AMERICAN BUSINESS MERIT BADGE WORKBOOK
This Scoutmaster Bucky Merit Badge Workbook is based off the .2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Consider also using the American Business merit badge class preparation page for clarification and expections when
participating in a Scoutmaster Bucky merit badge opportunity (online or in-person).
https://scoutmasterbucky.com/merit-badges/american-business/
Scout's Name:
Explain four features of the free enterprise system in the United States.REQUIREMENT 1A:
Feature #1
Name:
Notes:
Feature #2
Name:
Notes:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 1 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Feature #3
Name:
Notes:
Feature #4
Name:
Notes:
Describe the difference between freedom and license.REQUIREMENT 1A:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 2 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Tell how the Scout Oath and Scout Law apply to business and free enterprise.REQUIREMENT 1A:
Describe the Industrial Revolution.REQUIREMENT 1B:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 3 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Tell about the major developments that marked the start of the modern industrial era in the United States.REQUIREMENT 1B:
Major Development #1
Major Development #2
Major Development #3
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 4 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Discuss three people who had a great influence on business or industry in the United States and describe
what each did.
REQUIREMENT 1B:
Person #1
Name:
Notes:
Person #2
Name:
Notes:
Person #3
Name:
Notes:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 5 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Identify and describe to your counselor the five primary areas of businessREQUIREMENT 1C:
Area of Business #1
Describe:
Area of Business #2
Describe:
Area of Business #3
Describe:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 6 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Area of Business #4
Describe:
Area of Business #5
Describe:
Explain the history of labor unions in the United States.REQUIREMENT 1D:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 7 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Explain the importance of labor unions and employers working together.REQUIREMENT 1D:
Identify two major labor unions currently in existence.REQUIREMENT 1D:
Labor Union #1:
Labor Union #2:
Discuss with your counselor how business impacts the local, national, and global economyREQUIREMENT 1E:
Local:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 8 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
National:
Global:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 9 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Explain the three basic types of financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and statement of
cash flows). Discuss with your counselor how each statement can help business leaders make better decisions.
REQUIREMENT 2A:
Income Statement
Explanation:
How it helps:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 10 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Balance Sheet
Explanation:
How it helps:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 11 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Statement of Cash Flows
Explanation:
How it helps:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 12 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Explain how changes in interest rates, taxes, and government spending affect the flow of money into or out
of business and industry.
REQUIREMENT 2B:
Interest Rates:
Taxes:
Government Spending:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 13 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Explain how a proprietorship or partnership gets its capital.REQUIREMENT 2C:
Discuss and explain four ways a corporation obtains capital.REQUIREMENT 2C:
How a corporation obtains capital #1
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 14 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
How a corporation obtains capital #2
How a corporation obtains capital #3
How a corporation obtains capital #4
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 15 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Name five kinds of insurance useful to business. Describe their purposes.REQUIREMENT 2D:
Insurance Type #1
Purpose:
Insurance Type #2
Purpose:
Insurance Type #3
Purpose:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 16 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Insurance Type #4
Purpose:
Insurance Type #5
Purpose:
Explain the place of profit in business.REQUIREMENT 3A:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 17 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Describe to your counselor green marketing.REQUIREMENT 3B:
Describe to your counselor sustainable business practices.REQUIREMENT 3B:
Explain how ethics plays a role in business decision making.REQUIREMENT 3C:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 18 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Discuss the differences between operating a brick-and-mortar business versus an online business.REQUIREMENT 3D:
Describe the role of the U.S. Department of Labor.REQUIREMENT 4:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 19 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
DO TWO OF THE FOLLOWING (4A, 4B, 4C, OR 4D) FOR REQUIREMENT 4:
Discuss the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).REQUIREMENT 4A:
Discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).REQUIREMENT 4B:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 20 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Discuss the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).REQUIREMENT 4C:
Discuss the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).REQUIREMENT 4D:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 21 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Choose a business and research how it applies each of the primary areas of business (accounting, finance,
economics, marketing, and management). Share what you have learned with your counselor.
REQUIREMENT 5:
Selected Business:
Accounting:
Finance:
Economics:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 22 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Marketing:
Management:
Additional Notes:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 23 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (6A OR 6B) FOR REQUIREMENT 6:
Choose one of the primary areas of business and identify three career opportunities. Select one and
research the education, training, and experience required for this career. Discuss with your counselor and explain why this
interests you.
REQUIREMENT 6A:
Primary area of business selected:
Career Opportunity #1:
Career Opportunity #2:
Career Opportunity #3:
Selected Career:
Educational Requirements:
Training Requirements:
Experience Requirements:
Why this selected career might interest you:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 24 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements
Select a business leader and interview this individual to learn more about his or her company and career
path. Discuss the role ethics plays in making business decisions. Share what you have learned with your counselor.
REQUIREMENT 6B:
Business Leader
Name:
Business and Position:
Notes:
Scoutmaster Bucky
AMERICAN BUSINESS
Merit Badge Workbook
www.ScoutmasterBucky.com
Scoutmaster Bucky American Business Merit Badge Workbook
https://ScoutmasterBucky.com
Page 25 of 25
2021 Scouts BSA Requirements