The process of determining the difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage of revenue, is a key analytical function within spreadsheet software. For example, if revenue is $100 and the cost of goods sold is $60, the resulting figure, when divided by the revenue and multiplied by 100, indicates the percentage of revenue remaining after accounting for direct costs. This resulting percentage offers a standardized way to assess profitability.
Understanding this calculation is valuable as it allows for comparative analysis of profitability across different products, services, or time periods. A higher percentage generally signifies greater efficiency in managing costs relative to revenue generation. Historically, this type of analysis was a manual and time-consuming accounting task, but spreadsheet software facilitates rapid calculation and visualization of trends.