Business services are activities that benefit a company without delivering a physical product. This includes a wide range of functions from banking, insurance, transportation and warehousing to marketing, production and communication. Companies rely on these services for efficiency, cost and convenience.

Many of these services can be outsourced to external providers rather than being done in-house, which allows companies to focus more time on core competencies and boost productivity. This also reduces the risk of hiring a costly expert in-house and having to train them on the business processes. Additionally, external business service providers can be scaled up or down quickly to respond to a business’s seasonal output fluctuations.

For example, a business may need to hire a pest exterminator, an architect or a graphic designer to perform specialized business tasks. In addition, business travel and event services are often outsourced because they can be more cost-effective than in-house staff. Other outsourced business services include a printing company for small runs of marketing materials or a production firm to manufacture prototypes.

This sector is rapidly growing, driven by the need for companies to outsource a variety of tasks due to increased productivity and cost pressures. Many of these services are performed remotely, making them a great choice for entrepreneurs who want to work from home or anywhere with an internet connection. However, if you’re not comfortable working in a fast-paced and demanding environment, then this sector may not be for you.