A business is an organisation that produces or sells goods and services to consumers. These can be tangible or intangible products. Businesses can be small or large, depending on the type of business they are and how many employees they have.
There are different types of businesses and their structures, but they all have one thing in common – they provide products or services for customers in exchange for profits. These products and services can be in the form of physical goods or intangible services like advice, assistance or labour.
Some types of business can be operated on a sole proprietorship basis, while others may require a more complex structure with different types of liability. The most common business type is a corporation, which is structured to offer limited liability protection to its owners.
Sole proprietorship is an easy-to-set up and run business, but it also requires that the owner be liable for all the debts the company incurs. This is why it is best to set up a separate personal bank account for the company.
A partnership is another common business type, but it differs from a sole proprietorship in that all partners have a share in the funding, profits and losses. The biggest drawback of a partnership is that all partners are liable for any business debts that they incur.
Corporates are typically larger enterprises with a number of departments and multiple levels of management. The main advantage of a corporation is that shareholders own a percentage of the company and have limited liability for corporate debts or malpractice.
The objective of a business is to satisfy the needs of society through providing products and services at reasonable prices. This objective is essential for the survival of a business. It can be achieved by making the production process more efficient, by reducing wastages and ensuring the effectiveness of machines, human resources, and cash. It is the social responsibility of a business to make sure that its employees are given proper wages and compensation for their hard work.