Gross profit and net profit mate.
And often you get taxed before the investment - not all investment is tax deductible.
Thres an interstiung point to make here.
Let say I am a company, and I make 11 billion quid (EX VAT) on selling something thiing cost me 10 billion. I now have a billion gross profit.
The government will take 25% of that, that is 250million, in corporation tax.
With 5% VAT levied on the sale of that product, they have also taken 550 million as well.
Total government take is therefore 800 million. After tax, net profit for me is 750 million.
Who is taking more and providing less - the government or me?
Who are the thieving scum that are gouging my pay packets?
Nothing helps the fundamental equation that any protection racket that extorts more money than its 'clients' can afford, will collapse in on itself.
In the end givernment money is your money, given back to you for 'protection' after the godfathers have taken their extremely large cut.