Business vs. Profession — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023
Business refers to organized efforts and activities to produce or sell goods and services for profit, while Profession denotes a vocation requiring specialized education and training, often with a formal qualification.
Difference Between Business and Profession
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Business and Profession both relate to occupations but are distinct in nature. Business typically involves the trading of goods and services with the primary aim of earning profit. It's more commercially driven, often requiring capital investment, and it's subject to business risks. Profession, on the other hand, leans more towards providing expert services based on specialized education and skills.
When one enters into Business, they might deal with buying, selling, and strategies to maximize profits. The emphasis is often on market demand, competition, and customer satisfaction. Profession, conversely, emphasizes adhering to a strict code of conduct, as professionals are bound by ethical standards inherent to their field.
It's also essential to note the foundation of each. Business might be initiated based on a market opportunity or an innovative idea, often taking entrepreneurial risks. Profession is typically grounded in formal education, where individuals are prepared to offer specialized services, like lawyers or doctors.
Another perspective is the nature of returns. In Business, the primary goal is profit, derived from the sale of products or services. In a Profession, individuals earn through fees for their expertise, often ensuring that their service quality aligns with the standards set by professional bodies.
Lastly, while both Business and Profession require commitment and dedication, the former might demand more flexibility and adaptability due to market fluctuations, while the latter requires consistent upgradation of skills and adherence to a set code of ethics.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Commercial activity to earn profit
Vocation based on specialized education and skills
Foundation
Market opportunity or innovation
Formal education and training
Returns
Profit from sale of goods/services
Fees for specialized services
Ethical Guidelines
General business ethics
Strict code of conduct set by professional bodies
Risks and Challenges
Market fluctuations, competition
Keeping up with evolving standards, maintaining service quality
Compare with Definitions
Business
The organized efforts to sell or produce for profit.
Her Business in handmade crafts is thriving.
Profession
A declaration of belief or faith.
His Profession of love was touching.
Business
The act of making one's living by producing or buying and selling.
He's in the Business of real estate.
Profession
Work that involves training and formal qualifications.
Teaching is a Profession that impacts generations.
Business
Matters that concern the functionality of a company.
Budget discussions are serious Business.
Profession
A body of people with the same specialized training.
The Profession of accountants has strict guidelines.
Business
Business is the activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). Simply put, it is "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit."Having a business name does not separate the business entity from the owner, which means that the owner of the business is responsible and liable for debts incurred by the business.
Profession
A profession is an occupation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain. Medieval and early modern tradition recognized only three professions: divinity, medicine, and law, which were called the learned professions.
Business
The activity of buying and selling commodities, products, or services
New systems now being used in business.
Profession
An occupation or career
"One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan).
Business
The amount or volume of this activity
Business was off all day.
Profession
An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.
Business
The variety of this activity in which a person is engaged
The wholesale food business.
Profession
The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field
Members of the teaching profession.
Business
A specific occupation or pursuit
The best designer in the business.
Profession
An act or instance of professing; a declaration.
Business
A commercial enterprise or establishment
Bought his uncle's construction business.
Profession
An avowal of faith or belief.
Business
Commercial dealings; patronage
Took her business to a trustworthy salesperson.
Profession
A faith or belief
Believers of various professions.
Business
One's rightful or proper concern or interest
"The business of America is business" (Calvin Coolidge).
Profession
Declaration of faith.
Business
Something involving one personally
It's none of my business.
Profession
(religion) A promise or vow made on entering a religious order.
She died only a few years after her profession.
Business
Serious work or endeavor
Got right down to business.
Profession
The declaration of belief in the principles of a religion; hence, one's faith or religion.
Business
An affair or matter
"We will proceed no further in this business" (Shakespeare).
Profession
Any declaration of belief, faith or one's opinion, whether genuine or (as now often implied) pretended.
Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.
Business
An incidental action performed by an actor on the stage to fill a pause between lines or to provide interesting detail.
Profession
Professional occupation.
Business
(Informal) Strong verbal criticism; scolding
Gave me the business for being late.
Profession
An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training.
My father was a barrister by profession.
Business
(Informal) Urination or defecation
The dog did its business on the lawn.
Profession
(collective) The practitioners of such an occupation collectively.
His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.
Business
(Obsolete) The condition of being busy.
Profession
The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith.
A solemn vow, promise, and profession.
Business
(countable) A specific commercial enterprise or establishment.
I was left my father's business.
Profession
That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere.
The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct.
Business
(countable) A person's occupation, work, or trade.
He is in the motor and insurance businesses.
I'm going to Las Vegas on business.
Profession
That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.
Hi tried five or six professions in turn.
Business
(uncountable) Commercial, industrial, or professional activity.
He's such a poor cook, I can't believe he's still in business!
We do business all over the world.
Profession
The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him.
Business
(uncountable) The volume or amount of commercial trade.
Business has been slow lately.
They did nearly a million dollars of business over the long weekend.
Profession
The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.
Business
(uncountable) One's dealings; patronage.
I shall take my business elsewhere.
Profession
The body of people in a learned occupation;
The news spread rapidly through the medical community
Business
(uncountable) Private commercial interests taken collectively.
This proposal will satisfy both business and labor.
Profession
An occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)
Business
(uncountable) The management of commercial enterprises, or the study of such management.
I studied business at Harvard.
Profession
An open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion;
A profession of disagreement
Business
(countable) A particular situation or activity.
This UFO stuff is a mighty strange business.
Profession
Affirmation of acceptance of some religion or faith;
A profession of Christianity
Business
(countable) Any activity or objective needing to be dealt with; especially, one of a financial or legal matter.
Our principal business here is to get drunk.
Let's get down to business.
Profession
A vocation requiring specialized education and qualifications.
Medicine is a noble Profession.
Business
(uncountable) Something involving one personally.
That's none of your business.
Profession
An occupation where expertise is provided in exchange for a fee.
Law is a challenging Profession with high stakes.
Business
Matters that come before a body for deliberation or action.
If that concludes the announcements, we'll move on to new business.
Business
Business class, the class of seating provided by airlines between first class and coach.
Business
(acting) Action carried out with a prop or piece of clothing, usually away from the focus of the scene.
Business
The collective noun for a group of ferrets.
Business
Something very good; top quality. (possibly from "the bee's knees")
These new phones are the business!
Business
The act of defecation, or the excrement itself, particularly that of a non-human animal.
Your ferret left his business all over the floor.
As the cart went by, its horse lifted its tail and did its business.
Business
(slang) Disruptive shenanigans.
I haven't seen cartoons giving someone the business since the 1990s.
Business
(Australian Aboriginal) matters (e.g sorry business = a funeral)
Business
Of, to, pertaining to or utilized for purposes of conducting trade, commerce, governance, advocacy or other professional purposes.
Please do not use this phone for personal calls; it is a business phone.
Business
Professional, businesslike, having concern for good business practice.
Business
Supporting business, conducive to the conduct of business.
Business
That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular occupation; as, the business of life; business before pleasure.
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Business
Any particular occupation or employment engaged in for livelihood or gain, as agriculture, trade, art, or a profession.
Business
Financial dealings; buying and selling; traffic in general; mercantile transactions.
It seldom happens that men of a studious turn acquire any degree of reputation for their knowledge of business.
Business
That which one has to do or should do; special service, duty, or mission.
The daughter of the King of France,On serious business, craving quick despatch,Importunes personal conference.
What business has the tortoise among the clouds?
Business
Affair; concern; matter; - used in an indefinite sense, and modified by the connected words.
It was a gentle business, and becomingThe action of good women.
BestowYour needful counsel to our business.
Business
The position, distribution, and order of persons and properties on the stage of a theater, as determined by the stage manager in rehearsal.
Business
Care; anxiety; diligence.
Business
A commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it;
He bought his brother's business
A small mom-and-pop business
A racially integrated business concern
Business
The activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects;
Computers are now widely used in business
Business
Business concerns collectively;
Government and business could not agree
Business
The volume of business activity;
Business is good today
Show me where the business was today
Business
A rightful concern or responsibility;
It's none of your business
Mind your own business
Business
The principal activity in your life that you do to earn money;
He's not in my line of business
Business
An immediate objective;
Gossip was the main business of the evening
Business
Incidental activity performed by an actor for dramatic effect;
His business with the cane was hilarious
Business
Customers collectively;
They have an upper class clientele
Business
Commercial or industrial enterprises.
The tech Business is booming in Silicon Valley.
Business
A particular area of focus or interest.
Hiking and bird-watching is her Business.
Common Curiosities
Which involves more entrepreneurial risks, Business or Profession?
Business typically involves more entrepreneurial risks.
Do professionals in a Profession need a formal qualification?
Yes, a Profession often requires specialized education and formal qualifications.
Can a doctor be considered a Business person?
While a doctor is in the medical Profession, if they own a clinic, they are also in the Business of healthcare.
Does a Business always aim for profit?
The primary goal of a Business is typically profit, though there can be other objectives.
Is adherence to ethical standards stricter in a Profession?
Yes, professionals in a Profession often have a strict code of conduct set by professional bodies.
Can one person have both a Business and a Profession?
Yes, for instance, a lawyer (by Profession) might own a legal consultancy firm (Business).
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
