Net profit Net profit is the profit earned after all expenses have been taken away. Cara’s net profit is €20.
Dividends The amount of the profit paid to shareholders. Cara gives her mum and dad (her shareholders) dividends of €4 (€2 each).
Income Statement of Cara Flannery for week ended 21/08/20 €
€ Sales
Sales returns Net sales
Less cost of sales Opening stock Purchases
Purchases returns Net purchases
Less closing stock Gross profit
Less expenses Wages Rent
Total expenses Net profit
Less dividends Reserves
Sharing the net profit
A company has the following three options when sharing the net profit: Keep all the net profit
Give all the net profit to shareholders
If the business gives all the net profit to the shareholders, the shareholders will be extremely happy but the business will have no money set aside to reinvest in the company or for a ‘rainy day’.
If the business decides to keep all the net profit, the shareholders will not be pleased and may decide to take their investment from the business. However, the business will have money to reinvest into the company and have money for a ‘rainy day’.
Give some of the net profit to shareholders and keep some
If the business decides to split the net profits, the shareholders will be pleased and they can reinvest back into the business too. Everyone is happy in this case.