What best defines a profit center?

A profit center is defined as a business unit that is responsible for both generating revenue and managing its costs. This means that a profit center not only contributes to the income of the organization through sales or services provided but also has control over its operational expenses. This dual responsibility allows management to assess the profitability of each unit based on its revenues and costs, thereby facilitating performance evaluation and strategic decision-making.

In contrast, other options do not capture the complete essence of a profit center. For instance, a unit responsible solely for expense management does not involve revenue generation, which is a critical aspect of a profit center’s role. Similarly, a department that does not generate revenue cannot be classified as a profit center since it lacks the first criterion of profit center classification. A section dedicated solely to customer service could contribute to a profit center, but by itself, it does not ensure revenue generation or cost management, thus failing to meet the defined criteria of a profit center.