Revenue vs Turnover

Publication Date :

11 Jan, 2019

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Table Of Contents

Difference Between Revenue vs Turnover

Revenue and Turnover are often used interchangeably, and in many contexts, they also mean the same. For example, assets and inventory are turned over when they flow through a business either by selling assets or outliving their useful lives. When these assets generate income by sales, it is termed Revenue. Turnover can also refer to business activities that are not necessarily involved with sales, for example, employee turnover.

In this article, we look at Revenue vs. Turnover in detail.

Difference Between Revenue vs Turnover

Revenue vs. Turnover Infographics

Here are the top 9 differences between Revenue vs. Turnover

Revenue vs. Turnover Video Explanation

Revenue vs. Turnover Key Differences

The critical differences between Revenue vs. Turnover are as follows –

Revenue represents the amount of money a company makes by selling its goods or services to customers. On the other hand, turnover refers to the number of times a company burns through assets like inventory, cash, and workers.
Revenue is considered vital because it helps understand the strength of the business, the customer base, size, and market share. An increase in revenues is a sign of stability and showcases confidence in the business. For a company to get loans and capital on credit, they need stable revenues. Accounts receivable turnover and inventory turnover are the most commonly used metrics that help determine the company's liquidity position.
Revenue is mentioned as Sales on the income statement and is mandatory for all the public companies to report. Turnover, on the other hand, is not compulsory to report and is calculated to understand these reported statements better.
Revenue can be Operating and Non-operating Operating revenue is the Revenue earned from regular business activities. In contrast, non-operating revenues are the additional Revenue generated through other activities like rent, dividends, etc.
Revenue is calculated as Total sales less any returns. While Turnover ratios are calculated as Cash turnover – Net Sales/Cash, Total asset turnover – Net Sales/Average Total Assets, and Fixed Asset turnover – Fixed Assets/Net Fixed Assets.
Revenue affects the profitability of the company, while turnover affects the efficiency of the company.
Revenue for a computer selling company can be determined by multiplying the number of units sold by the price per revenue. In contrast, turnover can be determined by the number of computers sold in a year.
Revenue is essential to understand as it helps determine the company's growth and sustainability; on the other hand, understanding the turnover is necessary to manage production levels and ensure that nothing is left idle as inventory for an extended period.

Revenue vs. Turnover Head to Head Differences

Now, let's look at the head-to-head differences between Revenue vs. Turnover.

Basis of Revenue vs. Turnover	Revenue	Turnover
Definition	Revenue refers to the money that a company earns by selling goods and services for a price to its customers.	Turnover refers to how many times a company makes or burns through assets.
Effect	Revenue affects the profitability of the company.	Turnover affects the efficiency of the company.
Ratios	Revenue is used to calculate profitability ratios like gross profit, net profit, and operating profit margin.	Turnover ratios that are used widely are inventory turnover ratio, asset turnover ratio, sales turnover, accounts receivable, and accounts payable ratio.
Meaning	Revenue is the total value of goods or services sold by the business.	Turnover is the income that a firm generates through trading goods and services.
Importance	Revenue is critical to understand, as it is one of the vital factors that determine the growth of the company.	Understanding the turnover is vital to manage production levels and ensure that nothing is left idle as inventory for an extended period.
Example	Revenue is calculated as the total amount of computers sold multiplied by the price.	Turnover means the total amount of computers sold in a year.
Types	Revenue can be of two types - operating revenue and non-operating revenue.	Turnover may be of three types: Inventory, Cash, and Labor.
Reporting	It is mandatory to report Revenue and is the first line item on the income statement.	It is not mandatory to report turnover but is instead calculated for understanding the statements better.
Formula	Revenue is calculated as – Total Sales - Returns	Few Turnover formulas are as below – Cash turnover – Net Sales/Cash Total asset turnover – Net Sales/Average Total Assets Fixed Asset turnover – Fixed Assets/Net Fixed Assets

Conclusion

The difference between Revenue vs. Turnover is complex but essential for all organizations to survive. Increasing and maximizing revenues is a vital aspect that all organizations strive to achieve. Comparing revenue year on year helps them determine which direction the company is heading into and if there is any scope for improvement. To determine whether turnover ratios are correctly calculated, it is essential to have a benchmark set. Determining the correct turnover ratios mainly depends on the nature of the industry and the business type. Although there is a difference between Revenue vs. turnover, both are essential concepts to business.