To the underlying BASIC language, these dialects added record handling instructions similar to those in COBOL, allowing programmers to build complex file-handling applications using what was at that time a much more modern programming language.
In addition, the Point 4 company, which developed the IRIS operating system, had their own version of BASIC.
In the 1980s, Business Basics were ported from their original proprietary environments to many Unix platforms, CP/M, and to DOS.
Notably, in 1990 MAI's version was ported from their BOSS operating system to become the multi-platform Open BASIC.
Business Basic continues to be widely used due to the very large base of application software.