Say it like this
- We're a B2C platform focused on mobile users
- B2C companies need to prioritize user experience
- Our B2C segment has grown significantly this quarter
Use it at work
Describing the company
- We're B2C, so we have millions of users.
- Our B2C app is free with paid upgrades.
Comparing products
- B2C users expect onboarding to take seconds.
- In B2C, small design changes can move conversion a lot.
In an interview
- Most of my experience is in B2C mobile apps.
- Is this product B2B or B2C?
Don't say this
B2C is a noun describing a business model, not a verb. You cannot 'B2C' something.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2C | Selling to individual people | Marketing, product | Consumer apps |
| B2B | Selling to businesses | Sales, product | Company buyers |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your company sells fitness tracking apps to individuals. Which statement is correct?
2. Unlike B2B companies that sell to enterprises, _______ companies focus on individual end-users.
3. Which sentence uses B2C incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this sentence using B2C: 'Our company sells products directly to people, not to other companies.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We're a B2C platform focused on mobile users"
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about B2C
Real examples(3)
- in a business meeting
"We need to decide whether to expand our B2C offerings or stay focused on our B2B enterprise clients."
- in a product strategy discussion
"Since we're building a B2C product, we should invest more in marketing and user acquisition."
- in a standup meeting
"The B2C team just launched a new feature to improve customer retention."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. B2C is an acronym for a business model, not a verb or action. Do not use it as a verb (e.g., 'to B2C something'). Also, do not confuse it with B2B (business-to-business).
- ✕We work in the B2C sector, so we target other businesses.✓We work in the B2C sector, so we target individual consumers.
B2C means selling to consumers, not to other businesses. That would be B2B.
- ✕Our B2C revenue comes from corporate accounts.✓Our B2C revenue comes from individual customer purchases.
B2C revenue is generated from direct consumer sales, not corporate enterprise deals.
Other forms(2)
- B2C noun
"B2C is the dominant model for consumer tech companies."
- B2C adjective
"Our B2C strategy focuses on mobile users in emerging markets."
Often used with(5)
- B2C model · Used to describe the overall business structure of selling directly to consumers
- B2C platform · A digital platform that serves individual end-users directly
- B2C company · A business that operates on a business-to-consumer basis
- B2C market · The segment or industry focused on direct consumer sales
- B2C strategy · A business strategy designed to reach and sell to end consumers
Similar words(2)
- direct-to-consumer · More descriptive but less commonly used in tech; D2C is sometimes used as an alternative acronym
- consumer-facing · An informal descriptor meaning the product is aimed at individual users rather than businesses
Opposites(2)
- B2B (Business-to-Business)
- B2G (Business-to-Government)
Questions(7)
- What is the difference between B2B and B2C?
- B2B (business-to-business) companies sell to other businesses, often with long sales cycles and contracts. B2C companies sell to individual consumers, usually with self-serve sign-up and many small customers.
- What does B2C mean in a job description?
- “B2C experience” means the employer wants someone who has built or marketed products for consumers, where growth, user experience and scale matter a lot.
- What does B2C stand for?
- B2C stands for Business-to-Consumer. It refers to a business model where companies sell products or services directly to individual end-users rather than to other businesses.
- How is B2C different from B2B?
- B2C companies sell directly to individual consumers, while B2B (Business-to-Business) companies sell to other businesses. B2C typically has larger customer volumes with smaller transactions, while B2B often has fewer customers with larger deals and longer sales cycles.
- What are examples of B2C companies in tech?
- Popular B2C tech companies include Amazon, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify. All of these serve millions of individual consumers directly.
- Can a company be both B2C and B2B?
- Yes, many companies operate both models. For example, Microsoft sells Windows directly to consumers (B2C) but also sells enterprise software solutions to businesses (B2B). This is sometimes called a hybrid or omnichannel model.
- Is B2C formal or informal in tech conversations?
- B2C is a formal, standard term used in all contexts: business meetings, investor presentations, team discussions, and written documentation. It is universally recognized in the tech and business industries.
