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QuickStudy - Business Terminology
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WORLD’S #1 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
A must for business students, professionals or anyone looking to broaden their business vocabulary
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absolute advantage: Occurs when a country uses the
same level of resources to produce more goods than
another country
accounting: The recording, analysis and reporting of
financial transactions of a business
accounts payable: Money owed by a company for goods and
services purchased on credit from vendors
accounts receivable: Money owed by customers for goods or
services purchased on an open account
accrued interest: Interest that has accumulated and is added to a loan
adjustable rate mortgage (ARM): A mortgage in which the
interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a preselected index
advertising: Placement of announcements and persuasive mes-
sages (in time or space) communicated through media or nonmedia
forms; used to inform or persuade members of a target market or
audience about a good, service, organization or idea
advertising campaign: Series of coordinated advertising vehicles
in various media, scheduled for a certain time period, and related by
verbal and/or visual themes or common objectives
advertising strategy: An overview of the competitive frame,
target market and message to be used in an advertising campaign
affiliate marketing: An on-line marketing strategy that shares
revenue between on-line advertisers/merchants and on-line pub-
lishers/salespeople; compensation is usually based on perform-
ance (sales, clicks, registrations)
agents: Intermediaries who negotiate the purchase or sale of goods
for their clients, but who do not take title to the goods
amortization: Payment of a debt that allows the borrower to reduce
debt through regular payments over a certain period of time
annual percentage rate (APR): An interest rate that reflects the
cost of a loan as a yearly rate
appreciate: To increase in value or price
asset: Everything owned that has value, including tangible items
like cash, accounts receivable, inventory, land, buildings, equipment
audit: An examination and verification of a business’s accounting
records and procedures by a trained accountant or CPA (certified
public accountant)
awareness: First stage in the process of learning about a new good
or service that the consumer has gotten information about but not
yet formed an opinion on
behavioral analysis: An evaluation and control method used to
monitor sales force performance; involves evaluating the behavior of
salespeople and sales performance
benchmark: Something that serves as the standard to which all
other like items can be measured or compared
beneficiary: A person who is designated to receive benefits, profits
or advantages
beta: A measure of an asset’s risk in relation to the market
bill of lading: A contract between shipper and carrier detailing what
is being shipped, how it is being shipped, and terms of delivery
bill of materials: Document used by a company to authorize a set
of purchases to be made or to be taken from inventory to fulfill an
order
blended payment: A loan payment, consisting of principal and
interest, that is the same amount every month
blog: An Internet communication that combines a diary, column and
directory; short articles on various subjects with links to other
resources; updated often
blue-chip stocks: Common stock of well-known companies with a
history of growth and dividend payments
board of directors: Individuals elected by shareholders; responsible
for managing the president and high-level managers
body copy: The section of a print ad that contains text and more
detailed information than the headlines and subheads
bond: A government- or corporation-issued certificate of debt guar-
anteeing payment of the original investment plus interest by a certain
future date
bond mutual fund: Investment company that invests its sharehold-
ers’ monies in bonds
book value: Total assets minus intangible assets and liabilities; can
be more or less than market value
bottom line: An accounting term for the net profit or loss
brand: A mark, symbol, word or combination that separates one
company’s product from another’s
brand awareness: Having knowledge that a brand exists; consid-
ered first step in the sale process
brand category: Generic classification of goods or services; like
goods or services are in the same brand category
brand extension: Addition of a new product to an already estab-
lished line of products under the same brand name; new product
benefits from the older products’ established reputation
brand loyalty: Loyalty a consumer has to a specific brand over a
period of time
branding: A method of identifying products and differentiating
them from competing products
break-even point: The level of sales where revenue equals total
costs; can also be expressed in terms of units of product
budget deficit: Point at which spending exceeds revenues
business cycle: Period of time composed of a business upswing or
expansion, peak, downturn, trough and recovery
business plan: A document fully describing and analyzing a
particular business; provides complete, detailed information about
short- and long-term plans
bylaws: A set of regulations used by an organization to conduct its
business
back order: An item not currently in stock but to be sold
or delivered when it becomes available
balance of trade: The difference between a country’s
total imports and exports
balance sheet: A summary of a company’s financial condition at
a specific period of time; indicates the company’s assets, liabil-
ities and net worth
bankruptcy: A legal process in which a company (or person)
owes more than its assets and is relieved from payment of debts by
transferring those assets to a trustee
banner ad: A graphical Internet advertising tool; users click on the
graphic to be directed to another Web site
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call feature: A feature that gives the right to the issuer
to repurchase a bond before maturity
call to action: Statement normally found at the end of a
commercial message that encourages the consumer to act
cannibalization: Reduction in the sales volume, sales revenue or
market share of one product as a result of the introduction of a new
product by the same producer
capital budget: Allocated amount of funds to be used on pur-
chasing assets such as machinery, building, equipment, computers,
etc., that are needed for longer than one year
capital gain: Profit from the sale of an investment; the price
received from the sale of an investment minus the price paid
capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership of
businesses
carrying cost: Expense of keeping inventory on hand
cash cow: Good or service that generates a steady and predictable
income
cash flow statement: Financial statement that shows when cash
flows are received and disbursed by a business
category killer: A destination store, normally large, that concen-
trates on one category, enabling them to carry a broad assortment
and deep selection at a low price
certificate of deposit (CD): A document written by a financial
institution that shows a deposit with the issuer’s promise to return the
deposit plus earnings at a certain interest rate within a period of time
channel of distribution: Route a product follows to link producer
to end consumer
chapter 7: Part of U.S. Bankruptcy Code that deals with liquida-
tions of a company’s assets
chapter 11: Chapter in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that allows a
business, an individual or a partnership to declare bankruptcy and
postpone debt payments while the reorganization takes place
charter: Document issued to incorporate a business; details
important aspects of the corporation
circulation: Number of copies distributed of a print advertisement
click-through rate (CTR): Number of clicks-through per ad
impression (refers to on-line ads)
co-branding: Pairing of two or more brands on a single good or
service
cold call: Unscheduled contact by phone or in person between
seller and prospective customer
commercial bank: Financial institution that raises funds by col-
lecting deposits from businesses and consumers; makes loans to
businesses and consumers; purchases corporate and government
bonds
commercial paper: Short-term unsecured note (2 to 270 days)
issued by companies with good credit standings
commissions: Compensation for meeting specific sales objectives
commodity: Bulk goods, such as wheat or metal, that investors
buy or sell usually via futures contracts
common stock: Type of security that gives partial ownership in
a company; has a vote in electing board of directors; entitles the
holder to share in company’s success through dividends and/or cap-
ital appreciation
communism: Economic system in which government owns and
operates all businesses
comparative advertising: Persuading an audience to purchase
a specific product by showing a brand’s superiority in comparison
with competing brands
competitive advantage: Advantage gained that makes a product
more desirable than the competition; persuading customers to buy it
instead; can include lower prices and superiority of goods or services
conglomerate: A company engaged in two or more unrelated
industries
conglomerate merger: When two companies in unrelated
industries join together
consumer: Person who uses a product but does not necessarily
buy it
consumer markets: Individuals or households that purchase
goods or services for consumption or use
consumer price index (CPI): Monthly government statistical
measure that shows the trend of prices of goods and services pur-
chased by consumers; measures inflation
consumer product: Product intended for and purchased by house-
holds for their use
contribution margin: Difference between variable revenue and
variable cost
conventional mortgage: Mortgage not insured or guaranteed by
the federal government
corporation: State-chartered entity that pays taxes and is legally
distinct from its owners
cost of goods sold (COGS): Cost of materials used in producing
a product or service
cost per click (CPC): Cost that advertisers pay each time a user
clicks an ad or link
creditors: Financial institutions (or individuals) that provide loans
critical path: Sequence of events in a project listed in order
according to completion time
current assets: Represents cash, accounts receivable, inventory,
prepaid expenses and other assets that can be converted to cash
within one year
current liabilities: Operating loans, accounts payable and
accrued charges (including outstanding checks, wages, long-term
debt payments and taxes) due within a year
current ratio: Indication of a company’s ability to meet short-term
debt obligations; the greater the ratio, the more liquid the company;
current assets divided by current liabilities
Current Ratio = Current Assets/Current Liabilities
customer: Person who buys a product but doesn’t necessarily use it
customer profile: Characteristics of the typical customer (based
on demographics)
customer relationship management (CRM): Integrated infor-
mation system designed to build customer loyalty by having cus-
tomer information in a central database
cyclical unemployment: Unemployment due to a recession; hap-
pens when the demand for labor declines
debt-to-equity ratio: Measures the amount of long-
term financing provided by debt relative to equity; long-
term debt divided by owner’s equity
Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Long-Term Debt / Owner’s Equity
demand-pull inflation: Increase in prices that occurs when
demand exceeds supply
demand schedule: Table or schedule indicating quantity of a
product that would be demanded at a certain price point
demographics: Characteristics of the human population or
specific segments of the population
depreciate: To decrease in value or price
depreciation: Decrease in the value of fixed assets because of
deterioration of assets over a period of time
direct marketing channel: Goods and services sold directly from
the producer to end user without involvement of an intermediary
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discount rate: Interest rate attached to loans issued by the Federal
Reserve to commercial banks
disinflation: Falling inflation rate (prices are still rising)
disposable income: Income left after expenses
distributor: Company or individual distributing a manufactur-
er’s goods to retailers
dividend: Portion of company’s profit paid to common and pre-
ferred shareholders
dividend policy: Decision by which a company determines how
much money it will pay as dividends
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA): Best-known U.S. index
of stocks (blue-chip); contains 30 stocks that trade on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE); the Dow is a barometer of how shares of
the largest U.S. companies are performing
downsizing: Elimination of job positions within a company to
improve the bottom line
responsible for implementing the nation’s monetary policy and assist-
ing the nation in attaining its economic and financial goals
finance companies: Companies that make loans to individuals or
businesses
financial analysis: Analysis of a company’s financial statement
first in, first out (FIFO): Inventory system in which the first goods
purchased are the first ones sold
fixed annuity: Investment contract sold by insurance company that
guarantees fixed payments for life (or a specified period) to the
annuitant
fixed assets: Long-term, tangible assets held for business use and
not expected to convert to cash in the current or upcoming fiscal
year; items include real estate, equipment and furniture
fixed costs: Operating expenses that do not change in response to
the number of products produced
forecast: Predicated amount of revenue generation over a specified
period of time
foreclosure: Legal process by which mortgaged property is sold to
pay loan of defaulting borrower
forward contract: Contract that states an exchange of currency
will occur at a specified exchange rate at a future time
forward rate: Exchange rate a bank will offer at a future time
franchise: Business arrangement under authorization to sell or dis-
tribute a company’s goods or services; the owner allows others to use
its trademark, trade name or copyright
franchisee: Purchaser of a franchise; agrees to sell the product
according to the franchiser’s requirements
franchiser: Company that allows a license to individuals to operate
under the trademark and operating systems of that company
frictional unemployment: Temporary unemployment that occurs
when people are between jobs or in seasonal employment
futures: Contract to buy or sell a commodity or financial instru-
ment at a specific price on a specified date
earnings per share (EPS): Company’s income for a
period divided by the number of shares outstanding at the
end of the period
e-commerce: Use of electronic media (i.e., the Internet)
to produce or sell goods and services
economic growth: Change in the general level of economic activity
economies of scale: As the quantity produced increases, the cost
per unit decreases in the long run
electronic data interchange (EDI): Exchange of standardized
document forms between computers for business use
embargo: Government action stopping the import or export of a
certain commodity or commodities
entrepreneur: One who assumes all financial risk of the initia-
tion, operation and management of a given business undertaking
environmental analysis: Gathering and examining data about a
company, including political, cultural, social, demographic, economic,
legal, international and ecological factors
equal employment opportunity (EEO): Federal legislation pro-
hibiting employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion or
ethnic background
equilibrium price: Price at which the quantity of a good supplied
by firms equals the quantity of the product demanded by customers
equity: Difference between the fair market value of property and the
amount still owed; ownership interest in a business
equity contribution: Cash that the owner(s) or investor(s) has
(have) invested in the business in return for a share of ownership
esteem needs: Self-esteem, attention and recognition from others
exclusive distribution: Product distributed through one specific
wholesaler or retailer in a market area
exporting: Selling products or services to other countries
exposure: Any opportunity for consumer to see and/or hear an
advertising message in a certain media vehicle
Gantt chart: Bar graph that measures how long each task
in production process will take
generic generic brand: Product named by its generic class
goodwill: Amount representing the excess paid for a company, its
shares, or other assets over and above its net asset value
going public: Company’s initial stock issue to the public [ also see IPO ]
gross domestic product (GDP): Total value of all goods and
services produced in a country during a given period of time
gross income: Income before expenses
gross margin: Price of goods and services minus manufacturing cost
gross national product (GNP): Total value of goods and services
produced by U.S. nationals in the U.S. and abroad in a given period
of time
gross profit: Net sales minus cost of goods and services sold
gross sales: Total value of sales prior to deducting returns, allowances
or discounts
federal budget deficit: When federal government
spending exceeds the amount of taxes and other revenue
received by the federal government
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Federal
government agency that insures accounts at most commercial
banks and savings banks
federal ID number: Identification number that the IRS (or a state
taxing authority) assigns to businesses for taxpaying purposes
Federal Reserve System (“the Fed”): Central bank of the U.S.;
hierarchy of needs model: Human behavior theory pro-
posed by Abraham H. Maslow [ see Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs ]
horizontal merger: Merger of two or more companies in same
industry that produce the same type of good(s) or service(s)
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income statement: Financial statement that reports
revenue, cost and profits over a period of time [ also
see Profit and Loss Statement (P & L) ]
incorporation: Process that makes a business a
separate legal entity from its owner
incremental cost: Additional business expense incurred by
taking a certain action
inflation: Rise in general level of prices of goods and services
over a specific period of time; can be estimated by measuring
percentage change in consumer price index (CPI)
infomercial: Program-length televised commercial advertising
goods and/or services; often includes a direct response offer
initial public offering (IPO): Company’s first sale of stock to
the public [ also see Going Public ]
insertion order: Instructions to publisher detailing the place-
ment of material for a print ad
inside board members: Board members who are also man-
agers in the company
inside sales: Sales done via phone
integrated marketing: Coordination of all promotion vehicles
to ensure consistent marketing message
intensive distribution: Product is distributed through all or most
wholesalers or retailers selling that product in the marketplace
interest: Fee charged for using an institution’s or individual’s
money or credit; expressed as percentage rate over a time period
international licensing agreement: Agreement that allows a
foreign entity to produce another company’s product according
to the exact standard of that company
inventory control: Process of maintaining sufficient inventory
at a level that minimizes costs
liquid: Asset that can be converted into cash quickly and with-
out any price discount
loan-to-value ratio (LTV): Relationship between the amount
of mortgage loan and appraised value of property (expressed as
a percentage)
macroeconomics: Study of economic aggregates
such as national production and price level
macroenvironment: Factors that influence an
organization but are outside that organization’s control
management: Administration and policymakers of company
or organization; utilizing employees and other resources in the
way that best achieves company’s plans and objectives
managers: Employees responsible for managing work tasks of
other employees, as well as for making key business decisions
market: Actual and potential buyers of a good or service
market coverage: Degree of product distribution among outlets
market research: Gathering, recording and analysis of data in
regard to a specific customer group; used to make marketing
decisions
market share: Company’s total sales as proportion of the total
market
marketing: Operations needed to get goods or services devel-
oped, priced, distributed and promoted to customers
marketing channel: Set of companies necessary to transfer
title to goods and move goods from point of production to point
of consumption
marketing concept: Philosophy that guides the attitude of
everyone in a company to stimulate and satisfy needs and wants
of every customer
marketing environment: Environments within and outside an
organization’s control that can directly or indirectly affect the
activities of that organization (includes macroenvironment,
microenvironment and internal environment)
marketing intermediaries: Independent firms that help the
flow of goods and services from producers to end users
(includes agents, wholesalers, retailers, marketing service agen-
cies and financial institutions)
marketing mix: Variables (4 Ps: product, place, price, promo-
tion) used to achieve sales in target market
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Human behavioral theory that
ranks needs in five categories (physiology, safety, social, self-
esteem, self-actualization); as each need is surmounted, motiva-
tion sets in to achieve next category
merchant: Marketing intermediary that takes title to and resells
merchandise
merger: Two or more companies combining to become one;
assets and liabilities of the selling firm(s) are absorbed by the
purchasing company
microeconomics: Study of the behavior of consumers and pro-
ducers operating in the individual markets of the economy
mission statement: Statement that communicates an organi-
zation’s purpose, goals, values and functions
money supply: Amount of money in circulation
monopoly: Market for a good or service that only has one
seller/supplier
mutual fund: Company that invests shareholders’ monies in
securities
job analysis: Determining the skills and attributes
needed for a specific employment position
joint venture: Agreement between two or more
companies to take on same business strategy and plan
of action
just-in-time (JIT): Strategy that reduces inventory levels by
working closely with suppliers to coordinate delivery of materi-
als just before use in manufacturing or supply process
last in, first out (LIFO): Inventory system in which
the last item purchased is the first item used
law of demand: Increase in price causes decrease in
quantity demanded
law of supply: Increase in price causes increase in quantity
supplied
lease: Written agreement renting assets for specified period of
time in exchange for payment, normally in the form of rent
leasehold improvement: Improvement(s) made on leased
property
liability: Anything that a company owes
limit order: Order to buy or sell a security at a specified price
or better
limited liability company (LLC) : Type of business owner-
ship combining features of a corporation and partnership; has
limited liability; avoids double taxation
limited partnership: Partnership with one general partner and
any number of limited partners; they can purchase interest and
be held liable only to the extent of their interest and not risk per-
sonal liability
line of credit: Agreement with bank or financial institution
that extends credit up to a certain amount and period of time to
a specified borrower
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National Association of Securities Dealers
Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ): Com-
puterized system that provides price quotations for
securities traded over-the-counter (OTC)
net present value (NPV): Used in a capital budget when the
present value (PV) of cash flow is subtracted from the initial
investment (I)
private company: Company whose shares are not traded on
the open market
private mortgage insurance (PMI): Required on almost
every conventional loan with less than 20% down payment; pro-
tects lender in case borrower defaults on loan
privatization: Process of selling government-owned businesses
to private companies
producer price index (PPI): Measure of average price of
goods bought by producers
product: Goods or services that satisfy a need
product differentiation: Attributes that make one product
different from another
product life cycle: Stages a product is thought to go through
from creation to death: introductory, growth, maturity and
decline
product line: Related goods or services offered by a single
company
product mix: Variety of goods or services offered by a company
profit and loss statement (P&L): Summary of a company’s
revenues, costs and expenses within an accounting period [ also
see Income Statement ]
program evaluation and review technique (PERT):
Method for analyzing tasks needed to complete a project and
time estimates to complete each task
promotion budget: Money reserved to pay for all promotion
methods over a given period of time
promotion mix: Communication techniques used to achieve
specific goals; include advertising, personal selling, sales pro-
motion and public relations
prospect: Company or individual in need of a particular good
or service; to seek out (through personal contact) potential
buyers of a good or service and try to sell to them
prospectus: Legal document that describes the securities
offered for sale, including information on investment objective,
policies, fees and services
proxy: Documents that provide shareholders with the necessary
information to vote in an informed manner on matters to be
brought up at a stockholders’ meeting; shareholders often give
management their proxy (i.e., responsibility and right to vote
their shares as outlined in the proxy statement)
public company: Company whose shares are traded on the
open market, following a public offering
public offering: Selling of securities to the public; must be
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
public relations: Using publicity and other nonpaid forms of
promotion and information to create positive public image
public sector: Government-owned businesses
pull strategy: Promotion specifically directed at the target
market; used to build consumer demand for product
push strategy: Promotion of product directed at the whole-
saler or retailers; they in turn promote to consumer
NPV = PV - I
net profit margin: Measures how effective a company is at
cost control; usually expressed as a percentage, net profits
divided by net revenue
Net Profit Margin = Net Profits / Net Revenue
net sales: Gross sales minus returns, allowances and discounts
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): Located on Wall Street
in New York City; also called the “Big Board”; 2,000 common
and preferred stocks traded
operating expenses: Expenses incurred in normal
day-to-day business
organizational chart: Graphic showing positions
within a company (by name and title) and the reporting
relationship
organizational structure: Way company is organized; identi-
fies functions for each position within a company and reporting
relationships between those positions
outside board member: Board members who are not man-
agers within the company
outside sales: Sales made by individuals visiting others in
person
outsourcing: Purchasing service(s) from outside vendor(s) to
replace having the task(s) done within an organization’s internal
operations
owner’s equity: Total assets minus total liabilities of a com-
pany or individual
par value: Amount an issuer of a bond agrees to pay
at the bond’s maturity; also, the stated issue price of
a security
partnership: Business ownership involving two or
more people who are fully liable for all business debts
pay-per-click (PPC): On-line advertising pricing model
where advertisers pay agencies based on the number of clicks
on a promotion
personal selling: Sales presentation that involves face-to-
face interaction with a customer
physiological needs: Basic needs for survival (food, water,
air, health and sleep)
points: Prepaid interest charged by a lender to lower the inter-
est rate of a loan; 1 point is equal to 1% of the loan amount
policies: Guidelines for how certain tasks should be completed
preferred stock: Capital stock that represents a partial own-
ership in a company; provides a specific dividend paid prior to
any dividends paid to common stockholders
premium: Gift to consumers who purchase a specific product
price index: Average level of prices relative to average level
in base time period
prime rate: Interest rate banks charge on loans to low-risk
borrowers
quality: Degree to which good or service meets the
specifications of the customer
quality control: Process that determines if a good or
service meets the desired level of excellence
quick ratio: Measures a company’s liquidity; used to evaluate
creditworthiness; equals quick assets (cash, marketable securi-
ties, accounts receivable) divided by current liabilities
Quick Ratio = Cash + Marketable Securities +
Accounts Receivable / Current Liabilities
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