The bottom line and the top line are two of the most important figures for a company’s income statement. The bottom line in business is a company’s net income. The top line is a company’s gross revenues, or total sales, before subtracting any operational costs.
What is the Bottom Line in Business?
The bottom line represents a company’s net income—the profit left over after deducting all expenses from the total revenue. Key expenses deducted from the top line revenue (gross revenues) to get to the bottom line include:
- Cost of goods sold, including direct labor and materials
- Fixed overhead and administrative expenses
- Interest charges on loans and other debts
- Depreciation and amortization charges
- Federal, state, and local income taxes
The bottom line can also be referred to as a company’s net earnings or net profits and earns its name by being found at the bottom of a financial statement.
The Triple Bottom Line
Businesses are seeing a rise in monitoring an additional bottom line, called the triple bottom line —people, profit, and the planet. This concept considers the social and environmental factors in addition to a company’s financial performance. Companies that consider the “social good” aspect of their business are known to resonate more with consumers – 82% of consumers want a brand’s values to align with their own, according to Consumer Goods. By emphasizing social responsibility and environmental sustainability, companies can build stronger connections with their audience.
Top Line vs. Bottom Line Revenue
While both figures help to gauge business performance, each term is significant for different reasons:
Top Line (Gross Revenue): Indicates business growth and a company’s ability to market and sell products. The top line refers to a company’s revenues or gross sales. When a company experiences “top-line growth,” it means there’s an increase in gross sales or revenues. More revenue allows for increased investment in advertising, new product development, and hiring. Strategies to boost the top line include:
- Increasing advertising to gain new customers
- Adding new product lines
- Raising prices
- Improving product quality to elevate brand image and reduce returned sales
Essentially, the top line represents the total money generated by a company from its products, services, or other sources. However, it doesn’t account for any expenses or costs.
Bottom Line (Net Income): Demonstrates how efficiently a company can make a product or provide a service that creates enough gross profit to cover overhead expenses while achieving a reasonable net profit. The bottom line is the net income or profit a company retains after deducting all expenses (such as operating costs, interest charges, taxes, etc.) from its total revenue. Strategies to improve the bottom line include:
- Lowering cost of materials by finding new suppliers
- Improving manufacturing productivity
- Reducing operating expenses
- Taking better advantage of tax benefits
Achieving a healthy bottom line involves managing expenses efficiently and maximizing net profits.
Small business owners should be monitoring the company’s top and bottom lines on a monthly basis to stay focused on growth and manage costs effectively.
Another factor to consider is a company’s net profit margin, which calculates the percentage of profit by dividing the net profit by the revenue. This percentage is used to quickly understand the overall financial health of a business and give insight into opportunities for improvement.
A low net profit ratio indicates either overhead costs are too high, or a business has priced its goods or services too low. A higher profit margin indicates a business owner has found the right threshold for controlling expenses and pricing their services accordingly. There are always many factors to consider when running a business but keeping an eye on your top and bottom line – as well as an understanding of your profit margins – can go a long way in monitoring your business’s financial health and help you notice trends.
Key Takeaways
- Both top-line and bottom-line figures are essential for assessing a company’s financial strength.
- The bottom line reflects how efficiently a company manages its spending and operating costs.
- The top line only indicates a company’s effectiveness in generating sales and revenue, without considering operating efficiencies that impact on the bottom line.
Remember, understanding these financial metrics helps you make informed decisions and ensures the long-term success of your business.
