Someone may say that he has not yet learned what a business history is and therefore that he is in no position to consider the types of business history that may exist. Perhaps, however, it may help in grasping the essentials of business history if these types are set forth.

Right at the beginning of this effort we should note that we have in mind the history of a business unit — a business man, a firm, or a company. To be sure, there are other approaches to business history, namely, the history of a function, such as production or marketing, the history of a whole industry, such as meat-packing or cotton textiles, and, of course, the general history of business.