The economic buyer is the person with the authority and the budget to approve a purchase — the one who can sign the check. They may be a VP, a finance leader, or a founder, and they are often not the person you talk to first. Identifying the economic buyer is a core part of qualification and BANT, because a deal can look great in a proposal meeting and still die if the person in the room has no budget authority.
In plain English
The economic buyer is the decider with the wallet. Everyone else you meet can influence the decision, but this person can end it. Until you know who they are and what they care about, you are selling to spectators.
Why it matters to you
Get to the economic buyer early. Your champion can introduce you, but you still need the buyer's priorities and budget on the table. During negotiation, the economic buyer is where price and value are ultimately settled. In an interview, saying "I find the economic buyer and build a value proposition for them, not just the user" demonstrates real closing instinct.