Business services are activities that help companies or individuals but do not result in the production of a physical product. Often, these services provide marketing, production, safety and cost benefits to customers.

The term “service” is derived from the Greek word for “saint.” A service is an activity or experience that is performed by an individual, company or organization to benefit someone else. Examples of service businesses include airlines, banking, computer service bureaus, law firms, plumbers, movie theaters and management consulting companies.

Service businesses are usually located in a single building, although some offer services from a number of locations. For example, a car rental service may have a large number of airport locations where the cars are collected and delivered to the customer’s destination.

Some service businesses, such as insurance companies and banks, have multiple offices where employees work. This helps them respond to changing demand for their products.

A service business can be a sole proprietorship or a partnership. In a partnership, there is typically a shareholder who invests money in the business and is the person responsible for the company’s management.

In a sole proprietorship, there is no shareholder and the owner carries the responsibility of running the business. Unlike product businesses, a sole proprietorship does not need to hire employees.

When you are in the early stages of starting a business, it is important to determine what kind of services you will be offering. For instance, if you decide to specialize in customer service, you can offer your services to other businesses or to individuals on an hourly basis or for a flat rate.

Some service-based businesses, such as accounting or clerical services, can be conducted in person at the client’s location, but others can be offered remotely through the internet. This type of business is great for people who enjoy working with clients and providing them with the administrative services that they need.

One of the best ways to market a service-based business is to create a website and promote your services via social media and other online channels. You can also set up an email list and create a newsletter to send out updates on your services and special offers.

Most service businesses focus on either business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) services. B2B services are those that assist other companies for a flat or hourly rate, while business-to-consumer (B2C) businesses help consumers achieve a goal that they would not be able to accomplish on their own due to a lack of expertise, training or resources.

These types of businesses are often funded through taxes and charitable organizations, but they can raise funds from sales transactions to enhance their services.

For example, a pest control company may need to address an infestation that has gotten out of hand. They may also need maintenance professionals to help repair appliances and other malfunctioning equipment at the company. This can make a significant impact on the business’s bottom line, since fewer repairs need to be done by internal staff.