the contents of a statement of profit or loss: revenue, cost of sales, gross profit, expenses, profit from operations (operating profit), taxation, profit for the year, dividends and retained earnings

📊 Statement of Profit or Loss (SPL)

What is the SPL?

The SPL shows how much money a company makes (or loses) over a period. Think of it as a financial diary that records every dollar earned and spent.

Revenue 💰

Revenue is the total money earned from selling goods or services.

Analogy: If you run a lemonade stand, every cup sold adds to your revenue.

Formula: Revenue = Price × Quantity Sold

Cost of Sales (COGS) 🛒

COGS is the direct cost of producing the goods sold.

Example: For lemonade, COGS includes lemons, sugar, cups, and water.

Formula: COGS = Direct Materials + Direct Labour + Production Overheads

Gross Profit 📈

Gross profit is what remains after subtracting COGS from revenue.

Formula: \$Gross\ Profit = Revenue - Cost\ of\ Sales\$

Analogy: It’s the money left after paying for the ingredients.

Expenses 💸

Expenses are all other costs that help run the business.

  • Marketing & advertising
  • Rent & utilities
  • Salaries & wages
  • Depreciation

Analogy: Think of these as the “running costs” of your lemonade stand.

Operating Profit (Profit from Operations) ⚙️

Operating profit shows the profit from core business activities.

Formula: \$Operating\ Profit = Gross\ Profit - Expenses\$

Analogy: It’s the profit you keep after covering all running costs.

Taxation 🧾

Taxation is the amount the company must pay to the government.

Formula: Tax = Tax Rate × Operating Profit

Analogy: It’s like paying a “service fee” for using the city’s roads.

Profit for the Year (Net Profit) 🏆

Net profit is the final profit after all expenses and taxes.

Formula: \$Net\ Profit = Operating\ Profit - Tax\$

Analogy: It’s the money you can actually keep or reinvest.

Dividends & Retained Earnings 💵

Dividends are the portion of profit paid to shareholders.

Retained earnings are the profit kept in the company for future growth.

Formula: Retained Earnings = Net Profit - Dividends

Analogy: Think of dividends as sharing your lemonade profits with friends, and retained earnings as saving some for a bigger stand.

Sample Statement of Profit or Loss

ItemAmount (£)
Revenue50,000
Cost of Sales20,000
Gross Profit30,000
Operating Expenses12,000
Operating Profit18,000
Tax (20%)3,600
Net Profit14,400
Dividends4,000
Retained Earnings10,400

📌 Examination Tips

  1. Remember the order: Revenue → Cost of Sales → Gross Profit → Expenses → Operating Profit → Tax → Net Profit.
  2. Check that all figures are in the correct currency units and that totals match.
  3. When calculating tax, use the given tax rate and apply it to the operating profit.
  4. Be careful with retained earnings: it’s Net Profit minus Dividends.
  5. Use the formulae as quick checks: Gross Profit = Revenue - COGS, Operating Profit = Gross Profit - Expenses, Net Profit = Operating Profit - Tax.