Business Essay Examples For Students
Here are some examples with analysis:
Example 1
Essay Type: Strategic Analysis (SWOT-focused)
Topic: Amazon's competitive strategy
Level: Undergraduate
Example business essay:
Amazon's market dominance stems from its strategic focus on customer experience over short-term profitability, as evidenced by its reinvestment strategy and consistently low margins. Using SWOT analysis, this essay examines how Amazon's strengths in logistics and technology, combined with opportunities in cloud computing and international expansion, outweigh weaknesses in labor relations and threats from regulatory scrutiny.
Amazon's primary strength lies in its unmatched logistics network. The company operates over 175 fulfillment centers globally, processing more than 1.6 million packages daily (Amazon Inc., 2022). This infrastructure creates barriers to entry that competitors cannot easily replicate. Unlike traditional retailers who view logistics as a cost center, Amazon treats it as a competitive advantage—investing $61.1 billion in fulfillment in 2021 alone, representing 19% of net sales (Amazon Inc., 2022).
The company's technology infrastructure provides a second critical strength. Amazon Web Services (AWS) generated $62.2 billion in revenue in 2021, accounting for 74% of the company's operating income despite representing only 13% of total revenue (Amazon Inc., 2022). This cash flow from AWS funds retail expansion while competitors like Walmart must generate all returns from retail operations. AWS also gives Amazon proprietary expertise in cloud infrastructure, machine learning, and data analytics that inform retail decisions.
However, Amazon faces significant weaknesses in labor relations. The company experiences turnover rates approaching 150% annually in fulfillment centers (The New York Times, 2021), creating ongoing training costs and potential unionization risks. Worker injuries in Amazon warehouses occur at rates 80% higher than industry averages (Strategic Organizing Center, 2021), generating negative publicity and regulatory attention.
WHY THIS EXAMPLE WORKS:
Thesis:
"Amazon's market dominance stems from its strategic focus on customer experience over short-term profitability, as evidenced by its reinvestment strategy and consistently low margins."
Why it's strong:
This thesis takes a clear position (dominance comes from customer focus, not profit focus), signals the analytical approach (strategic analysis with evidence), uses specific language ("reinvestment strategy," "low margins"), and sets up an argument that requires evidence to support.
Your thesis should make a claim that isn't obvious.
"Amazon is successful" is not arguable. "Amazon's success stems from prioritizing customer experience over profits" is arguable and requires evidence.
Also notice how the thesis signals SWOT will be the framework, the second sentence mentions "strengths" and "opportunities" explicitly.
Example 2
Essay Type: Market Analysis (Porter's Five Forces)
Topic: Electric vehicle industry
Level: Undergraduate
Example business essay:
The electric vehicle (EV) industry exhibits moderate overall competitive intensity, with high barriers to entry and supplier power balanced against increasing substitution threats and buyer power. Porter's Five Forces analysis reveals that while established automakers face significant transition costs, new entrants like Tesla have reshaped competitive dynamics by bypassing traditional dealership models and building vertically integrated manufacturing systems.
Barriers to entry in the EV industry remain substantial despite decreasing battery costs. Manufacturing capacity requires capital investments exceeding $2 billion for production facilities capable of 100,000 units annually (McKinsey & Company, 2022). Battery supply chains depend on limited sources of lithium, cobalt, and nickel, with China controlling 80% of global battery cell production (BloombergNEF, 2022). Additionally, brand recognition and safety certifications create intangible barriers—consumers show 73% preference for established automotive brands over new EV startups (J.D. Power, 2022).
However, supplier power presents challenges for both established and new players. Battery manufacturers hold significant negotiating power due to concentrated production capacity. The top three suppliers (CATL, LG Energy Solution, and Panasonic) control 69% of global EV battery production (SNE Research, 2022). This concentration allows suppliers to maintain margins even as battery prices decline—lithium prices increased 550% from 2021 to 2022 despite overall battery pack costs falling 89% since 2010 (BloombergNEF, 2022).
Substitution threats are intensifying as traditional internal combustion engines improve efficiency. Hybrid vehicles offer consumers a compromise, capturing 6.8% of the U.S. market in 2022 compared to 5.8% for fully electric vehicles (Cox Automotive, 2022). Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell technology presents a potential long-term substitute, particularly for commercial vehicles where battery weight creates range limitations.
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Example 3
Essay Type: Case Study Analysis
Topic: Starbucks expansion strategy failure in Australia
Level: MBA/Graduate
Example business essay:
Starbucks' failed expansion into Australia demonstrates how cultural misalignment and market oversaturation can undermine even the strongest global brands. Between 2000 and 2008, Starbucks opened 84 stores across Australia before closing 61 locations, resulting in $143 million in losses (The Guardian, 2014). This case analysis applies PESTLE and SWOT frameworks to identify strategic missteps and proposes recommendations for international expansion strategies that account for local café culture.
The primary failure stemmed from cultural misalignment with Australia's established coffee culture. Australia developed sophisticated café culture through Italian and Greek immigration in the 1950s, creating consumer expectations for high-quality espresso drinks served in ceramic cups at independent cafés (Euromonitor International, 2016). Starbucks' standardized menu, paper cups, and sweet-flavored drinks contradicted these preferences. While 64% of U.S. coffee shop customers prefer drinks with added flavors and syrups, only 28% of Australian consumers do (IBISWorld, 2008).
Market oversaturation compounded the cultural mismatch. Starbucks opened stores aggressively—84 locations in eight years—without accounting for Australia's population density and existing café saturation. Melbourne alone had over 2,000 independent cafés competing for 5 million residents, compared to Seattle's 400 cafés for 3.9 million residents (City of Melbourne, 2008). This aggressive expansion created cannibalization between Starbucks locations while independent cafés maintained loyal customer bases.
In contrast, Starbucks' successful entry into China demonstrates effective localization. The company adapted to Chinese tea culture by offering tea-based drinks, designed stores as "third places" for business meetings, and positioned itself as a premium Western brand aligned with aspirational consumption (Harvard Business Review, 2017). China now represents Starbucks' fastest-growing market with over 5,000 stores, while Australia has only 39 (Starbucks Corporation, 2021).
WHY THIS EXAMPLE WORKS:
Thesis:
"Starbucks' failed expansion into Australia demonstrates how cultural misalignment and market oversaturation can undermine even the strongest global brands."
Why it's strong:
Opens with the case outcome (failure), identifies specific causes (cultural misalignment, oversaturation), acknowledges broader significance ("even the strongest global brands"), and signals this is a cautionary case study about international expansion strategy.
What students can learn:
Case study theses should state the case outcome and identify root causes.
Don't just say "this essay analyzes Starbucks in Australia", instead, take a position on WHY the outcome occurred.
Notice how this thesis frames the case as a learning opportunity about international expansion, not just a story about one company.
Business Essay Examples by Themes
Different business essay topics require different analytical approaches. Here's what to expect for common themes.
Corporate Analysis
Example Title: "Coca-Cola's Competitive Advantage: Brand Equity and Distribution Strategy"
What this covers: Examines a specific company's strategy using frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces.
Focuses on competitive positioning, business model analysis, and strategic decisions.
Includes company-specific data (revenue, market share, growth rates) and explains why certain strategies succeed or fail.
Business Ethics
Example Title: "The Enron Collapse: Corporate Governance Failures and Ethical Lessons"
What this covers: Analyzes ethical dilemmas, corporate responsibility, or business scandals.
Uses stakeholder analysis to examine how decisions affect different groups. Balances profit motives with ethical obligations.
Technology & Innovation
Example Title: "AI's Impact on Retail: Operational Efficiency vs. Workforce Displacement"
What this covers: Examines how technology transforms business operations, creates competitive advantages, or disrupts industries.
Analyzes benefits (efficiency, cost reduction) against challenges (implementation costs, workforce impact). Uses data on adoption rates, ROI, and market transformation.
Leadership & Management
Example Title: "Transformational Leadership at Microsoft: Satya Nadella's Cultural Reset"
What this covers: Analyzes leadership styles, management practices, or organizational change.
Examines how leadership decisions affect company culture, employee performance, and business outcomes. Uses leadership theory (transformational, situational, servant leadership) applied to real examples.
Global Business
Example Title: "IKEA's International Strategy: Standardization vs. Local Adaptation"
What this covers: Examines international expansion, cross-cultural challenges, and global market strategies.
Analyzes how companies adapt products, marketing, and operations for different markets. Uses frameworks like PESTLE to assess political, economic, social factors affecting global business decisions.
Entrepreneurship
Example Title: "Airbnb's Growth Strategy: From Startup to Market Disruptor"
What this covers: Analyzes startup challenges, funding strategies, market entry approaches, and scaling decisions.
Examines how entrepreneurs identify opportunities, overcome resource constraints, and compete against established players. Focuses on practical business development and growth strategies.
Each example shows framework application, evidence use, and analysis appropriate for the topic. Download the PDF that matches your assignment type.
Bad vs. Good Business Essay Examples
Here's what separates weak business essays from strong ones. Learn from the contrast.
Bad Example: Vague Thesis
"This essay will talk about Apple and how they do marketing and why they are successful in business today."
Why it's bad: No argument, just announces topic. Could apply to any essay. Doesn't signal framework or position.
Good Example: Strong Thesis
"Apple's premium pricing strategy succeeds because brand loyalty and ecosystem lock-in reduce price sensitivity, allowing 40% gross margins despite commoditized hardware markets."
Why it's good: Makes specific claim, includes evidence preview (40% margins), arguable position, signals competitive analysis approach.
Bad Example: Evidence-Free Claims
"Amazon invests a lot in logistics which helps them compete. This makes them better than other retailers and customers like it."
Why it's bad: "A lot" is meaningless. No numbers, no sources, just opinion stated as fact.
Good Example: Data-Driven Analysis
"Amazon invested $61.1 billion in fulfillment in 2021, representing 19% of net sales (Amazon Inc., 2022). This infrastructure creates barriers to entry—competitors cannot easily replicate 175 fulfillment centers processing 1.6 million packages daily."
Why it's good: Specific dollar amounts, percentages, concrete data with source, explains WHY the evidence matters strategically.
Bad Example: No Framework
"Netflix has some good things and some bad things. They have good shows but competitors are growing. They need to fix their problems and keep making content people want to watch."
Why it's bad: Random observations with no analytical structure. Reads like casual opinion, not business analysis.
Good Example: Framework-Based Structure
"Using SWOT analysis: Netflix's strength in original content (2,500+ titles) creates switching costs, but weaknesses in pricing power limit revenue growth. Opportunities in advertising offset threats from Disney+ and HBO Max competition."
Why it's good: Framework provides structure, each point connects to SWOT component, analytical rather than descriptive.
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Get Business Essay ServiceHow to Use These Business Essay Examples
These examples are teaching tools, not templates to copy. Here's how to use them effectively.
What to look for in each example:
When you read each example, focus on these elements: thesis strength and clarity, framework application (SWOT, Porter's, PESTLE), evidence types and sources, business writing style, and analysis depth.
Don't just read passively, actively identify the techniques the writer uses.
How to learn from examples:
Read the excerpt first without looking at the analysis. What do you notice? Then study our breakdown.
Note specific techniques you can use: how the thesis is structured, where frameworks appear, what types of evidence are cited, how paragraphs are organized. Finally, think about how you'd apply these patterns to your own topic.
What NOT to do:
Don't copy language or structure directly, that's plagiarism.
Don't just read examples passively without noting what makes them work. Don't skip the analysis sections, that's where the learning happens.
These examples exist to teach you methods, not to provide sentences you can reuse.
The value of business essay examples isn't in the words themselves, it's in understanding the techniques the writer used to build their argument.
These examples teach you techniques for the complete step-by-step process from start to finish, see our how to write a business essay guide.
