A businessman is someone who earns a living by starting, running, or working in a company that sells goods or services. Businessmen figure out what people need or want, find ways to provide it, and manage the money, workers, and decisions that keep everything running. A businessman might own a restaurant, manage a factory, run a construction company, or sell software to other businesses.

The word traditionally referred specifically to men in business, while businesswoman described women. Today, many people use businessperson or business owner to include everyone, though you'll still see businessman and businesswoman used, especially in older books or when talking about specific people.

Businessmen understand their customers, solve problems creatively, and take calculated risks. They know that running a business means handling both successes and setbacks. Starting a business takes courage because there's no guarantee it will succeed. Some businessmen work for themselves, some work their way up through companies, and others start with nothing and build large enterprises through years of hard work and smart decisions.