A Business' Main Purpose is to make a Profit

A business' main purpose should be to make a profit. Describe a specific situation in which the main purpose of a business might justifiably be something other than making a profit. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the main purpose of a business should be to make a profit. In a capitalist economy, business owners enjoy private ownership of the means of production and create goods and services for profit or income. The overall health of businesses is a good sign of a nation's economic health and governments often set policies that encourage the success of businesses. On the other hand, governments also regulate businesses in order to stem activity that is adverse to the public interest. Indeed, the majority of businesses exist to make a profit. People, in general, find the promise and realization of profit as an incentive to work harder and find ways to improve a business'efficiency. In a few instances, however, some businesses mainly exist to advance a cause in society. In a world of scarce resources, people need to find a means of survival and that often means getting a job. Governments that adopt a capitalist model use the incentive of profits to ensure that people work hard and develop entrepreneurial mindsets. In socialistic governments, where the means of production is owned or shared by the state, people lose the incentive to work at their optimum levels since they cannot realize profits. While a capitalistic model improves the efficiency of businesses, there also exists the downside of the majority of people working long hours to make low wages while a minority of owners reap the benefit. Such regulations, such as minimum wage, help protect lower-end workers in a capitalistic economy where the promise of profits pave the way for exploitation of humans. A few businesses, however, exist for purposes other than making a profit. Entrepreneurs, who already have made their money through for-profit businesses, hope to leave a positive mark in the world and start businesses for the sake of improving humanity. These type of businesses exist for an array of purposes, including providing poor people with free legal advice, advocating for improved environmental health and educating others about methods of sustainable development. These businesses do not seek to make a profit but rather make sure they have just enough to fulfill their raison d'etre. Indeed, the existence of for-profit businesses help drive the economy by putting people to work, encouraging new innovations and increasing efficiency. They provide essential services and goods to the public and are able to improve their means of doing business through the incentive of making profits. However, the world becomes a frigid place when the only businesses that exist seek to make a profit. A human element is added to a capitalistic world when non-profit businesses can co-exist. They help provide services that bring awareness to those who are left behind in a profit-minded world, including the very poor, disabled and the environment in general.