OS was originally established as a government department in 1791, and it became a trading fund in 2015, meaning it operates as a government-owned commercial business, with a mandate to generate its own income through sales of its products and services.

OS generates income primarily through the sale of maps and location-based data, as well as through licensing arrangements with third-party organizations. The company is responsible for producing a wide variety of maps, including topographic maps, street maps, and historical maps, as well as providing location-based data and services to a wide range of customers, including government, businesses, and the general public.