Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is Gross Income?

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Gross Income Definition

The total amount of money people have before taxes and necessities are paid for.

Gross income is the total amount of money that people have before taxes and necessities are deducted. In marketing research, gross income refers to the total revenue generated from sales or operations before expenses like production costs and taxes are subtracted. This calculation provides a snapshot of a company's financial performance without considering deductions. It permits businesses to compare their revenue generation across financial periods and against competitors. Examination of gross income trends identifies potential growth opportunities and operational inefficiencies. Simply put, this metric leads to a comprehensive understanding of an organization's financial picture.

Who relies on gross income?

For starters, business owners use the gross income metric to understand the overall revenue generated from sales or their products or services. In addition, investors rely on the figure to help assess a company's potential profitability. What’s more, analysts turn to gross income numbers to determine industry trends and company performance.

Why should I care about gross income?

The gross income calculation creates insights into an organization’s revenue generation capabilities. More specifically, it is a gauge of the financial health of an organization that is relied upon to make informed decisions about investments, partnerships and market strategies.