What is B2B?
B2B (Business to Business) is a business model that refers to commercial activities between businesses; the buyer is not an individual consumer, but a business placing an order on its behalf. Most production and supply chains interact with the B2B business model at some point — encompassing a wide range from raw material sourcing to wholesaler-retailer relationships.
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Raw material supply: manufacturing companies procuring the necessary raw materials (e.g., petrochemical sector, B2B supply platforms).
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Functional collaborations: operational service agreements, such as catering, where one company obtains services from another.
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Wholesaler-retailer relationship: manufacturers making bulk sales agreements with retail companies such as chain supermarkets.
What are the differences between B2B, B2C, and C2C?
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Model |
Among whom? / Example |
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B2B (Business to Business) |
One business sells to another; this involves bulk ordering and a multi-step decision-making process (e.g., raw material procurement, wholesaler-retailer agreements). |
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B2C (Business-to-Consumer) |
A business sells directly to the individual end consumer; the decision-making process is faster (examples: virtual marketplaces, branded e-commerce sites). |
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C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer) |
A consumer sells an item they previously purchased to another consumer; there is no obligation to issue an invoice (e.g., selling second-hand goods). |
What is B2C? What are its advantages?
B2C (Business to Customer) refers to direct sales from the manufacturer to the end consumer; it is conducted through virtual marketplaces (such as n11, Hepsiburada, Trendyol) or the business's own e-commerce website/app.
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Global sales potential: a wide customer base can be reached without geographical boundaries.
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Reduced physical store expenses: costs such as rent and staff decrease in an online model.
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Customer analysis and data-driven decision-making: purchasing behavior data feeds campaign and inventory decisions.
What is C2C?
C2C (Consumer to Consumer) is when a consumer sells a new or used product they have previously purchased to another consumer. There is no obligation to issue invoices for these types of sales; however, platform-based commissions or listing fees may apply.
An Example from a Sector: A Business That Is Thought to Be B2C Is Actually B2B
A stationery manufacturer, who defined himself as a 'B2C' business because he sold his products through his own e-commerce site, realized that the majority of his orders actually came from office supply wholesalers and corporate clients. This showed that the business should be managed not with a B2C e-commerce site structure, but with a B2B infrastructure requiring bulk ordering and distributor-specific pricing.
“Our site looked like B2C, but most of the orders were from a single customer buying 500 units; when we realized this, we switched to a B2B infrastructure,” says the company's sales manager.
Trizbi is a B2B dealer management software that integrates with your own ERP infrastructure and manages dealers' order, inventory, accounts receivable, and collection processes on a single platform. It helps you choose the right infrastructure after clarifying whether your business is truly B2B or B2C.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is B2B?
B2B (Business to Business) is a business model where businesses sell raw materials, products, or services to each other; it is generally based on bulk orders and long-term business relationships.
What is the main difference between B2B and B2C?
In B2B, the buyer is a business and the decision-making process is usually multi-step; in B2C, the buyer is an individual end-consumer and the purchasing decision is made more quickly.
What is C2C, and is it necessary to issue an invoice?
C2C (Consumer to Consumer) is when a consumer sells a product they have previously purchased to another consumer; there is no obligation to issue an invoice for such sales.
Can a business be both B2B and B2C at the same time?
Yes; for example, a manufacturer can both sell wholesale to its distributors (B2B) and sell directly to the end consumer (B2C) through its own e-commerce website.
Which sectors can be given as examples of the B2B business model?
Raw material sourcing (e.g., petrochemicals), wholesaler-retailer relationships (e.g., supplying chain supermarkets), and corporate service collaborations (e.g., catering agreements) are common examples of B2B.
Want to digitize the B2B side of your business? Try Trizbi for free for 15 days without needing to provide credit card information.
Related pages: What is B2B Software? B2B Program Selection Guide · How to Set Up a B2B System?
