Business is an activity that involves the development, production and distribution of goods and services. It is an economic activity that generates profits and also minimizes the cost of production.
Businesses can be small or large and operate in a variety of industries. They range from sole proprietorships to corporations that provide shareholder equity to their owners.
Several types of businesses exist, including industrial manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, retail stores and catalog companies, and real estate businesses. The primary function of these businesses is to sell or distribute products to consumers; they make a profit by reducing the price of their goods and boosting their sales.
Manufacturers develop a product, produce it at a factory or plant, and sell it to customers; they can do so directly or through middlemen. Examples of industrial manufacturers are steel factories, plastics factories, and automobile companies.
Many manufacturing companies export their products to other countries. They also may export their products to other domestic markets. The products sold by these companies are usually tangible, such as cars, aircraft, and medical devices.
Merchandising is a type of business that buys products directly from a manufacturer or wholesaler and then sells them to consumers at a higher price than the manufacturer’s cost price. Common examples of merchandising businesses are grocery stores, supermarkets, and distributors.
Service is a type of business that offers intangible products or services to other businesses or consumers. Unlike tangible goods, services cannot be stored or separated from the provider.
Some service businesses include interior decorators, beauticians, hair stylists, make-up artists, tanning salons, laundromats, dry cleaners, and pest control operators. These businesses charge a fee for the services they provide.
Profession is an economic activity that requires specialized knowledge and skills. Its practitioners are governed by professional bodies and are expected to adhere to a code of ethics.
The concept of the business is that a person should render both goods and services on a regular basis to earn a livelihood. A one-time sale of goods will not be considered a business, but a daily trade of goods at the showroom is a valid and legitimate business.
There are a few different ways that a business can be structured to reduce its risk and increase profitability. Some of these structures are sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.
Sole proprietorship is a simple business structure that enables a single owner to start and run the business. However, the owner of a sole proprietorship is personally liable for the debts of the business and can be sued by creditors.
Partnership is a business structure that combines the characteristics of a sole proprietorship with those of a corporation. It can be a general partnership with more than one owner or a limited partnership with only some of the owners being liable for debts of the business.
A corporate entity is a business that has a legal identity separate from its owner and operates under the direction of a board of directors elected by the shareholders. It is often organized into various sectors and can be incorporated, formed as a limited partnership or limited liability company, or listed on stock exchanges.