What really constitute a "Business"?

Discussion in 'General Business' started by Li Weng, Dec 12, 2008.

  1. #1
    I mean you can do a lot of stuff online that makes you money like drop-shipping, affiliate marketing, CPA etc.

    But at what point can you say that you're running a business? Where is that fine line between just making money (full-time) and operating a business?
     
    Li Weng, Dec 12, 2008 IP
  2. TommySC

    TommySC Peon

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    #2
    Anybody can Wiki the definition, so I won't be that guy.

    My first thought is to say: If you have customers and you successfully and profitably <-(ideally) fill their demands - you my friend have a business.

    Personally for me to consider one of my ventures a "business" I feel like it should at least be able to pay my bills. It does not necessarily have to be my only source of income, and definitely is not... but the fact remains it could be. In addition if you have employees or pay other people the money they live on, that's a business.

    I do many things on and offline that make my money; however, I would only consider two of my "things" as unique "businesses"
     
    TommySC, Dec 12, 2008 IP
  3. topsearchresult

    topsearchresult Peon

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    #3
    It really is a thin line. Well it is definitely a business if you have an employee (or someone working for you).
     
    topsearchresult, Dec 12, 2008 IP
  4. mentos

    mentos Prominent Member

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    #4
    Operating a biz is mean you own a multinational company that have at least thousand of worker work for you.
    Making money is just you have few hundred of worker work for you and the profit is not exceeding 1miliion/years
     
    mentos, Dec 12, 2008 IP
  5. topsearchresult

    topsearchresult Peon

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    #5
    I don`t know about this your setting the bar high for the definition. What are the chances of you even owning a multinational company these days. Wouldn`t it more than likely be a public company traded on the stock market? Usually the CEO doesn`t own the company, although they might own stock in the company...
     
    topsearchresult, Dec 13, 2008 IP
  6. Y.L. Prinzel

    Y.L. Prinzel Peon

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    #6
    A business is something you wish to grow, you have goals for and a plan to cultivate. There is a difference between saying, "I want to make more money online so I can buy a car" and saying, "I need more clients to grow my business, I should invest in some software." It's more of a mindset than a definitive set of criteria.
     
    Y.L. Prinzel, Dec 13, 2008 IP
  7. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

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    #7
    A business can be a sole proprietorship or a partnership which normally have unlimited liabilities. As opposed to a company which is a separate entity by itself and is normally limited in liabilities. To make money full time, normally requires a registration as a business or a company for a lot of countries. I guess this is for taxation purposes. Seldom do I hear of countries allowing individuals to make money full time in a business without being registered as one.
     
    wisdomtool, Dec 13, 2008 IP
  8. SonnyCooL

    SonnyCooL Peon

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    #8
    for me, business is something i able to control, like cost, expenses and profit/margin, when in good time i ready to make more, bad time just reduce the cost n make less or might slight lose ....

    Like other's here, i do on n offline by trading my product (another trade from Manufacturer), i have to decide which product is good, demand n profit control, wrong purchase at the wrong timing can cost me arm n lg :)
     
    SonnyCooL, Dec 13, 2008 IP
  9. Li Weng

    Li Weng Peon

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    #9

    with this statement you're discounting all small to medium sized businesses. 1 million/year doesn't require a multinational to achieve. If you look at some of the top online marketers, they easily achieve that profit, and a lot of them have a 3-5 people team.
     
    Li Weng, Dec 14, 2008 IP
  10. AndrewMKP

    AndrewMKP Active Member

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    #10
    a business is a income that is your own however not personal.

    You are the employer, not the employee and the income and resources are often your own...
     
    AndrewMKP, Dec 14, 2008 IP
  11. Dollar

    Dollar Active Member

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    #11
    I hardly call putting advertising on some sites and making money be running a business, that is not a traditional business model in any sense and probably only works online. As the same with a person trading Forex and making money with stocks and dividends. Yes there making money but is it running a "business"? in my opinion no, and you would never hear a wallstreet trader say there running business, they call themselves investors or something, When people ask me what I do , I like to say I'm a web publisher.
     
    Dollar, Dec 14, 2008 IP