Which of the following best describes what profit is?

Profit is best described as the money left after expenses are subtracted from revenues. This definition captures the essence of what profit represents in a business context, as it reflects the actual financial gain that a company generates from its operations.

When a business generates revenue, it incurs various costs related to its operations, such as production costs, labor, and overhead. Profit is calculated by taking the total revenue and deducting all associated expenses. This remaining amount is what the company retains as profit, which can be reinvested in the business, distributed to shareholders, or used for other purposes.

The other options provided do not fully encapsulate this concept. For instance, total revenue generated does not account for any costs incurred, making it an incomplete measure of profitability. Similarly, the amount spent on operations only reflects expenses, without considering how much revenue was generated to offset those costs. Revenue before taxation fails to capture the net actual profit, as it does not take into account expenses or taxes that will further reduce the actual profit. This makes the definition of profit as the remaining money after expenses a crucial understanding for anyone studying economics or business practices.