Business Owner Resume: Self-Employed Example & Template

Business Owner Resume Sample

A business owner is possibly the most important person in an entire business structure. Business management is difficult, which is why larger companies have a whole board of directors helping, but being a “business owner” still inspires a sense of excitement for many people. If you’ve been a business manager or have been otherwise closely involved in business development for a company, then you need a way of showing your skills on your resume if you decide to move on. Use these tips and resume examples to power your own business owner resume.

When writing a business owner resume, you want to highlight three elements of your business ownership:

• How you became the owner, whether you came up with the concept or you were an early investor.
• What your general job duties were as a business owner.
• Spotlight how successful your business was.

These three points all allow a recruiter to learn about the skills and experiences you’ve gained from your business ownership.

Structure of a Business Owner Resume

Business owner resumes will likely use the chronological format, which puts your work history front and center. You might want to try different resume formats depending on your particular experience and skills, but to prove yourself as an effective business owner, you’ll likely need to emphasize your achievements through your work history. Here’s what your resume template should always include:

Header

The resume header will be the same as any other resume: your full name, contact information, including your phone number, and professional links, such as your LinkedIn profile, or a link to your company website.

Resume summary or objective

The official first section of a resume is your resume summary. Your resume summary needs to put the fact that you owned your own business front and center. While resume objectives are often used for people with less experience, you might consider using one if you’re switching career fields and want to clarify your career goals.

Skills

Being a small business owner gives you a unique variety of skills. Here are a few skills you might consider for your resume:

• Pricing products with the market
• Project management
• Creating and implementing business plans
• Strategic planning for the future
• Bookkeeping
• General business acumen
• Customer satisfaction
• Financial management
• Human resources experience
• Interpersonal skills
• Management skills
• Merchandising
• Problem-solving skills
• Time management skills
• Business operations management
• Software expertise in products like QuickBooks
• Managing accounts receivable

Obviously, not every business will teach you all of these skills, and not all of these skills will be applicable to the position you’re looking to fill. However, note that the list above includes both hard skills (technical knowledge) and soft skills (intangible and interpersonal skills), and understanding your technical skills and personal skills will help you succeed.

Work history

Of course, any small business owner resume sample will naturally show your business front and center in the work experience section. To make the most of this, include the company name and list your job title, e.g., “Owner,” “Co-Owner,” or “CEO.” for each job provide bullet points that highlight achievements, such as initiatives you invested in.

Education

Your education section is the place to include your highest academic credential, e.g., bachelor’s degree. Additionally, you can include certifications that you got while working as a business owner or working up to it (e.g., certification for project management).

Do’s and Don’ts for a Business Owner Resume

Do:

• Write your job title as “Business Owner” or something similar. This will catch a hiring manager’s attention.
• Relate your job experience directly to the job you’re applying for. Discuss how being a business owner will help you in this specific job.
• Include other non-ownership experiences if applicable. If you have other accomplishments within the last ten years, then it can show that you have a real track record and didn’t just get lucky.

Don’t:

• Inflate your numbers or otherwise lie about your experiences. This could end with you not just losing this specific job but also other jobs.
• Discuss negative elements of the business. You should only talk about the positives of your business experience.
• Expect the hiring manager will avoid talking about your business. You should prepare for the hiring manager to have a number of questions about your business and why you might be moving on.