A ___________ competitor is a business that sells different products or services but is similar enough to be competitive with another business.

The term "indirect competitor" refers to a business that offers different products or services yet operates within the same overall market, making it competitive with another business. This type of competition arises because customers might choose between the offerings of these businesses based on factors such as price, quality, or convenience, even though the specific products or services they provide are not identical.

For example, if one business sells coffee while another sells tea, they may not be direct competitors selling the same product, but they compete for the same customers who seek a caffeine boost or a warm beverage. The similarity in targeted consumer needs creates the competitive dynamic.

In contrast, a direct competitor would be a business that sells the same or very similar products or services. A complementary competitor would be a business that provides goods or services that enhance or support the primary offering of another business. General competition refers more broadly to the competitive landscape without specifying the nature of the competition.