Consumer
A consumer is a final user or purchaser for final consumption of a good or service, rather than someone buying it primarily for resale or further business production. Customer and consumer can coincide, but the person who pays is not always the person who uses the offering. Context and legal definitions can differ.
Worked example
A parent buys a child’s school meal. The school or catering business may receive payment from the parent while the child consumes the meal. Understanding both people’s needs can matter.
Common mistake
Treating every business buyer or reseller as a final consumer or assuming the payer and user are always the same person.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |