What's the most profitable business?

[Pastrey Crust]

Real estate. I'm planning on buying a few properties and renting them as soon as I can so I use that as a living.

[Ad Bot]

[Jairo]

the quote goes "the most profitable business is a well-run oil company, the second most profitable business is a poorly run oil company"

[Plethora]

If memory serves businesses producing raw materials (as opposed to finished goods) tend to have a higher profit margin than others.  That said, commodities, including oil, are fairly weak right now, so who knows?

[Poliwhirl]

war economy

[Outpact-]

In Australia, for us it's administrative and support services.

[Drydess]

In Australia, for us it's administrative and support services.

for humans at least
for emus it's the war industry

[Tezuni 2.0]

keep in mind the size difference per industry
for example, while the oil industry is huge and makes a large profit, the healthcare technology industry makes considerably greater profits relative to its size

[Nonnel]

pretty sure accounting/book keeping has the highest net profit margin

[Rigel]

Aside from oil, one of the most profitable industries is the narcotics industry. Just look at Pablo Escobar, he ended up giving away a lot of what he made because he had nothing else to spend it on, just from stuff tons of coke.

[Ipquarx]

technology is, as of right now, one of the most profitable industries because "technology" is so wide. Everything from a slap-chop to a missile defense system is technology.

[Nonnel]

Well, what are we talking about, exactly? Personal net profit or overall industry income?

[Squideey]

The most profitable industries are the illegal ones, and the best illegal industry would have to be the most dangerous one. Organized crime can give you a lot of money, but tons of people will try to kill you.

[Tezuni 2.0]

The most profitable industries are the illegal ones, and the best illegal industry would have to be the most dangerous one. Organized crime can give you a lot of money, but tons of people will try to kill you.

Not really though.  El Chapo was barely a billionaire, but that's it.  
All the other drug lords and cartel leaders combined don't really compare to legit industries that operate on mainstream levels, like Microsoft & Apple & Google in the software / tech industry.

Unless i'm missing some huge illegal industry that surpasses everything.  
They just seem too restricted in terms of customers.

[Punished Toxicology]

Not really though.  El Chapo was barely a billionaire, but that's it. 
All the other drug lords and cartel leaders combined don't really compare to legit industries that operate on mainstream levels, like Microsoft & Apple & Google in the software / tech industry.

Unless i'm missing some huge illegal industry that surpasses everything. 
They just seem too restricted in terms of customers.

sell macbooks with cocaine inside the disk drive

[sir dooble]

The tourism industry is one of the biggest industries out there.
Of course it's difficult to quantify as there's no single tourism corporation or factory.

But think of how much money must be spent by tourists worldwide, on flights, ships, trains, hotels, food, attractions, insurance, knick-knacks and more.

The wealth in the industry is immense, but is spread between millions of big and little businesses, from travel agents, hotels and airlines to quirky museums, pedalo/surf rentals and mom-and-pop souvenir shops.