Starts to make profits (8)
I believe the answer is:
proceeds
I believe this clue is a triple definition!
'starts' is the first definition.
'to make' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'profits' is the third definition.
(thesaurus)
(Other definitions for proceeds that I've seen before include "takes steps" , "Passes on" , "Amount of money from sale or performance - on it goes" , "Moves ahead, goes forward" , "Take" .)