In
business,
revenue is the income that a
business has from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of
goods and services to customers. Revenue is also referred to as
sales or
turnover. Some companies receive revenue from interest, royalties, or other fees. Revenue may refer to business income in general, or it may refer to the amount, in a
monetary unit, received during a period of time, as in "Last year, Company X had revenue of $42 million."
Profits or
net income generally imply total revenue minus total
expenses in a given period. In
accounting, revenue is often referred to as the "top line" due to its position on the
income statement at the very top. This is to be contrasted with the "bottom line" which denotes net income.