive Economics vs Normative Economics
    • CA vs ACCA
    • Stakeholders Example
    • Stock vs Options
    • Liquidity vs Solvency
    • Stock vs Equities
    • Franchising vs Licensing
    • GDP vs GNP
    • Inflation vs Deflation
    • Economic Growth vs Economic Development
    • Direct cost vs Indirect Cost
    • Accrual Accounting vs Cash Accounting
    • FCFF vs FCFE
    • Public vs Private Accounting
    • Capex vs Opex
    • BSE vs NSE
    • Loans vs Advances
    • Discount Rate vs Interest Rate
    • ROIC vs ROCE
    • Percentage Of Completion Method
    • 10K vs 10Q
    • Shares Outstanding vs Float
    • Contribution Margin vs Gross Margin
    • Short Term vs Long Term Capital Gains
    • General Journal vs General Ledger
    • Outsourcing vs Offshoring
    • Depreciation vs Amortization
    • Liability vs Debt
    • Asset Purchase vs Stock Purchase
    • Accrual vs Provision
    • Actuary vs Accountant
    • Stock vs Inventory
    • Liability vs Expense
    • Dividends EX-Date vs Record Date
    • Bid Price vs Ask Price
    • Dividend vs Growth
    • Time vs Money
    • IRA vs 401 (k)
    • Corporation vs LLC
    • CEO vs President
    • Margin vs Markup
    • Leasehold vs Freehold
    • Lending vs Borrowing
    • Non-Profit vs Not For Profit
    • Corporation vs Incorporation
    • CFO vs CEO
    • Purchase vs Procurement
    • Deficit vs Debt
    • Internal Audit Vs External Audit
    • C Corp vs S Corp
    • Absolute Advantage vs Comparative Advantage
    • Tangible vs Intangible
    • Executive Director vs Managing Director
    • Company vs Firm
    • Insurance vs Assurance
    • Expense vs Expenditure
    • Hard Money vs Soft Money
    • Entrepreneurship vs Management
    • Loan vs Mortgage
    • Fair Value vs Market Value
    • Chief Executive Officer vs Managing Director
    • Manufacturing vs Production
    • Random Error vs Systematic Error
    • 401(K) vs Roth IRA
    • 403(b) vs 457
    • Adjusting Entries
    • Equity vs Commodity
    • Turnover vs Profit
    • Effective Interest Rate
    • Working Capital Ratio
    • Margin vs Profit
    • Loan vs Lease
    • Shares vs Debentures
    • Equity vs Fixed Income
    • Market Equilibrium
    • Economics vs Business
    • Secured vs Unsecured Credit Card
    • Profitability vs Liquidity
    • Z score vs T score
    • Equity vs Asset
    • Geometric Mean vs Arithmetic Mean
    • Cost vs Price
    • Industry vs Sector
    • ShortSale vs Foreclosure
    • Revenue vs Profit
    • Real Interest Rate
    • Account Payable vs Accrued Expense
    • Day Trading vs Swing Trading
    • Indirect Costs
    • Graphs vs Charts
    • Issued Shares vs Outstanding Shares
    • Creditor vs Debtor
    • Annuity vs IRA
    • Pension vs Annuity
    • Debt Consolidation vs Bankruptcy
    • Equity vs Shares
    • Economic Utility
    • Average vs Weighted Average
    • Operating Profit vs Net Profit
    • Purpose of Income Statement
    • NASDAQ vs Dow Jones
    • Direct Method of Cash Flow Statement
    • Real GDP
    • Derivatives Example
    • Nominal GDP
    • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
    • Cost of Sales vs Cost of Goods Sold
    • Historical Value vs Fair Value
    • General Ledger vs Trial Balance
    • Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Cost
    • Job Costing vs Process Costing
    • Standard Cost vs Actual Cost
    • 401k vs Annuity
    • FIFO vs LIFO
    • Bid Price vs Offer Price
    • Sole Proprietorship vs Partnership
    • Equity Shares vs Preference Shares
    • Debt vs Equity
    • Cost Accounting vs Financial Accounting
    • Coupon vs Yield
    • Career in Finance
    • Gross Salary vs Net Salary
    • Tax Credit vs Tax Deduction
    • Variance vs Standard Deviation
    • What is Disposable Income
    • Liabilities in Accounting
    • Chapter 7 vs Chapter 11
    • Budgeting Examples
    • Fixed Costs Example
    • Joint Venture Example
    • Quantitative Research Example
    • Bootstrapping Examples
    • Monopoly Examples
    • Monopolistic Competition Examples
    • Risk Assessment Example
    • Inflation Accounting
    • Defined Benefit Plan
    • Variable Costing Example
    • Acquisition Examples
    • Cognitive Dissonance Example
    • Opportunity Costs Examples
    • Globalization Example
    • Histogram Examples
    • Mean Example
    • Trial Balance Example
    • Command Economy Examples
    • Sunk Cost Examples
    • Compounding Example
    • Compound Interest Example
    • Profit vs Income
    • Joint Venture vs Partnership
    • Comparative Advantage Example
    • Bank Reconciliation Example
    • Competitive Advantage Example
    • Accrual vs Deferral
  • Asset Management Tutorial (140+)
  • Banking (43+)
  • Corporate Finance Basics (126+)
  • Credit Research Fundamentals (6+)
  • Economics (44+)
  • Finance Formula (372+)
  • Financial Modeling in Excel (13+)
  • Investment Banking Basics (60+)
  • Investment Banking Careers (26+)
  • Trading for dummies (66+)
  • valuation basics (25+)
Finance Blog Courses
  • Finance for Non Finance Managers Certification
  • Cost Accounting Course
  • US GAAP Course
Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Corporate Training
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Investment Banking Jobs Offer
  • Finance Formula
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Financial Analyst All in One Bundle
  • Investment Banking Training
  • Financial Modeling Course
  • Equity Research Course
  • Private Equity Training Course
  • Business Valuation Course
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Course

© 2020 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

EDUCBA
Free Investment Banking Course

Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
Book Your One Instructor : One Learner Free Class

Let’s Get Started

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA
Free Investment Banking Course

Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Special Offer - All in One Financial Analyst Bundle (250+ Courses, 40+ Projects) Learn More