Business services are the various support activities that help businesses function and thrive. These include finance, marketing, communication and insurance services. All of these are necessary for companies to operate and maintain their profitability. Unlike product-based business, which are focused on innovating and introducing new products to the market, a company with a business service approach focuses on creating value for its clients.

Business service providers are specialized in their areas of expertise and often offer a wide variety of services. They can be as simple as a graphic design firm that offers logo, packaging and publication design for clients or as complex as an energy supplier that charges commercial customers based on their power consumption.

The emergence of economies in emerging markets and the growth of business-to-business shipping have increased demand for integrated business services. Firms are implementing solutions that combine warehousing services with transportation and other logistics functions to provide customers with more complete fulfillment of their needs. These integrations may involve picking and packing orders, storing and releasing inventory, tagging, performing light assembly, and marking prices.

People who work in the business services industry have a wide range of career choices, from entry-level positions to supervisory roles. People with previous customer service experience and strong interpersonal skills have a better chance of success in the field. However, it is important to remember that a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject such as business administration can also prove helpful.