A merchant is considered an individual who operates in the market for money. By that definition this includes farmers, people working 9 to 5, entrepreneurs, a person vending on a street corner, business executives, and anyone who is working in commerce to provide for themselves or their family. Although not everyone would consider themselves a merchant or know about business, every individual is accountable for what they do when operating in the market. This is why it is essential that everyone has some basic knowledge, which is why I wrote this book. This is Business Basics: Understanding, Forming, and Maintaining a Business.