When a group of people assemble in order to start a business, that business is called a company, or a firm. The business can be a manufacturer, such as Ford, or a provider of services, such as a laundry. If a company is big enough, it can be listed on a stock exchange.
Definition of Firm
So what is a firm in simple words? When a group of people assemble in order to start a business, that business is called a company, or a firm. The business can be a manufacturer, such as Ford, or a provider of services, such as a laundry. If a company is big enough, it can be listed on a stock exchange.
Definition of Profit
Profit is the difference between the money that a company spends (its costs) and the amount it receives (its revenue). Profits are usually measured over fixed periods of time:
Annually, semi-annually, or every three months (quarterly). For example, if a company sold $400 million worth of goods in 2006, and its expenses totaled $390 million, it earned a $10 million profit for that year.
Every company traded on a stock exchange must publish a quarterly report listing its revenue, costs, and profits for the quarter, among other things.
Net profit refers to a company’s profit after taxes have been deducted.
