Businesses are organizations that provide goods and services to customers in exchange for money. The three most common types of businesses are trades, firms, and SHOPS. Trades are businesses that specialize in a particular type of work, such as carpentry or plumbing. Firms are larger businesses that offer a variety of services, such as accounting or legal advice. SHOPS are retail stores that sell products directly to customers. All three types of businesses are essential to the economy and provide employment opportunities for people.