Business-to-Business
Business-to-business (B2B or, in some countries, BtoB) is a situation where one business makes a commercial transaction with another. This typically occurs when:
- A business sources materials for its production process for output (e.g., a food manufacturer purchasing salt), i.e. providing raw material to the other company that will produce output.
- A business needs the services of another for operational reasons (e.g., a food manufacturer employing an accountancy firm to audit their finances).
- A business re-sells goods and services produced by others (e.g., a retailer buying the end product from the food manufacturer).
Business-to-Business companies represent a significant part of the United States economy. This is especially true in firms with 500 employees and above, of which there were 19,464 in 2015, where it is estimated that as many as 72% are businesses that primarily serve other businesses. One possible argument of economics to explain the levels of Business-to-Business activity is that it allows for business segmentation.
B2B is often contrasted with business-to-consumer (B2C) trade.