Business – the activity of buying and selling goods and services
Company – a business organization that sells goods or services in order to make a profit
Corporation – a large, legally-recognized business entity
Partnership – a business relationship in which two or more people share ownership and control
Employee – a person who works for a company or organization
Boss – a person who is in charge of a group of workers
Manager – a person who is responsible for the activities and performance of a group of employees
Supervisor – a person who oversees the work of other employees
Team – a group of people who work together to achieve a common goal
Department – a section or division of a company or organization.
Colleague – a person who works in the same company or organization as you
Workplace – the place where someone works, such as an office or factory
Meeting – a gathering of people for the purpose of discussing a particular topic or making a decision
Presentation – a speech or talk that is given to an audience, often with visual aids
Conference – a large meeting of people, typically in a formal setting, to discuss a particular topic or issue
Deadline – the time by which something must be completed
Task – a piece of work that needs to be done
Project – a large or complex piece of work that is undertaken over a period of time
Business plan – a document that outlines the goals and strategies of a business
Budget – a plan for the allocation of financial resources.
Contract – a legally-binding agreement between two or more parties
Negotiation – a discussion between two or more parties aimed at reaching an agreement
Partnership – a business relationship in which two or more people share ownership and control
Investment – the act of putting money into a business or project with the expectation of making a profit
Sales – the act of selling goods or services
Marketing – the process of promoting and selling products or services
Advertising – the practice of creating and publishing messages in order to promote a product or service
Brand – the image and reputation of a company or product
Customer – a person who buys goods or services from a business
Client – a person or organization that uses the services of a professional or business.
Supply chain – the network of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer
Production – the process of creating goods or providing services
Quality control – the process of ensuring that a product or service meets certain standards
Innovation – the process of creating new ideas, products or methods
Research and development – the work done by a company to create new products or improve existing ones
Human resources – the department of a company that deals with the hiring, management and training of employees
Employee benefits – additional compensation or perks provided to employees in addition to their salary
Salary – the amount of money that an employee is paid for their work
Bonus – an additional payment made to an employee as a reward for good performance
Stock – a share in the ownership of a company.
Stock options – the right to buy or sell a certain number of shares of a company’s stock at a specified price within a certain time period
Dividend – a portion of a company’s profits that is distributed to shareholders
Merger – the combination of two or more companies into a single entity
Acquisition – the process of buying one company by another
IPO – initial public offering, the first sale of stock by a company to the public
Venture capital – money invested in a new or growing business by individuals or organizations
Startup – a new company that is in the process of developing its business model
Incubator – a program or facility that helps new businesses get off the ground
Accelerator – a program that helps startups grow quickly by providing access to mentorship, resources and funding
Entrepreneur – a person who starts and runs a business.
Board of directors – a group of people elected by a company’s shareholders to represent their interests and manage the company’s affairs
Chief executive officer (CEO) – the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for managing the overall operations and strategy
Chief financial officer (CFO) – the executive responsible for the financial operations of a company, including planning and analysis, accounting and finance
Chief operating officer (COO) – the executive responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company
Chief technology officer (CTO) – the executive responsible for the development and deployment of a company’s technology strategy
Chief marketing officer (CMO) – the executive responsible for a company’s marketing strategy and activities
Chief human resources officer (CHRO) – the executive responsible for a company’s human resources policies and programs
Chief information officer (CIO) – the executive responsible for a company’s information technology (IT) strategy and operations
Executive team – the group of top executives who lead and make decisions for a company
Shareholder – a person or entity that owns shares in a company.
Annual report – a document that provides information on a company’s financial performance and activities over the past year
Financial statement – a document that provides information on a company’s financial position, including income, expenses, assets and liabilities
Balance sheet – a financial statement that shows a company’s assets, liabilities and equity at a specific point in time
Income statement – a financial statement that shows a company’s revenues, expenses and net income over a period of time
Cash flow statement – a financial statement that shows the sources and uses of cash over a period of time
Revenue – the total amount of money that a company earns from its business activities
Expense – the cost of goods or services that a company uses in order to generate revenue
Profit – the difference between a company’s revenue and expenses
Loss – a financial shortfall, where a company’s expenses are greater than its revenues
Asset – something that has value and can be owned by a company.
Liability – a financial obligation that a company owes to someone else
Equity – the difference between a company’s assets and liabilities
Debt – money that a company owes to others
Credit – the ability of a company to borrow money
Interest – the cost of borrowing money
Stock market – a marketplace where stocks are bought and sold
Market share – the percentage of a market that is controlled by a company
Competitive advantage – the unique advantage that a company has over its competitors
SWOT analysis – a strategic planning tool that helps a company identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
Business model – the way that a company generates revenue and profits.
Revenue model – the method that a company uses to generate revenue, such as selling products or providing services
Cost structure – the types and amounts of expenses that a company incurs in order to operate
Value proposition – the unique value or benefit that a company offers to its customers
Customer segment – a group of customers who share similar characteristics and needs
Supply chain – the network of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer
Distribution channel – the way that a company gets its products or services to customers
Brand – the image and reputation of a company or product
Marketing mix – the combination of strategies and tactics that a company uses to promote and sell its products or services
Customer relationship management (CRM) – the practices and technologies that a company uses to manage and analyze customer interactions and data
Intellectual property – intangible assets such as trademarks, copyrights and patents that are owned by a company.
Patent – a legal right granted to an inventor or company to prevent others from making, using or selling the inventor’s or company’s invention
Trademark – a symbol, word or phrase that is used to identify and distinguish a company’s products or services
Copyright – a legal right granted to the creator of a creative work, such as a book, film or song, to control the use and distribution of that work
Trade secret – confidential information, such as a formula, method or process, that is used by a company to give it a competitive advantage
Licensing – the process of allowing another company to use a company’s intellectual property in exchange for payment
Outsourcing – the process of hiring another company to perform a business function that is normally done in-house
Offshoring – the process of moving a business function or operation to another country, typically to take advantage of lower labor or production costs
Insourcing – the process of bringing a business function or operation that was previously performed by another company back in-house
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – the practice of a company considering the social and environmental impacts of its actions in addition to its financial performance
Sustainability – the practice of ensuring that a company’s operations and activities can be maintained at a certain level without harming the environment or depleting natural resources.
Climate change – the long-term shift in global weather patterns that is caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels
Carbon footprint – the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are emitted by a company or individual’s activities
Renewable energy – energy that is produced from natural sources that can be replenished, such as solar, wind and hydro power
Green technology – technologies that are designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable
Pollution – the release of harmful substances or waste into the environment
Waste management – the process of collecting, treating and disposing of waste in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment
Recycling – the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be considered waste and using them to make new products
Corporate governance – the systems and processes by which a company is directed and controlled
Ethics – the moral principles and values that guide the behavior of a company and its employees
Compliance – the process of following the laws, regulations and policies that apply to a company’s operations and activities.
Regulation – a law or rule that is set by a government or other authority and that must be followed by companies and individuals
Legal department – the part of a company that is responsible for providing advice and support on legal matters
Corporate lawyer – a lawyer who specializes in providing legal advice to businesses
Compliance officer – a person who is responsible for ensuring that a company follows the laws and regulations that apply to its operations and activities
Risk management – the practice of identifying, assessing and controlling the risks that a company faces
Insurance – a contract that provides financial protection against a potential loss or damage
Business continuity – the practice of planning and preparing for potential disruptions to a company’s operations and activities
Crisis management – the practice of responding to and managing a sudden, significant and often unexpected event that poses a threat to a company
Reputation – the public image and perceived quality of a company
Public relations (PR) – the practice of managing a company’s communication with the public and media.
Press release – a written or recorded statement that is issued to the media in order to provide information or make an announcement
Media relations – the practice of managing a company’s communication with the news media
Social media – online platforms and tools that enable individuals and organizations to share and exchange information and ideas
Online reputation – the public image and perceived quality of a company as represented on the internet
Digital marketing – the practice of promoting and selling products or services using digital technologies
Website – an online presence that is owned and operated by a company and that typically includes information about the company and its products or services
E-commerce – the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet
Search engine optimization (SEO) – the practice of improving a website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages
Advertising – the practice of creating and publishing messages in order to promote a product or service
Influencer marketing – the practice of partnering with individuals who have a large online following in order to promote a product or service.
Brand ambassador – a person who represents a company and its brand, typically by promoting the company’s products or services on social media or other channels
Crowdfunding – the practice of raising money from a large number of people, typically through an online platform, in order to finance a project or venture
Angel investor – an individual who provides capital to a startup in exchange for ownership equity
Venture capital – money invested in a new or growing business by individuals or organizations
Accelerator – a program that helps startups grow quickly by providing access to mentorship, resources and funding
Incubator – a program or facility that helps new businesses get off the ground
Exit strategy – a plan for how a company or investor will sell or divest their ownership interest in a business
IPO – initial public offering, the first sale of stock by a company to the public
Merger – the combination of two or more companies into a single entity
Acquisition – the process of buying one company by another.
Private equity – investment in a company that is not publicly traded
Leveraged buyout (LBO) – the acquisition of a company using a significant amount of borrowed money
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – the practice of a company considering the social and environmental impacts of its actions in addition to its financial performance
Sustainability – the practice of ensuring that a company’s operations and activities can be maintained at a certain level without harming the environment or depleting natural resources
Carbon footprint – the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are emitted by a company or individual’s activities
Renewable energy – energy that is produced from natural sources that can be replenished, such as solar, wind and hydro power
Pollution – the release of harmful substances or waste into the environment
Waste management – the process of collecting, treating and disposing of waste in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment
Recycling – the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be considered waste and using them to make new products
Corporate governance – the systems and processes by which a company is directed and controlled.
