Business and profit – Vocabulary and Phrases
to make a profit – when a company earns more money than it spends
Most people and most businesses are in business to make a profit.
to make a loss – when a company spends more money than it earns
If the figures are correct, Sony will make a huge $1.18 billion loss on year one sales if Sony reaches its 14 million sales target.
to lose – to make a loss
to break even – when a company does not make a profit or a loss
The company barely broke even last year.
turnover – the money the company receives from selling their products
Low turnover is a sign of inefficiency, since inventory usually has a rate of return of zero.
profitable – making profit
Under these conditions we cannot be profitable anymore.
raw materials – materials in their natural state used to make something else
Coal and oil are important raw materials used to make plastics
labour – the body of persons engaged in productive activity; those working for wages
labour cost – cost of productive activity
No matter how efficiently you manage your distribution centre, there's one part of it that's almost impossible to control: the high cost of labour.
to increase by – to make or become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality
Sales of hybrid cars increased last year.
to rise – to make or become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality
to go up – to make or become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality
to rise from….to… – to become greater from… to…
Sales rose to $962.9 million from $847.3 million.
to improve – to become better
We need to improve our system.
to fall – to make or become lower, smaller
Demand for these services has been constantly falling since 2000.
to go down – to make or become lower, smaller
to decrease – to make or become lower, smaller
to remain stable – to be the same without any major changes
With enough liquidity in the market, bankers anticipate that the interest rates will remain stable in the short-term to medium-term.
to export to – to ship (commodities) to other countries or places for sale, exchange, etc
to import from – to bring in (merchandise, commodities, workers, etc.) from a foreign country for use, sale, processing, reexport, or services
to supply (to) – to provide
Green Fingers supplies the gardening industry.
industry – the aggregate of manufacturing or technically productive enterprises in a particular field
We are strongly interested to find a partner in steel industry.
services – the performance of any duties or work for another; helpful or professional activity
Medical services here are excellent.
agriculture – the science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming
Jane is studying agriculture.
to manufacture – to make or produce by hand or machinery, especially on a large scale
This firm manufactures cars at the rate of two hundred per day.
to expand – to get bigger
China is planning to expand "Great 'Net Firewall" censor web even more.
to grow – to get bigger
to go bankrupt – to not be able to pay one's debts
It will cost you up to ?485 to go bankrupt (sometimes more if you use a solicitor or apply for bankruptcy to the High Court).
home market – market at home
It's safer to stay on the home market.
foreign market – market abroad
Entering foreign markets is a big step for most companies. Going abroad can require a significant investment of time and money, and require lots of patience before you see success.
foreign investment – money from abroad
inflation – a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency
You can Adjust a given amount of money for inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index.
inflation rate – the rate of change of prices (as indicated by a price index) calculated on a monthly or annual basis
tax cuts – lower taxes
President Bush’s tax cut will give the economy a timely second wind.
to reduce taxes – lower taxes