Enterprise vs. Trade: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 27, 2023
Enterprise refers to an ambitious project or business venture, while Trade means the action of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services.
Key Differences
Enterprise often implies a bold, entrepreneurial endeavor, usually involving financial risk or initiative. It connotes the start-up and operation of business activities. In contrast, Trade specifically refers to the act of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services. Trade can be local, international, or conducted between two parties and doesn't necessarily imply entrepreneurship.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Enterprise can also refer to an organization or company engaged in commercial or industrial activities. It suggests innovation, venturesomeness, and the pursuit of growth. Trade, however, is the transactional aspect of business, focusing on the exchange of commodities or services, often for money. It is the basic activity of any business but doesn't encompass the entire scope of business operations like enterprise might.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
In terms of scale and scope, Enterprise can vary from small startups to large multinational corporations, encompassing the overall business concept. Trade is a component of enterprise, essential for the functioning of any business, whether it involves barter, domestic trade, or international commerce.
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Dec 27, 2023
When discussing economic development, Enterprise is often associated with entrepreneurial activity that leads to job creation and economic growth. Trade, on the other hand, is linked to market dynamics, supply and demand, and the flow of goods and services across borders.
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Dec 27, 2023
In summary, while Enterprise and Trade are both crucial to the business world, they represent different aspects. Enterprise is about the creation, development, and management of business ventures, whereas Trade focuses on the actual process of exchanging goods and services in the market.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Business venture or ambitious project
Buying, selling, or exchanging goods
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Dec 27, 2023
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Enterprise and Trade Definitions
Enterprise
A project or venture, especially one that's new or bold.
Launching a tech startup was a risky but exciting enterprise.
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Dec 27, 2023
Trade
The act of exchanging something for something else.
Barter was an ancient form of trade before the use of money.
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Dec 27, 2023
Enterprise
An undertaking that requires effort and boldness.
The construction of the new bridge was a massive enterprise.
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Dec 27, 2023
Trade
Commercial traffic or business, especially between countries.
Global trade is vital for economic development.
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Dec 27, 2023
Enterprise
A business organization, particularly in commerce or trade.
Her family's enterprise has been thriving for generations.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Trade
The business of buying and selling commodities, products, or services; commerce.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
Readiness to engage in daring or difficult action.
His enterprise in tackling complex problems was commendable.
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Dec 27, 2023
Enterprise
An initiative marked by entrepreneurial spirit.
Their social enterprise aims to solve environmental issues.
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Dec 27, 2023
Trade
The people working in or associated with a business or industry
Writers, editors, and other members of the publishing trade.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
An undertaking, especially one of some scope, complication, and risk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The activity or volume of buying or selling
The trade in stocks was brisk all morning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
An exchange of one thing for another
Baseball teams making a trade of players.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
Industrious, systematic activity, especially when directed toward profit
Private enterprise is basic to capitalism.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
An occupation, especially one requiring skilled labor; craft
The building trades.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
Willingness to undertake new ventures; initiative
"Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs" (Henry David Thoreau).
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
A company, business, organization, or other purposeful endeavor.
The government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are a group of financial services corporations which have been created by the United States Congress.
A micro-enterprise is defined as a company or business having 5 or fewer employees and a low seed capital.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
An undertaking, venture, or project, especially a daring and courageous one.
Biosphere 2 was a scientific enterprise aimed at the exploration of the complex web of interactions within life systems.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
(uncountable) A willingness to undertake new or risky projects; energy and initiative.
He has shown great enterprise throughout his early career.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To be offered for sale or be sold
Stocks traded at lower prices this morning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
(intransitive) To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To give in exchange for something else
Trade farm products for manufactured goods.
Will trade my ticket for yours.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
(transitive) To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
That which is undertaken; something attempted to be performed; a work projected which involves activity, courage, energy, and the like; a bold, arduous, or hazardous attempt; an undertaking; as, a manly enterprise; a warlike enterprise.
Their hands can not perform their enterprise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities; as, a man of great enterprise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
The business must be enterprised this night.
What would I not renounce or enterprise for you!
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Of or relating to books that are primarily published to be sold commercially, as in bookstores.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
To treat with hospitality; to entertain.
Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(countable) A particular instance of buying or selling.
I did no trades with them once the rumors started.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
A purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness);
He had doubts about the whole enterprise
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(countable) An instance of bartering items in exchange for one another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
An organization created for business ventures;
A growing enterprise must have a bold leader
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(countable) Those who perform a particular kind of skilled work.
The skilled trades were the first to organize modern labor unions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(countable) Those engaged in an industry or group of related industries.
It is not a retail showroom. It is only for the trade.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(countable) The skilled practice of a practical occupation.
He learned his trade as an apprentice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Trade
An occupation in the secondary sector, as opposed to an agricultural, professional or military one.
After failing his entrance exams, he decided to go into a trade.
Most veterans went into trade when the war ended.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The business given to a commercial establishment by its customers.
Even before noon there was considerable trade.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator.
They rode the trades going west.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(only as plural) A publication intended for participants in an industry or related group of industries.
Rumors about layoffs are all over the trades.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
A masculine man available for casual sex with men, often for pay. (Compare rough trade.)
Josh picked up some trade last night.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(ambitransitive) To engage in trade.
This company trades (in) precious metal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions.
Apple is trading at $200.
ExxonMobil trades on the NYSE.
The stock is trading rich relative to its sector.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To give (something) in exchange (for).
Will you trade your precious watch for my earring?
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(transitive) To mutually exchange (something) (with).
The rival schoolboys traded insults.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(ambitransitive) To do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
(intransitive) To have dealings; to be concerned or associated (with).
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Of a product, produced for sale in the ordinary bulk retail trade and hence of only the most basic quality.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
A track; a trail; a way; a path; also, passage; travel; resort.
A postern with a blind wicket there was,A common trade to pass through Priam's house.
Hath tracted forth some salvage beastes trade.
Or, I'll be buried in the king's highway,Some way of common trade, where subjects' feetMay hourly trample on their sovereign's head.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Course; custom; practice; occupation; employment.
There those five sisters had continual trade.
Long did I love this lady,Long was my travel, long my trade to win her.
Thy sin's not accidental but a trade.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Business of any kind; matter of mutual consideration; affair; dealing.
Have you any further trade with us?
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Specifically: The act or business of exchanging commodities by barter, or by buying and selling for money; commerce; traffic; barter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The business which a person has learned, and which he engages in, for procuring subsistence, or for profit; occupation; especially, mechanical employment as distinguished from the liberal arts, the learned professions, and agriculture; as, we speak of the trade of a smith, of a carpenter, or mason, but not now of the trade of a farmer, or a lawyer, or a physician.
Accursed usury was all his trade.
The homely, slighted, shepherd's trade.
I will instruct thee in my trade.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Instruments of any occupation.
The house and household goods, his trade of war.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
A company of men engaged in the same occupation; thus, booksellers and publishers speak of the customs of the trade, and are collectively designated as the trade.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To barter, or to buy and sell; to be engaged in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods, wares, merchandise, or anything else; to traffic; to bargain; to carry on commerce as a business.
A free port, where nations . . . resorted with their goods and traded.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To have dealings; to be concerned or associated; - usually followed by with.
How did you dare to trade and traffic with Macbeth?
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
To sell or exchange in commerce; to barter.
They traded the persons of men.
To dicker and to swop, to trade rifles and watches.
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services;
Venice was an important center of trade with the East
They are accused of conspiring to constrain trade
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
People who perform a particular kind of skilled work;
He represented the craft of brewers
As they say in the trade
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The skilled practice of a practical occupation;
He learned his trade as an apprentice
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
A particular instance of buying or selling;
It was a package deal
I had no further trade with him
He's a master of the business deal
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The business given to a commercial establishment by its customers;
Even before noon there was a considerable patronage
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator;
They rode the trade winds going west
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase;
Trade in an old car for a new one
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions;
The stock traded around $20 a share
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood;
She deals in gold
The brothers sell shoes
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
Relating to or used in or intended for trade or commerce;
A trade fair
Trade journals
Trade goods
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Oct 19, 2023
Trade
The action of buying, selling, or exchanging goods.
International trade agreements can impact local economies.
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Dec 27, 2023
Trade
A skilled job, typically one requiring manual skills.
He learned the trade of carpentry from his father.
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Dec 27, 2023
Trade
The buying and selling of stocks or commodities.
He made a living through day trade in the stock market.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Does enterprise always mean a large company?
No, enterprises can range from small startups to large corporations.
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Dec 27, 2023
What does "enterprise level" mean?
"Enterprise level" denotes solutions, services, or systems designed to meet the demands of large-scale organizations or corporations.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is every trade part of an enterprise?
Yes, trade activities are components of larger business enterprises.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is an entrepreneurial mindset?
An entrepreneurial mindset is a way of thinking that emphasizes innovation, risk-taking, and problem-solving, often associated with starting and growing businesses.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is free trade?
Free trade is a policy that promotes minimal government intervention in trade, allowing goods and services to flow between countries with few restrictions.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is a trade deficit?
A trade deficit occurs when a country imports more than it exports, resulting in a negative balance of trade.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can an enterprise exist without engaging in trade?
Rarely, as most enterprises engage in some form of trade.
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Dec 27, 2023
Are all trades profitable?
Not necessarily; profitability depends on market conditions and business strategy.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is a social enterprise?
A social enterprise is a business that aims to achieve both social and financial goals, often by addressing social or environmental issues.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is fair trade?
Fair trade is a movement that promotes ethical trading practices, ensuring fair wages and working conditions for producers in developing countries.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is trade liberalization?
Trade liberalization is the process of reducing trade barriers and promoting free trade between countries to stimulate economic growth.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is a trade embargo?
A trade embargo is a government-imposed ban on trade with a particular country, usually for political or economic reasons.
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Dec 27, 2023
What are trade barriers?
Trade barriers are obstacles, such as tariffs, quotas, or regulations, that restrict the flow of goods and services between countries.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
The WTO is an international organization that deals with global rules of trade between nations, aiming to facilitate and regulate international trade.
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Dec 27, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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