Top 43 Slang For Business – Meaning & Usage

In the fast-paced world of business, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date on the latest lingo and jargon. From boardrooms to networking events, understanding the slang for business can help you navigate conversations with confidence and stay in the loop. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, we’ve got you covered with a curated list of the most essential business slang that will have you speaking the language of success in no time. Get ready to level up your business vocabulary and impress your colleagues with our in-depth guide.

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1. Biz

Short for “business,” this term is often used to refer to any aspect of the commercial or professional world.

For example, someone might say, “I’m in the biz of selling vintage clothing.”
In a conversation about entrepreneurship, a person might ask, “What’s the best way to start a biz?”
A business owner might say, “I’ve been in the biz for over 20 years.”

2. CEO

The CEO is the highest-ranking executive in a company and is responsible for making major corporate decisions and managing overall operations.

For instance, in a discussion about leadership, someone might say, “Being a CEO requires strong decision-making skills.”
A news article might mention, “The CEO of the company announced a new product launch.”
In a conversation about career aspirations, a person might say, “My goal is to become a CEO one day.”

3. CFO

The CFO is a senior executive responsible for managing a company’s financial operations and ensuring its financial stability and growth.

For example, in a conversation about corporate finance, someone might say, “The CFO plays a crucial role in budgeting and financial planning.”
A news headline might read, “Company XYZ appointed a new CFO to oversee its financial strategy.”
In a discussion about job roles, a person might ask, “What are the key responsibilities of a CFO?”

4. ROI

ROI is a measure used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment. It represents the ratio of the gain or loss from an investment relative to its cost.

For instance, in a business presentation, someone might say, “Our marketing campaign resulted in a 20% ROI.”
A financial analyst might explain, “ROI is a key metric for assessing the success of investment decisions.”
In a discussion about financial planning, a person might ask, “How can we maximize ROI for our projects?”

5. KPI

KPIs are measurable values that indicate how effectively a company is achieving its key business objectives. They are used to evaluate performance and track progress.

For example, in a meeting, someone might say, “Let’s review the KPIs for the quarter to assess our performance.”
A manager might set KPIs for their team, saying, “Our KPIs will be based on sales targets and customer satisfaction.”
In a discussion about data analysis, a person might ask, “What KPIs should we track to measure our marketing campaign’s success?”

6. B2B

This acronym refers to a transaction or relationship between two businesses rather than between a business and a consumer. It is commonly used in the business world to describe the type of interactions that occur between companies.

For example, a company might say, “We specialize in B2B marketing strategies.”
In a discussion about sales, someone might mention, “B2B sales often involve longer sales cycles and multiple decision-makers.”
A business owner might state, “Our target market is other businesses, so we primarily focus on B2B partnerships.”

7. B2C

This acronym refers to a transaction or relationship between a business and a consumer. It is commonly used in the business world to describe the type of interactions that occur when a business sells a product or service directly to individual consumers.

For instance, a company might say, “Our B2C marketing campaign targets young adults.”
In a discussion about e-commerce, someone might mention, “B2C websites often prioritize user-friendly interfaces and seamless checkout processes.”
A business owner might state, “Our business model is primarily B2C, so we focus on building strong customer relationships.”

8. CTA

This term refers to a prompt or instruction that encourages a reader, viewer, or website visitor to take a specific action. In the business world, a call to action is often used in marketing and advertising to drive engagement or conversions.

For example, a marketing email might include a CTA such as “Click here to learn more.”
On a website, a CTA button might say “Buy now” or “Sign up for our newsletter.”
In a social media post, a company might ask followers to “Like and share this post for a chance to win.”

9. CRM

This term refers to a strategy or system used by businesses to manage and analyze interactions with customers and potential customers. CRM software is often used to track customer data, communication history, and sales opportunities.

For instance, a sales manager might say, “Our CRM system helps us keep track of customer interactions and follow-up tasks.”
In a discussion about customer service, someone might mention, “A good CRM system can improve response times and personalize customer interactions.”
A business owner might state, “Implementing a CRM system has helped us streamline our sales process and improve customer satisfaction.”

10. EOD

This acronym is commonly used in business to refer to the end of the workday or the deadline for a task or project. It signifies the time at which something should be completed or the time at which the workday officially ends.

For example, a manager might say, “Please submit your reports by EOD.”
In an email, someone might write, “I’ll have the proposal ready for review by EOD.”
A team member might ask, “Can we discuss this project tomorrow morning? I won’t have time to address it before EOD.”

11. FYI

This is a common abbreviation used to share information or give someone a heads up. It is often used in emails or messages to provide relevant information.

For example, “FYI, the meeting has been rescheduled to tomorrow.”
A manager might send an email saying, “FYI, we have a new project starting next week.”
A coworker might inform their team, “FYI, the printer is out of ink, so please plan accordingly.”

12. ASAP

ASAP is an acronym used to request urgent action or a quick response. It is often used when there is a time-sensitive task or deadline.

For instance, a boss might ask an employee, “Can you finish that report ASAP?”
A coworker might email, “ASAP, please review and approve the budget proposal.”
A project manager might say, “We need those updates ASAP to meet the client’s deadline.”

13. OOO

OOO is an abbreviation used to indicate that someone is not currently available or away from their usual work location. It is commonly used in email subject lines or auto-reply messages.

For example, “I will be OOO next week and will not have access to email.”
A coworker might send a message saying, “Just a heads up, I’ll be OOO for the rest of the day.”
A manager might remind their team, “Don’t forget to set your OOO message if you’ll be out of the office.”

14. P&L

P&L is an abbreviation used to refer to a company’s financial statement that shows its revenues, costs, and expenses during a specific period. It is often used in discussions or presentations related to a company’s financial performance.

For instance, “The P&L statement shows that we had a profitable quarter.”
A financial analyst might analyze a company’s P&L and say, “Our expenses are increasing faster than our revenues according to the P&L.”
A manager might ask their team, “Can you review the P&L and identify areas where we can cut costs?”

15. SWOT

SWOT is an acronym used to analyze and evaluate a company or project’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is often used in strategic planning or decision-making processes.

For example, “Let’s conduct a SWOT analysis to identify our competitive advantages.”
A business consultant might say, “The SWOT matrix helps visualize the key factors affecting a company.”
A team leader might ask their team, “What are the main opportunities and threats we should consider in our SWOT analysis?”

16. USP

This refers to the unique aspect or feature of a product or service that sets it apart from competitors. It is the reason why customers should choose a particular product or service over others in the market.

For example, a company might advertise, “Our USP is that our product is made from all-natural ingredients.”
A business owner might say, “We need to focus on developing a strong USP to differentiate ourselves in the market.”
In a marketing meeting, someone might ask, “What is our USP compared to our competitors?”

17. ETA

This is the approximate time when something or someone is expected to arrive at a certain location. It is commonly used in logistics and transportation industries to track shipments or to inform others about arrival times.

For instance, a delivery driver might call and say, “I’m on my way. ETA is 20 minutes.”
A project manager might ask a team member, “What’s the ETA for completing that task?”
When planning a meeting, someone might say, “Let’s schedule it for 3 PM, ETA for everyone is 2:45 PM.”

18. R&D

This refers to the process of conducting research and developing new products, technologies, or solutions. It is an essential function in many industries to stay competitive and innovative.

For example, a technology company might allocate a budget for R&D to explore new features and improvements for their products.
A manager might say, “We need to invest more in R&D to stay ahead of our competitors.”
During a product launch, a presenter might mention, “This new product is the result of years of R&D and customer feedback.”

19. IPO

This is the process of offering shares of a private company to the public for the first time. It allows the company to raise capital by selling ownership shares to investors. IPOs are often seen as a significant milestone for a company.

For instance, a news headline might read, “Tech startup XYZ files for IPO, aiming to raise $100 million.”
A financial analyst might discuss, “The IPO market has been booming lately, with many companies going public.”
An investor might say, “I’m considering buying shares in the upcoming IPO of that company.”

20. M&A

This refers to the consolidation of companies through various transactions, such as mergers (joining two companies into one) or acquisitions (one company buying another). M&A activities are common in the business world and can have significant impacts on industries and markets.

For example, a news headline might read, “Company A announces a $10 billion merger with Company B.”
A business analyst might discuss, “M&A activity in the pharmaceutical industry has been increasing in recent years.”
A CEO might say, “We are considering an acquisition to expand our market presence.”

21. C-suite

Refers to the highest level of executives in a company, typically including the CEO, CFO, COO, and other top-level positions. The term “C-suite” is derived from the “C” in CEO, CFO, etc., and is used to describe the group of executives who hold these positions.

For example, “The C-suite is responsible for making strategic decisions for the company.”
In a discussion about corporate leadership, someone might say, “To succeed in the C-suite, you need strong leadership skills and business acumen.”
A business article might discuss the challenges faced by the C-suite in navigating market trends and competition.

22. 24/7

This term is used to describe something that is available or happening all day, every day, without interruption. It signifies continuous operation or accessibility.

For instance, “Our customer support team is available 24/7 to assist with any inquiries.”
A business owner might say, “Running a successful business requires dedication and a 24/7 commitment.”
In a discussion about work-life balance, someone might comment, “In today’s digital age, it’s hard to disconnect when work is 24/7.”

23. BFF

Although commonly used in casual settings, “BFF” can also be used in a business context to refer to a close and trusted professional relationship. It signifies a strong bond and mutual support between individuals.

For example, “My colleague is not just a coworker, but also my BFF at work.”
In a team-building exercise, someone might say, “Let’s pair up and find a BFF in the office to get to know better.”
A business article might discuss the importance of having a BFF at work for increased job satisfaction and productivity.

24. NDA

A legal contract between two or more parties that outlines confidential information that should not be disclosed to others. NDAs are commonly used in business to protect sensitive information, trade secrets, or proprietary knowledge.

For instance, “Before discussing our business plans, we need everyone to sign an NDA.”
In a discussion about a potential partnership, someone might ask, “Can we have an NDA in place to protect our intellectual property?”
A business article might explain the importance of NDAs in maintaining confidentiality and trust in business relationships.

25. POC

In a business context, “POC” is often used as an abbreviation to refer to individuals who identify as non-white or non-Caucasian. The term is used to acknowledge and recognize the diversity and inclusion of people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

For example, “Our company is committed to hiring and promoting POC in leadership positions.”
In a discussion about representation in the workplace, someone might say, “We need to ensure that POC have equal opportunities for career advancement.”
A business article might discuss the benefits of having a diverse POC workforce for creativity and innovation.

26. SME

This term refers to a business that falls within a certain size range. SMEs are often characterized by having a smaller number of employees and operating on a smaller scale compared to larger corporations.

For example, a person might say, “I started my own SME and it has been growing steadily.”
In a discussion about the economy, someone might mention, “SMEs play a crucial role in driving innovation and creating jobs.”
A business owner might seek advice by asking, “How can I effectively manage cash flow in my SME?”

27. TBA

This acronym is often used to indicate that a particular detail or information is not yet available or finalized. It is commonly used in business settings to denote upcoming events, product launches, or other announcements.

For instance, a company might send out a message saying, “Stay tuned for our TBA event next month!”
In a conference agenda, a session might be listed as “TBA” if the speaker has not been confirmed yet.
A product manager might inform the team, “The release date is still TBA, but we’re aiming for early next year.”

28. WIP

This term is used to describe a project or task that is still ongoing and not yet completed. It is commonly used in business to indicate that a particular work or initiative is still being actively worked on.

For example, a team leader might ask, “What’s the status of the WIP report?”
In a project management meeting, someone might say, “We have several WIPs that need to be reviewed and finalized.”
A designer might share their progress by saying, “Here’s a sneak peek at my WIP logo design.”

29. YOY

This acronym is used to compare data or performance from one year to the same period in the previous year. It is commonly used in business to analyze trends, growth, or changes over time.

For instance, a financial analyst might say, “Our YOY sales have increased by 10%.”
In a quarterly report, a marketing manager might highlight, “Our YOY website traffic has doubled.”
An economist might discuss, “The YOY inflation rate has remained stable.”

30. SEO

This term refers to the practice of optimizing a website or online content to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages. SEO involves various techniques and strategies aimed at increasing organic (non-paid) traffic to a website.

For example, a digital marketer might say, “We need to focus on SEO to improve our website’s search rankings.”
In a blog post about online marketing, someone might explain, “SEO plays a crucial role in driving organic traffic and attracting potential customers.”
A business owner might seek advice by asking, “What are some effective SEO strategies for small businesses?”

31. UX

UX refers to the overall experience a user has when interacting with a product or service. It encompasses the design, usability, and functionality of a website, app, or other digital platform.

For example, a UX designer might say, “We need to improve the user experience by simplifying the navigation.”
A business owner might ask, “How can we optimize the UX to increase customer satisfaction and conversions?”
A developer might suggest, “Let’s conduct user testing to gather feedback and make data-driven UX improvements.”

32. CTR

CTR is a metric that measures the percentage of users who click on a specific link or advertisement out of the total number of impressions. It is commonly used in online advertising to gauge the effectiveness of a campaign.

For instance, a marketer might say, “Our email campaign had a CTR of 10%, which is above industry average.”
A digital analyst might analyze, “The CTR for our banner ads has been declining. We need to optimize our creative to improve engagement.”
A business owner might ask, “What can we do to increase our website’s CTR and drive more traffic?”

33. PPC

PPC is an advertising model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. It is commonly used in online advertising platforms, such as Google Ads, where advertisers bid on keywords to display their ads.

For example, a digital marketer might say, “We’re running a PPC campaign to drive traffic to our new landing page.”
A business owner might ask, “What’s the ROI on our PPC spend? Are we getting enough conversions?”
A PPC specialist might suggest, “Let’s optimize our ad copy and landing page to improve our click-through rate and lower our cost per click.”

34. CPM

CPM is a pricing model used in online advertising where advertisers pay for every 1,000 impressions of their ad. It is commonly used to measure the cost-effectiveness of an ad campaign.

For instance, a media buyer might say, “The CPM for this ad placement is $10, which is quite high.”
A marketer might analyze, “Our CPM has been steadily decreasing, indicating that we’re getting more impressions for the same budget.”
A business owner might ask, “How can we lower our CPM while maintaining the same level of exposure?”

35. VC

VC refers to a type of financing provided to startup companies by investors in exchange for equity or ownership in the company. Venture capitalists typically invest in high-growth potential companies with the expectation of earning a significant return on their investment.

For example, a startup founder might say, “We just secured $1 million in VC funding to scale our operations.”
An investor might ask, “What’s the valuation of the company before and after the VC investment?”
A business analyst might analyze, “VC funding can provide startups with the necessary capital to fuel their growth and expansion.”

36. B2B2C

This term refers to a business model where a company sells its products or services to other businesses, who then sell them to the end consumers. It is a way to reach a wider customer base through partnerships with other businesses.

For example, a software company might use a B2B2C model by selling its software to retailers, who then sell it to individual customers.
In a discussion about e-commerce, someone might mention, “B2B2C platforms allow businesses to expand their reach and sell to a larger audience.”
A marketing expert might say, “In a B2B2C model, it’s important to focus on building strong relationships with both the business partners and the end consumers.”

37. CMO

This is a high-level executive responsible for overseeing the marketing activities of a company. The CMO is in charge of developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote the company’s products or services.

For instance, a company might announce, “We have hired a new CMO to lead our marketing efforts.”
In a discussion about the role of marketing in business, someone might say, “The CMO plays a crucial role in driving brand awareness and customer acquisition.”
A marketing professional might advise, “To be a successful CMO, one needs to stay updated on the latest marketing trends and technologies.”

38. CIO

This is a senior executive responsible for managing the information technology (IT) systems and strategies of a company. The CIO oversees the use of technology to support the company’s goals and ensure the security and efficiency of its IT infrastructure.

For example, during a company reorganization, it might be announced, “The CIO will now report directly to the CEO.”
In a discussion about the importance of technology in business, someone might mention, “The CIO plays a crucial role in aligning IT with the company’s overall objectives.”
An IT professional might advise, “To be a successful CIO, one needs to have a deep understanding of both business and technology.”

39. HR

This term refers to the department or function within a company that is responsible for managing employee-related issues. HR handles tasks such as recruitment, payroll, benefits administration, and employee relations.

For instance, a company might announce, “We are hiring an HR manager to oversee our employee engagement initiatives.”
In a discussion about workplace policies, someone might say, “HR plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with labor laws and promoting a positive work culture.”
An HR professional might advise, “Effective HR practices are essential for attracting and retaining top talent in today’s competitive job market.”

40. FAQ

This term refers to a list of commonly asked questions and their corresponding answers. FAQs are often provided by companies on their websites or in product/service documentation to address common customer inquiries.

For example, a website might have a section titled “FAQ” where customers can find answers to common queries.
In a discussion about customer support, someone might mention, “Having a well-curated FAQ page can help reduce the number of support tickets.”
A customer might ask, “Where can I find the FAQ section on your website?”

41. KISS

This acronym reminds people to avoid overcomplicating things and to keep their approach straightforward and easy to understand.

For example, a manager might say, “Let’s KISS this project and focus on the key objectives.”
In a brainstorming session, someone might suggest, “We should KISS this idea and remove unnecessary features.”
A consultant might advise, “When presenting to clients, remember to KISS and avoid using technical jargon.”

42. B2G

This term refers to business transactions or interactions between private companies and government organizations.

For instance, a company might say, “We specialize in providing B2G services to help government agencies streamline their processes.”
In a discussion about government contracts, someone might mention, “B2G sales require a different approach compared to B2B or B2C.”
A consultant might advise, “If you want to enter the B2G market, it’s important to understand the unique challenges and regulations involved.”

43. B2B2B

This term describes a business model where one company provides goods or services to another company, which in turn provides them to yet another company.

For example, a company might say, “We operate in a B2B2B model, supplying components to manufacturers who then sell finished products to retailers.”
In a discussion about supply chains, someone might mention, “B2B2B relationships require strong communication and coordination between all parties involved.”
A business analyst might explain, “In a B2B2B model, each company adds value to the product or service before it reaches the end consumer.”