What do we mean by profit?

tiemadmin • 9 April 2024

When most business owners refer to business profits, they are likely to mean the difference between sales and costs, and more concisely, that sales exceed costs.

However, the word “profits” can prove to be a moveable feast as HMRC, banks and traders will likely have a different interpretation.

For example, do costs include:

  • intangible overheads like depreciation;
  • the write-off of goodwill; or
  • taxation.

The distinctions can prove to be important especially if comparisons are being made for benchmarking purposes – comparing the results of a business with the results for the relevant industry sector.

Company accounts display sales, costs, intangible write-offs and corporation tax charges, but any dividends taken by directors as part of their remuneration package – most directors of small companies take low salaries and high dividends to save NIC costs – are not deducted as a cost in the Profit & Loss account. And so reported profits after tax are not the complete story; any dividends taken by working directors need to be considered as these will reduce retained profits.

The question, what is profit, is therefore dependent for its usefulness as an indicator of a businesses’ health, only if its definition is fully appreciated.

The post What do we mean by profit? appeared first on Feldon Accountancy.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Budgeting and forecasting in a period of lower confidence

by tiemadmin • 9 February 2026
Many business owners are entering the new year with a sense of caution. Confidence across the UK business community has softened, driven by continued cost pressures, uncertainty over tax policy and The post Budgeting and forecasting in a period of lower confidence appeared first on Feldon Accountancy.

Business rates support and cash flow for hospitality businesses

by tiemadmin • 9 February 2026
Hospitality businesses continue to operate in a challenging environment. Rising wage costs, energy prices and supply chain pressures have all placed strain on margins. Against this backdrop, recent The post Business rates support and cash flow for hospitality businesses appeared first on Feldon Accountancy.

Eligibility for Business Asset Disposal Relief

by tiemadmin • 5 February 2026
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) can significantly reduce the Capital Gains Tax due when selling a business or shares, but with higher rates coming from April 2026, timing and eligibility matter The post Eligibility for Business Asset Disposal Relief appeared first on Feldon Accountancy.