Business services are various tasks and activities that help maintain a company without producing a tangible commodity. Companies rely on these services to function and they are an important part of the economy. They include things like information technology, which supports numerous other business services, and logistics, which handles warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping.
They are generally non-tangible and can be easily outsourced to third-party vendors. They are often specialized and offer a level of expertise that can’t be replicated in-house. For example, an IT service provider could audit a company’s infrastructure and implement a new employee self-service portal to improve communication.
In addition to IT, the field of business services includes professional and management consulting as well as facility management. Some of these jobs might require only a high school diploma, GED certificate or vocational degree while others may demand a bachelor’s or graduate degree.
Other examples of business services include delivery services, child care and rental housing. These are often offered to employees to help them maintain a work-life balance. Real estate agents can help businesses find workspaces and negotiate rental agreements. In addition, some companies use utility service providers to supply water and electricity.
Most service businesses provide their services to other businesses (B2B) or to end consumers (B2C). However, they may also be provided by governments and other public entities (B2G). These types of business services are known as government services. They are largely funded through taxes and charitable contributions and are typically not able to generate revenue through sales transactions.