What are Revenue, Expenses and Profit?

Every business exists primarily to earn a profit. This profit is realized through revenue earned by an organization as a result of the sale of a service or product by that business.

Revenues - Are the amounts earned by a business. Examples of revenues are fees earned for performing services, income from selling merchandise, rent income for providing the use of property, and interest income for lending money.

Revenues - May be in the form of Cash and Credit Card Receipts like those from VISA and MASTER CARD.

Revenue - May also result from credit sales to charge customers, in which case cash will be received at a later time.

Recording Revenue
If revenue of $550 is received by the business, this revenue should be recorded as an increase Cash of $550 and resulting increase in proprietor's capital of $550. Revenue may be received in forms other than cash. An organization may receive payment for services rendered in the form of other assets such as supplies, equipment, and even someone's promise to pay at a future time (accounts receivable). The effects of the accounting equation will still be an increase in the specific asset received and a corresponding increase in capital.

Expenses - Are the costs that relate to the earning of revenue (or the costs of doing business). Examples of expenses are wages expenses for labor performed, rent expense for the use of various media (for example, newspaper, radio, and direct mail).

Expenses - Maybe paid in cash when incurred (that is, immediately) or at a later time.

Expenses - To be paid at a later time involve.

Recording Expenses
Every business, regardless of its nature, must incur certain costs in order to operate. These costs are known as expenses. Expenses are generally referred to as the "costs of doing business." Examples of business expenses are rent expense, insurance expense, salary expense, and supplies expense.

Profit - An excess of revenue over expenses.