The businessman performs a vital role in the community. This sounds like an obvious statement but they are often taken for granted by the people that work for them and the entire support structure, but without them there would be no need for any of the above.
Take for example a person who sets up a restaurant in a local community. Initially, it is necessary to gather capital together – people want to dine in a nice atmosphere thus it is necessary to spend heavily on this. What does this involve?
It may be necessary to convert a previously unused building so immediately the full range of trades is required through joinery, plastering, perhaps plumbing, tile fitters, painters, decorators' etc. Additionally, a huge range of materials will need to be purchased from tiling, carpets, wallpaper, kitchen materials and cooking facilities etc.
So immediately the benefits to the local community are evident and suppliers of these trades and services benefit.
Going further back, when the idea was being formed, the chances are that an architect would be used to help form the final design and possibly a quantity surveyor to analyze the anticipated costs of the project, perhaps interior designers to help with the proposed theme. Additionally, an accountant’s services will probably be employed to prepare a business plan and cash flow projections.
Continuing down the line, once the restaurant is open it will require staff, again a benefit to the local community, and will require constant maintenance, taking us right back to square one.
Now, as we all know, each business has different requirements, but this gives a general idea of the necessity of entrepreneurs in the local community.
The businessman is proactive, takes financial and reputation risks, and, like other trades or professions, provides a valuable and necessary service.
In many communities, businessmen who do well are often scorned and questions abound throughout the community as to the morality of the individuals required, without taking stock of the above however this is perhaps a natural human emotional response.
It may be levied at the businessman that his goal is to maximize profit, but then of course he is or he wouldn’t have ploughed capital and taken the risks in the first place; indeed, is that not the goal of any profession or trade also? It would be absurd to imagine someone getting out of bed in the morning if the goal were not to maximize profit?
Of course there are unscrupulous businessmen and unfair employers, but are there are there not also unscrupulous tradesmen, professionals, or indeed politicians and heads of multi national corporations?
The average community, if there is such a thing, would greatly struggle without the businessmen; indeed, the argument could be put forth that the community as we all know it, would perhaps cease to exist – someone can only get employment if someone else takes the risk to set up a firm.
Every trade or profession is dependent on the businessman to a degree, they may even be businessmen themselves by definition and the community ticks round as we know it due to the businessmen taking risks, employing local advice and inputting capital to whatever venture is involved.