Profit vs. Gain: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Profit is the financial return exceeding the amount invested in a business, whereas gain refers to the overall increase in value or benefit, not necessarily financial.
Key Differences
Profit is a key indicator in business, reflecting the financial success of a company after all expenses are paid. Gain, on the other hand, is a broader term that can refer to any increase in value or benefit, extending beyond the financial realm.
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Dec 20, 2023
In accounting, profit is specifically calculated as revenues minus expenses, taxes, and costs. Gain, however, can be realized in various forms such as skills, knowledge, or even an increase in asset value.
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Profit often signifies the monetary benefit from business operations, whereas gain can be seen in capital gains from investments, implying an increase in the value of an asset.
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The pursuit of profit is primarily associated with business ventures and is a measure of sustainability and growth. Gain can occur in personal or non-commercial contexts, such as gaining experience or reputation.
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Dec 20, 2023
Profit is essential for the survival and expansion of businesses, often reinvested for growth. Gains, while beneficial, are not always essential for the ongoing operations of a business or individual.
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Dec 20, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Excess of revenues over expenses in a business.
Increase in value or benefit, not limited to finances.
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Context
Primarily used in business and economics.
Can be used in various contexts like finance, personal growth.
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Measurement
Often measured in monetary terms.
Measured in terms of value, which can be monetary or otherwise.
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Timeframe
Usually calculated over a specific period.
Can be realized immediately or over time.
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Reinvestment
Often reinvested back into the business.
May or may not be reinvested, depending on the nature of the gain.
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Profit and Gain Definitions
Profit
The benefit obtained from an investment.
His stock market investments yielded significant profits.
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Gain
An increase in resources or value.
The investor saw a gain in his portfolio over the past year.
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Profit
The surplus remaining after total costs are deducted from total revenue.
The concert was a huge success, resulting in substantial profits.
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Gain
The positive difference between the purchase and selling price.
He made a significant gain from selling his vintage car.
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Profit
The earnings exceeding the amount spent.
The small bakery turned a profit within its first year.
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Gain
The act of obtaining something advantageous.
The merger resulted in a gain of market share for the company.
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Profit
The advantageous return on a transaction.
Selling the antique furniture at auction resulted in a large profit.
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Gain
To come into possession or use of; acquire
Gained a small fortune in real estate.
Gained vital information about the enemy's plans.
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Profit
The financial gain after subtracting expenses.
The company’s profit soared after launching the new product.
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Gain
To attain in competition or struggle; win
Gained a decisive victory.
Gained control of the company.
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Gain
To obtain through effort or merit; achieve
Gain recognition.
Gain a hearing for the proposal.
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Profit
Financial gain from a transaction or from a period of investment or business activity, usually calculated as income in excess of costs or as the final value of an asset in excess of its initial value.
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Gain
To secure as profit or reward; earn
Gain a living.
Gain extra credits in school.
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Gain
To manage to achieve an increase of
A movement that gained strength.
Gained wisdom with age.
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Profit
To derive advantage; benefit
Profiting from the other team's mistakes.
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Gain
To increase by (a specific amount)
Gained 15 pounds.
The market gained 30 points.
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Profit
Total income or cash flow minus expenditures. The money or other benefit a non-governmental organization or individual receives in exchange for products and services sold at an advertised price.
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Gain
To become fast by (a specified amount of time). Used of a timepiece
My watch gains four minutes a day.
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Profit
Benefit, positive result obtained.
Reading such an enlightening book on the subject was of much profit to his studies.
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Gain
To increase; grow
Gained in experience and maturity.
A painting that gained in value.
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Profit
Senseid|en|interest in land}} (property law) {{ellipsis of profit à prendre
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Gain
To obtain a profit or advantage; benefit
Stood to gain politically by his opponent's blunder.
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Gain
To move closer to a person or thing that is moving ahead; close a gap
The runners in the back gained steadily on the leader.
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Profit
Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods.
Let no man anticipate uncertain profits.
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Profit
Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as, an office of profit,
This I speak for your own profit.
If you dare do yourself a profit and a right.
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Profit
To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as, truth profits all men.
The word preached did not profit them.
It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.
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Profit
To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance.
I profit not by thy talk.
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Profit
To be of use or advantage; to do or bring good.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath.
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Gain
Progress; advancement
The country made economic gains under the new government.
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Profit
The excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
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Gain
(Electronics) An increase in signal power, voltage, or current by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input. Also called amplification.
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Dec 10, 2023
Profit
Make a profit; gain money or materially;
The company has not profited from the merger
I lost thousands of dollars on that bad investment!
The company turned a loss after the first year
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Dec 10, 2023
Gain
The reflectivity of a projection screen, usually expressed relative to the reflectivity of a standard surface of magnesium carbonate.
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Gain
(transitive) To acquire possession of.
Looks like you've gained a new friend.
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Gain
(intransitive) To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
The sick man gains daily.
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Gain
To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
To gain a battle; to gain a case at law
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Gain
(intransitive) To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
I'm gaining (on you).
Gain ground
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Gain
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
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Gain
(architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.
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Gain
A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.
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Gain
That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; - opposed to loss.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Every one shall share in the gains.
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Gain
The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation.
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Gain
Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable.
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Gain
To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
To gain dominion, or to keep it gained.
For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
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Gain
To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a case at law; to gain a prize.
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Gain
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
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Gain
To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
Forded Usk and gained the wood.
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Gain
To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage.
Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
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Gain
To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily.
Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion.
The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself.
My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.
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Gain
A quantity that is added;
There was an addition to property taxes this year
They recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks
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Gain
The amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input
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Gain
The amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating
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Gain
Win something through one's efforts;
I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
Gain an understanding of international finance
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Gain
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
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Gain
Obtain advantages, such as points, etc.;
The home team was gaining ground
After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
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Gain
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
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Gain
Increase (one's body weight);
She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising
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Gain
The acquisition of something beneficial.
She gained valuable experience working abroad.
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Gain
Improvement or progress in something.
Regular exercise led to a gain in her overall health.
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Dec 12, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can profit be negative?
No, negative profit is usually referred to as a loss.
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What is profit?
Profit is the financial surplus after all expenses are subtracted from revenue.
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Is gain always monetary?
No, gain can be in skills, knowledge, or other non-monetary forms.
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How is profit calculated?
Profit is calculated as total revenues minus total expenses.
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Is capital gain a form of profit?
Capital gain is a type of gain, typically realized from investments, and can contribute to overall profit.
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How is gain different from profit?
Gain refers to an increase in value or benefit, which can be financial or otherwise, while profit is specifically financial.
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Can non-business activities result in profit?
Typically, profit is associated with business activities, but can also apply to individual financial success.
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Can gain be measured?
Yes, gain can be measured in terms of value increase, whether monetary or otherwise.
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Dec 20, 2023
Is profit always cash-based?
Profit is usually calculated in monetary terms but can also include other forms of financial return.
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Is profit a short-term goal?
Profit can be a short-term or long-term goal, depending on business strategy.
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Can everyone experience gain?
Yes, gains can be experienced by individuals and organizations in various forms.
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Do all businesses prioritize profit?
Most businesses aim for profit, but some prioritize other goals like social impact.
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Does gain always imply financial success?
Not necessarily, as gain can be non-financial, like gaining experience.
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Is profit important for businesses?
Yes, profit is essential for the sustainability and growth of a business.
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Dec 20, 2023
Can gain be long-term?
Yes, gains can be realized either immediately or accrue over time.
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Can gain be intangible?
Yes, gains can be intangible, such as reputation or experience.
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Can gain be immediate?
Yes, some gains, like those from selling assets, can be immediate.
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Dec 20, 2023
Do non-profits aim for profit?
Non-profits aim to cover their costs, but not to generate surplus revenue as profit.
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Dec 20, 2023
Can gain occur in personal development?
Yes, personal development can result in gains like improved skills or knowledge.
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Dec 20, 2023
Is profit linked to efficiency?
Often, higher efficiency can lead to increased profit, but not always.
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Dec 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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