Economic Profit (or Loss) is the amount left over when all costs associated with a business venture have been taken into account. It accounts for the traditional explicit costs that any business must pay, such as payroll and taxes, as well as the more intangible opportunity costs that come from making a choice between two potential projects or investments. These opportunity costs typically refer to what a company could have made had it opted for the alternative — the revenue, profits, and any other benefits that were sacrificed for the chosen enterprise, such as the chance to acquire a valuable asset or partnership.

Essentially, economic profit takes into account all the costs associated with a venture, and the potential benefits of alternatives. By comparing the difference between what a business could potentially gain from the chosen venture, and what opportunities it is forgoing, a company can better understand the associated risks and rewards. While this type of analysis is theoretical in nature, and not typically disclosed externally, it can be both useful and informative for any company trying to choose between multiple options.

Unfortunately, computing economic profit is often a challenging task. The costs of making a decision are typically harder to identify and measure then traditional costs, such as payroll and taxes. To properly measure economic profit, companies must factor in all potential sources of collateral damage that could have occurred had they taken the alternative. For instance, the lost opportunity of capitalizing on market demand, or acquiring a partnership or asset that would have benefited the company.

That said, economic profit analysis can provide worthwhile insight for businesses looking to make smart investments and capitalize on opportunities. By comparing the difference between accounting profit and economic profit, companies can better assess which products, services, and investments offer the most potential financial rewards, versus the associated costs and risks.

Overall, economic profit (or loss) provides a more comprehensive picture of a business venture, and allows companies to compare the costs of actualizing a goal against the potential opportunities that exist. Though the underlying analysis can be difficult to quantify, it can still offer added value in maximizing business returns over the long term.