Confused about Profits vs Tax Deductions

[Dru Steeby]

I've done some reading and google searching and I can't seem to find an answer for this.

Simple example, two scenarios:

1.) I go to lowes and buy $100 worth of tax deductible items for my rental property. I report that as a deduction on my individual tax return.

2.) I go to lowes and buy the same $100 of stuff. I have an LLC set up to take care of the business and I write that off as a business expense.

I know that LLC's are taxed on the PROFIT that they make, but what exactly constitutes profit? I know at the heart of it that "profit = revenue - expenses", but what exactly can count as an expense? Is there any benefit to doing an LLC as opposed to not in an owner-occupied scenario?

Thank you!