What is gross profit?
Revenue minus cost of goods sold (COGS), showing profit from core operations.
If a business sells products worth £50,000 and the cost of producing those products is £30,000:
If the gross profit is £20,000, operating expenses are £8,000, interest and taxes amount to £2,000:
Formula: (Gross Profit ÷ Revenue) × 100
Explanation: Shows how much profit a business makes on its cost of goods sold before other expenses and helps evaluate production efficiency and pricing strategies.
Example: (£20,000 ÷ £50,000) × 100 = 40%
Formula: (Net Profit ÷ Revenue) × 100
Explanation: Measures overall profitability after all expenses and is an important indicator of how effectively a business manages its total costs relative to sales revenue.
Example: (£10,000 ÷ £50,000) × 100 = 20%
ARR is a financial metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment or project. It calculates the average yearly profit from the investment as a percentage of the initial amount invested.
Example: Investment of £100,000 expected to last 5 years, generating £60,000 total profits.
| Step | Metric | Value | Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initial Investment | £100,000 | — |
| 2 | Total Profit (5 yrs) | £60,000 | — |
| 3 | Avg Annual Profit | £12,000 | £60,000 ÷ 5 |
| 4 | ARR % | 12% | (£12,000 ÷ £100,000) × 100 |
Calculating gross profit and net profit helps understand different aspects of profitability: the core business operations and total earnings.
What is gross profit?
Revenue minus cost of goods sold (COGS), showing profit from core operations.
How do you calculate net profit?
Net profit = Gross profit – operating expenses – interest – taxes.
What does gross profit margin indicate?
The percentage of revenue retained after covering production costs.
Write the formula for net profit margin.
(Net Profit ÷ Revenue) × 100
What is the average rate of return (ARR)?
The average yearly profit from an investment as a percentage of the initial cost.
Why is net profit margin important?
It shows how effectively a business controls total costs relative to revenue.
What costs are included in COGS?
Raw materials, direct labor, and factory overheads.
How do you interpret a 40% gross profit margin?
The business keeps 40p from every £1 after production costs.
What does a positive net profit mean?
The business is financially successful, earning more than its expenses.
How is ARR useful for investment decisions?
It helps compare the profitability of projects or investments over time.