Difference between business reports and academic reports apa style?

The main difference between a business report and an academic report is the purpose of the report; the format will follow the needs of the report.

A business report is usually for the purpose of compiling information from different parts of a company or organization and the report is formatted to meet that company's or organization's needs. Each company or organization has their own individual needs and is formatted to suit those needs by the entity that requires the information. Most business reports are similar to a form with places for expected comments. Such formatted reports are easier for the person responsible to know exactly what will be needed for the report and have systems in place for compiling the information throughout the reporting period. Today, most business reports are automated or semi automated by computer and the reporting party need only add the required comments.

The APA (American Psychological Association) style was designed for the specific needs of the social and behavioral sciences community, much like a services firm or a manufacturer might design their own format for their own needs. It was designed to make reporting information that is mostly abstract more concise; simpler to compile and for the reader to follow. It provides guidelines that help the writer (student) avoid wandering off track by providing a step by step direction toward a conclusion and standardized the use of citations