What defines a general agent in a business relationship?

A general agent in a business relationship is characterized by having the authority to engage in a range of actions on behalf of a principal, typically within a specific business context or industry. This means that the general agent is empowered to perform all tasks that are necessary for managing the ongoing business operations, which includes a variety of acts related to the role they play.

In contrast to this definition, a general agent would not typically be authorized to perform every possible act that the principal could perform without limitations, nor would they be confined only to specific transactions or operations. The authority of a general agent is broader than that of a special agent, who is limited to performing actions related to a single transaction or specific task. Therefore, while a general agent has a defined scope of authority linked to the specific operations of the business they represent, it is not as restrictive as acting on behalf of the principal without limits, or only handling particular transactions.