Types of business: profit, not for profit, NGOs, micro, SMEs and multinationals

This week’s topics

Types of business: profit, not for profit, NGOs, micro, SMEs and multinationals

1. Profit
2. Not for profit
3. Non-government (NGOs)
4. Micro businesses
5. SMEs
6. National and multinational businesses

What you will be able to do

• 1.2 Compare different types of businesses.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then discuss how they apply to this week’s topic and note one example from a real business.

Study materials

Videos

• What roles do NGOs, charities and civil society play in local communities? · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
• Running a small business · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 3 (lower secondary level) · for registered students
• Should public services be privatised? · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students

Further resources

• Introduction to Business 2e, ch. 1.1: The nature of business – profit and not-for-profit · PDF · OpenStax (2026), businesses, charities/NGOs (third sector) and factors of production; pp. 11–15 · for registered students
• Introduction to Business 2e, ch. 1.3: Economic systems – private and public sector · PDF · OpenStax (2026), market, command and mixed economies; pp. 20–24 · for registered students
• Sustaining non-profit organizations: strategic, managerial and financial perspectives · Open-access article · Harb et al. (2026), PLOS ONE. How charities and NGOs in the third sector plan, manage and fund their work. · for registered students
• State versus Private Ownership · Open-access article · Shleifer (1998), Journal of Economic Perspectives. The case for and against public ownership and privatisation. · for registered students