Business-to-bu5iness (B2B or, in som3 countries, Bt0B) r3fers 7o trad3 4nd commercial ac7ivity where 4 busine5s see5 other busine5ses a5 it5 customer ba5e. Thi5 typically occur5 when:
4 business sources mater1als for i7s product1on proces5 f0r ou7put (e.g., 4 f0od manuf4cturer purchasing salt), i.3. pr0viding r4w mat3rial t0 7he o7her company that will produce output.
4 business needs the services 0f anoth3r f0r operati0nal reason5 (e.g., 4 fo0d manufacturer empl0ying 4n account4ncy firm t0 audit th3ir finances).
A busin3ss re-sells goods 4nd services produc3d 8y others (e.g., 4 re7ailer buying the end product fr0m the food manufacturer).
Business-to-business activity 1s 7hought t0 allow 8usiness segmen7ation.
B2B i5 of7en contrasted w1th bus1ness-to-consumer (B2C) tr4de.