The business services industry supports a wide range of operations and processes that are non-financial in nature. They include advertising, marketing, consultation, logistics, waste handling, shipping and staffing services. Businesses often outsource these functions to other companies or to specialist providers. These firms provide the specialized skills, tools and technology required for these activities.
Service businesses must design their offerings with the customer in mind. They must ensure their offering is compellingly designed and manage a workforce capable of producing it efficiently. They also need to address the fact that their customers can become integral to the production of the service, as in the case of a TV repairperson going to a customer’s house or a company providing on-site services.
Typically, those who work in the business services sector need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and have a strong work ethic. They also need to be able to follow instructions and communicate clearly with others in order to work as part of a team. Other qualifications vary, depending on the industry and role. For example, a shipping and handling worker needs to be able to operate machinery; an administrative support or janitorial worker needs to be able to clean offices; and an IT technician or software engineer needs to have technical knowledge.
Entrepreneurs interested in starting a business that focuses on a service need less start-up money than those who create physical products because they don’t need to invest in materials and manufacturing equipment. However, they should have good organizational skills and previous experience in their area of expertise.