What Are Business Services?

A business service is an activity that assists a company but does not produce a tangible commodity. It includes a wide range of services, such as insurance, banking, warehousing and transportation. The majority of businesses rely on these services to operate efficiently. For example, a company may outsource its accounting or marketing tasks to other companies. These businesses have the expertise to complete those tasks.

Companies in the business services industry employ a large workforce. The industry encompasses a variety of jobs and industries, including human resources, consulting, facilities management, market research, and staffing services. Employees in these fields can be found at a number of different types of organizations, from banks to nonprofit organizations and from universities to government agencies.

These workers often require specialized education and training to perform their job duties. Some business services positions, such as customer support, call center work, and software development, require a high level of education, while others are more entry-level and do not require a formal educational background.

Depending on the role, a business services professional might work in an office environment, on a team, or remotely. In these situations, employees must be able to communicate with their co-workers and customers in a clear and effective manner.

The ITA’s Office of Supply Chain, Professional, and Business Services (PBS) advocates for the interests of U.S. providers of business services in global trade negotiations. The PBS team also provides expertise on business services issues to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) negotiating teams in both bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.