Business services are activities that help an organization but don’t create a physical commodity. These activities include consulting, marketing, logistics (including warehousing and shipping), staffing services, administration, and security services. They are an important part of the tertiary sector, which also includes experience-based offerings like tourism and food service.
The most common business services are those that help companies achieve their goals in a given area, but don’t require a lot of hands-on labor. For example, an architectural firm’s clients will give input on designs for new buildings, but are not expected to build those buildings themselves. Other examples include animal control and pest-extermination companies, which are hired to handle occasional infestations; maintenance service professionals who ensure that equipment functions correctly; and tech support services for computers and other technological devices.
Most business-to-business, or B2B, services are paid for at a flat rate, and help companies operate more efficiently and/or generate more output. They are often used to supplement the work of a company’s own employees.
Businesses use external business services to improve efficiency and focus on core competencies. They are also useful for reducing expenses and expanding into new markets or customers. Many of these companies provide a range of different types of business services, so it’s important to choose one that fits your needs. It’s also helpful to partner with a provider that can scale up or down to match your business’s output fluctuations, especially when dealing with seasonal demand.