Written by: Frank Hackett (CPRW)
Updated:January 29, 2023
According to Payscale.com, the median income for small business owners was $66,725 in 2021. However, depending on the size of your business and industry, this number can be much higher. You may also use your experience as a business owner to position yourself for a career in a business operations manager role, which generates an annual salary of $103.650. Whether you’re looking to obtain new customers or pursue a career as a manager for a new company, building a strong resume will be vital to your success as a business owner. Below, we’ve provided examples for entry-level business owners and those with many years of experience.
Business Owner Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-levelEntry-level
- Mid-careerMid-career
- Senior-level Senior-level
Nick Jameson
(123) 456-7890
[emailprotected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A results-driven business owner specializing in operations management, marketing, strategy development, and team leadership. A proven track record of developing business plans and building relationships with clients to grow the customer base. Adept at identifying opportunities to increase market share.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Jameson Writing Service Inc., New York, NY
September 2019 – Present
- Build, manage, and operate an online boutique business providing professional writing services to individuals and small business clients, including blog posts, web pages, resume writing services, bio pages, and LinkedIn profiles
- Develop the business model, secure website domain, and coordinate with two web developers to create the website, product pages, and online shopping cart
- Build long-term relationships with clients, deliver consultations on services based on customer needs, and close over $250K in annual revenue
- Manage, hire, and develop a team of freelancers to deliver writing services to customers, which includes performing quality assurance reviews on deliverables
Freelance Business Consultant, Self-Employed, New York, NY
May 2018 – September 2019
- Provided business consulting services to small businesses within the greater New York area, which included analyzing business operations and providing recommendations to reduce overhead costs and improve gross margins
- Attended meetings with clients to review financial records and operating procedures, and identified appropriate business solutions based on cash flow and long-term objectives
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2014 – May 2018
Key Skills
- Business Development
- Operations Management
- Client Relations
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Process Improvement
Maria Lopez
(123) 456-7890
[emailprotected]
123 Your Street, Austin, TX 12345
Profile
An entrepreneur and business owner with five years of experience specializing in business development, marketing strategy, client relations, and strategic planning. A proven track record of building successful businesses from the ground up and defining growth strategies. Adept at identifying opportunities to enhance market penetration and brand recognition.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Lopez Marketing Inc., Austin, TX
September 2017 – Present
- Manage, own, and operate a marketing consulting company generating over $650K in gross annual revenue, which includes defining the business model and delivering marketing services to enhance social media and brand messaging for customers
- Hire, develop, and manage a team of marketing professionals, graphic designers, and social media specialists to grow brand awareness for new products and start-ups
- Interface with C-level executives and client stakeholders to assess marketing needs, define brand messaging, and ensure alignment of services with business objectives
- Lead social media and email marketing campaigns to drive new business development, resulting in a 30% increase in sales from 2018 to 2019
Marketing Consultant, Self-employed, Austin, TX
May 2016 – September 2017
- Served as a freelance marketing consultant for small and medium-sized business clients, which included evaluating marketing and social media presence and developing strategies to improve brand exposure and marketing performance
- Provided consultative services for the build out of company websites, which included creating content for product pages and defining the visual design of the site
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Marketing
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Business Management
- Marketing Strategy
- Social Media Marketing
- Team Management
- Business Modeling
- Growth Marketing
Akira Sato
(123) 456-7890
[emailprotected]
123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A senior business owner with 10+ years of experience specializing in entrepreneurship, venture capital investors, new business development, and talent acquisition. A proven track record of building and developing multi-million-dollar businesses within the technology industry. A strong history of defining business strategies and driving innovation to disrupt stagnate markets.
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Bay Area Software Partners Inc., San Francisco, CA
September 2011 – Present
- Build, manage, and develop a startup technology company delivering innovative SaaS solutions to enterprise businesses, which includes securing over $1.5M from angel investors and providing presentations on the product and overarching business model
- Secure new business with multinational enterprise customers and attend meetings with C-level executives, resulting in over $15M in gross annual revenue for 2020
- Identify opportunities to improve gross margins by 10% through selecting ideal vendors and negotiating optimal pricing
- Manage, hire, and build a team of marketing professionals, software developers, and sales executives to develop and deploy SaaS solutions for client accounts
- Create financial presentations on business performance for annual shareholder meetings and define overarching business strategy
- Define marketing strategy to secure new business and drive brand awareness
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.A.)
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA May 2011 – May 2013
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- New Business Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategy Development
- Investor Relations
- Cross-functional Leadership
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Business Owner Resumes
To leverage your resume for business operations management roles, you’ll need to ensure that your document contains the necessary keywords to meet the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) requirements. Carefully analyze the job description as you craft your resume and insert key terms from the posting into your professional experience and skills sections. Optimizing your document with specific industry keywords will ensure that your resume advances to the next phase of the application process and makes a strong impression on the hiring manager. Below, you’ll find a list of keywords and action verbs you might encounter during your job search.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration | Business Analysis |
| Business Development | Business Models |
| Business Strategy | Business Transformation |
| Capital Venture Investors | Change Management |
| Cross-functional Leadership | Customer Relationship Management |
| Entrepreneurship | Financial Analysis |
| Financial Management | Gross Margin |
| Growth Strategy | Human Resources (HR) |
| Investor Relations | Marketing |
| Operations Management | Organizational Leadership |
| Recruitment | Return on Investment (ROI) |
| Revenue Generation | Risk Management |
| Team Management | Talent Acquisition |
| Organizational Leadership | Vendor Management |
| Stakeholder Management | |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Collaborated |
| Created | Designed |
| Developed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Identified |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Led | Liaised |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Partnered | Resolved |
| Spearheaded | Supported |
Tips for Writing a Better Business Owner Resume
Quantify your business experience
Hiring managers want to see that you can generate positive results for their company. The best way to showcase your expertise is by providing tangible examples from your business experience backed by strong metrics and monetary figures. If you’ve led initiatives to drive revenue growth or help your business scale, feature the results. Avoid providing generic pieces of information and instead focus on highlighting how you helped the business improve. Below, you’ll find some examples of quantifying your accomplishments on your resume.
Example #1
Good
- Managed and built a $2M HR staffing firm from the ground up, created a scalable business model, and led strategic initiatives to enhance growth, which improved revenue by 20% YOY
Bad
- Owned a lucrative business in the HR industry, which included leading initiatives to improve the growth of the business
Example #2
Good
- Led the development of an internal IT department to support the sales organization, which reduced vendor and infrastructure costs by $300K per year
Bad
- Led a team to design, build, and install a wide range of cooling equipment for use in industrial food preservation systems.
Feature your leadership abilities
Your ability to manage people is just as important as your business expertise when running a company. Hiring managers value candidates with strong leadership capabilities that create strong collaborative work cultures and interface with diverse personnel. Provide examples of you recruiting, developing, and managing your teams. Be sure to emphasize how you interfaced with team members rather than simply focusing on the duties and job responsibilities you assigned them. Below, you’ll find some examples of how to properly showcase your leadership skills.
Example #1
Good
- Recruited, managed, and developed a team of 25+ construction laborers, architects, and civil engineers for a $3M construction company, which included establishing a strong work culture centered on collaboration and employee engagement
Bad
- Hired and managed various construction staff and created a positive work culture that kept employees happy and satisfied
Example #2
Good
- Liaised between the project management organization and multi-million-dollar client accounts, which included interfacing with C-level stakeholders to field mission-critical issues
Bad
- Worked well with both project staff and client stakeholders to resolve major project issues
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
To generate traction on the job market using your resume, you’ll need to tailor it to specific job opportunities. The best way to accomplish this is by integrating keywords directly from the posting into your document. This will ensure that the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) recognizes you as a qualified candidate and also allow you to showcase your business operations expertise for the hiring manager.
Carefully evaluate how the job description is being presented as you craft your resume. You want to prioritize skills and qualifications that are listed closer to the top of the posting rather than those at the bottom. If something is listed as a requirement or repeated more than once, you should focus on adding that skill to your profile or one of your top bullet points to ensure maximum visibility. Below, you’ll find an example of how to align your resume with the job description.
Business Owner Job Description Example
XYZ, Inc. is a leading talent recruitment firm named one of Boston’s best places to work. Put your business administration skills to the test in a fast-paced environment. We are seeking a Business Operations Manager to assist our organization in helping our business scale and driving revenue generation. We value candidates who excel in leading business transformation and change management initiatives.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee business operations management functions across all areas of the company, including risk management, business strategy, and organizational development
- Perform financial analysis to assess the health of the business and conduct strategic planning to improve gross margins
- Manage investor relations and provide insights on long-term business plans and growth strategy to secure funding
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s in business administration preferred
- Five years of business development or operations management experience required
- Strong cross-functional leadership and recruiting skills preferred
- Expertise in Human Resources (HR) and vendor management
According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:
- Business Administration
- Business Development
- Operations Management
- Risk Management
- Organizational Development
- Investor Relations
- Human Resources (HR)
- Vendor Management
- Strategic Planning
- Revenue Generation
- Growth Strategy
- Change Management
- Business Transformation
- Recruiting
Next, take what you highlighted from the job description and include your experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate them in your resume to your advantage:
Business Owner Work Experience Example
Business Owner
HR Software Firm, Boston, MA, November 2017 – Present
- Manage, own, and build a software company delivering human resources (HR) solutions to client businesses, which includes leading all aspects of business administration
- Oversee investor relations and conduct strategic planning to improve revenue generation and lead change management efforts
- Lead organizational development and recruiting efforts to facilitate business transformations and drive business development
Key Skills
- Operations Management
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Growth Strategy
- Risk Management
- Vendor Management