There’s a lot of angst, with a serving of judgment, going around these days about whether or not people should be making a profit,  or making any money at all while this pandemic is happening.  On one hand you have the people who think making money is key and we should risk people dying in order to keep the economy, and the money, rolling.   On the other side are the people who think that no one should make a dime off any circumstances that are pandemic related,  and that doing anything that might generate income or profit is tantamount to being a profiteer.   It’s a tough line to navigate and a confusing time to be in business.

The thing is,  if you’re running a business,  you didn’t start that business to give away all your product and never make a cent.  Organizations which do that are called non-profits,  and are generally supported by donations that ensure they can keep their doors open and their employees and themselves paid and fed.   If you’re a for profit business,  one of the reasons the business was started is right their in the designation,  it was started to make a profit.   A business that doesn’t make a profit soon is no longer a business.

So,  what if,  in a time of crisis,  such as our current situation,  your business can create or offer a product that people want to use and are willing to pay for?  Are you then some kind of monster or criminal if you sell what people want to buy?   Say for instance,  your company offers video conferencing software and everyone is suddenly needing to conduct meetings from home.  Should you offer that software for free?  Or suppose the CDC recommends that everyone wear cloth masks and you have the skill and equipment to make those masks,  is it incumbent on you to give away your time and skills and materials without charging?

This is only my opinion,  but my feeling is,  if you have a product to sell,  charge a fair price for what you’re offering,  and sell it.   Figure out what it costs you to make whatever you have,  add in a decent, but not excessive profit margin, and offer your product for sale. Or, if you’ve been selling something already,  don’t raise the price because your product has suddenly become more necessary or desirable,  but take on the increased sales, and be happy with your increased profit.   Making a profit is why you went into business,  and it’s a perfectly justified thing to do.

Now, if you price gouge,  charge three or four times a fair price because people need what you have,  or if you buy up huge quantities of an item because you know people will want it and then charge people exorbitant prices,  yes,  you’re scum and should be judged accordingly.    People who do that sort of thing are called profiteers and they’re often jailed,  fined or shunned,  as they should be.   Taking advantage of a crisis for your own personal gain is reprehensible.   Offering a product that people need at a fair price is simply business,  whether or not there’s a crisis happening.

Honestly,  if you’re asking whether or not you should be selling product during a pandemic or a war or whatever crisis is occurring,  you’re already on the side of the angels and shouldn’t worry.   It’s the person who’s trying to anticipate what people might need and creating their hoard now so they can sell their stock at four times the regular price later that we need to be concerned about.