Told entirely without dialog, 'Independent Business' is a rags-to-riches, riches - to-rags comedy. Allen Goodfellow is a productive, jolly working man dedicated to his daily schedule. That is, until he adopts a pitiable homeless man as his monthly beneficiary. The self-respect he feels by giving to someone less fortunate than himself begins to diminish every time as the Tramp begins to expect the monthly contribution. Guilt becomes the driving force behind the donations, which hurt more and more with each month as Allen's own financial situation begins to degenerate. Finally having lost his income, Allen finds himself on the street, in the same situation as his former beneficiary. The Tramp, meanwhile, continues to expect something from the unfortunate businessman. In a last-ditch attempt to recover his former productivity, Allen creates a small business on the side of the road, operating in competition with the Tramp. The ensuing conflict ends badly for one of the two.
