complementary businesses

USAGE SUMMARY

"complementary businesses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to businesses that provide goods or services that are different, but that work together to fulfill the same purpose. For example: "The two companies are complementary businesses, providing different, but essential, services to their clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are other complementary businesses.

The New York Times

The two companies have complementary businesses.

The Economist

Partner with carefully selected complementary businesses.

The Guardian

National-Oil said the two companies had complementary businesses.

The New York Times

Others establish complementary businesses to service the nonprofit sector.

The New York Times

Charles B. Johnson, chairman and chief executive of Franklin, said the deal would combine "complementary" businesses.

The New York Times

Over a ten-year period, the company had acquired more than 150 competitors and complementary businesses.

Harvard Business Review

The concept of Vistage is to gather chief executives from complementary businesses into small groups.

The New York Times

"They are complementary businesses," said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at the Teal Group.

The New York Times

Hewlett-Packard and Compaq have several overlapping, complementary businesses, making them ideal candidates for efficiency-enhancing consolidation, she explained.

The New York Times

When he bought complementary businesses and integrated them into St Ives, he maintained a common culture across the entire group.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business development contexts, highlight how your company's offerings can integrate seamlessly with "complementary businesses" to create a more comprehensive solution for customers.

Common error

Avoid misspelling "complementary" as "complimentary". "Complementary" means enhancing or completing, while "complimentary" means free or expressing praise. Using the wrong word can drastically alter your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complementary businesses" typically functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "complementary" modifies the noun "businesses". It describes the nature of the businesses in terms of their relationship and how they enhance one another. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in this context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

29%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "complementary businesses" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe businesses that enhance each other's value. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in professional, news, and academic contexts. Recognizing and leveraging such relationships is crucial for strategic growth and competitive advantage. Remember to avoid the common misspelling with "complimentary" and to consider synonyms like "synergistic businesses" or "mutually beneficial businesses" to add nuance to your writing. Authoritative sources frequently employ this phrase, further solidifying its place in formal business discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supplementary businesses

Implies one business adds to or completes the offerings of another.

synergistic businesses

Emphasizes the combined effect being greater than the sum of individual parts.

mutually beneficial businesses

Highlights the reciprocal advantages gained by each business.

auxiliary businesses

Suggests that one business provides support or assistance to another.

interdependent businesses

Focuses on the reliance each business has on the other for success.

allied businesses

Suggests a partnership or collaboration between businesses.

convergent businesses

Indicates businesses that are moving towards a similar goal or market.

associated businesses

Implies a connection or relationship, but not necessarily direct collaboration.

related businesses

Indicates a commonality or connection in industry or market.

supporting businesses

Highlights the provision of aid or resources to another business.

FAQs

What does "complementary businesses" mean?

"Complementary businesses" are those that offer different but related products or services that enhance each other's value. They often work well together to serve a common customer base.

How can I identify "complementary businesses" for partnerships?

Look for businesses that serve a similar customer base but offer different products or services. Identify areas where your offerings can be bundled or integrated to provide a more comprehensive solution. For example a marketing agency and a web development firm are "related businesses".

What are some synonyms for "complementary businesses"?

You can use alternatives like "synergistic businesses", "mutually beneficial businesses", or "interdependent businesses" depending on the context.

How do "complementary businesses" differ from competitors?

"Complementary businesses" enhance each other's offerings, while competitors offer similar solutions. Collaborating with "complementary businesses" can create a stronger overall value proposition than competing directly.